Looking to move to Poland within the next 5-7 years from the US and need some guidance on your process.

To be clear, my wife and I have semi-joked about moving to Poland for years now. However, the US has progressed very swiftly to a level of comfort with things that we are not really comfortable with. The 5-7 years is solely because I am still active-duty and my wife has to teach a minimum requirement here locally. Your PM's stance on a lot of positions that censor free speech, have honestly solidified us wanting to be apart.

What is the process to become apart of your country and is it very difficult coming from the US?

Yes, the culture shock might be really huge. Unless you are extremely determined, like migrants from war-torn countries in Middle East or political refugees from Eastern European dictatorships.

Are you so determined?

How so?

Don't have time to write this moment (keep watching this space). but I'm an American with well over 20 years in Poland (and generally happy and no plans to move).

The process of adaptation (learning how things work) is not easy. Poland can be a great place to live if you can learn the language and culture and not try to change things (you'll just irritate people and end up losing).

First, Poland is nothing like the image being broadcast by some rightwing sources.... if you like what you've been told some Polish politician has said... then realize that's about 5% of what they say and you probably won't much like much of the remaining 95%.

There are also very strong generational and regional (and other political) rifts so you might like some quote from a Polish politician and find out 80% of the people you'll be dealing with hate him and what he said.

It's complicated....

Coz the customs as well as individual habits prevailing in a foreign country are always quite different from your own, even when we compare close neighbours. E.g., Poland is different than Germany .

Emigration is always a huge mental stress which may sometimes develop into a chronic disorder. Observe a few migrant posters here who are Polish expats in the USA - they are not normal people. E.g, certain poster called Novichok.

I agree,look at the British teachers in Poland.The poster you mentioned is a clown but look at Ptak he is perfectly settled here.


Which is very hard especially for Americans plus getting resident permits etc will be costly and long process dont forget for permanent residence and citizenship you have to get B1 Polish language certificate.

Right as rain! When I was a young TA in the '9O's in Europe, I'd often cringe at the flat unwillingness of other American teaching fellows to learn the language of the country in which they were working!

IMO, it'll be the legal issues for residency that will be the most difficult for you. Without being European or married to a Polish citizen, it's not as easy as just wanting to move to Poland or any other European country. Additionally, if you don't speak the language, you'll have a very limited number of jobs available to you. There are jobs available that pay well if you can only speak English, but they usually have some area of expertise required.

Culturally, of course, it's a lot different, but it's not something that needs to be a deal-breaker. It's actually one of the things I love about living in Poland. The language issue will also make it more difficult to meet people and develop friendships (to a degree, you'll feel really isolated sometimes), but again, that's not a deal-breaker. If you come with an open mind and a willingness to embrace another culture, food, lifestyle, etc., you'll enjoy it.

That being said, in my four years in Poland, I have bad days when I'm sick of some things here, but that's no different than when I lived in the States. No place is perfect, and that's something you should really think about. For me, it was a great decision and something I would never change. Despite the difficulties, I have no plans to ever move back to the U.S.

@etottski
Very true. You need to be bringing something to the country. Namely jobs and money. Slovakia is easier. Just move a company with proven income and automatic residency. Poland you better have a really good paper trail, and patience.

@geauxlsu32, if you or both you and your wife are going to be retired then I guess the language won't be such an issue as in case when you would have to find a job here, but it's still an issue... Polish is a difficult language, I'd slowly start learning it already if I were you...

Btw, why Poland? Do you or your wife have Polish roots?

As for politics, in 5-7 years time we may have a different government, so I'm not sure if that's a good enough reason to move across the ocean...

Do you know already where exactly in Poland you would like to live?


What do you mean by that?

They meant "to become a part OF...", I think.

Yes, but Paulina asked how it can be done, or at least where they should start to adapt to Polish culture quickly.

To which the obvious solution is to familiarize oneself with the target culture/language PRIOR TO going over-:)

And the most natural means is the Polish forum. :):)

Polish culture at the Polish Forum? I used to believe that too.