My landlord won't register me. Can I still get meldunek?

Yes, but it costs a bit more. Either a notarised authorisation (~150 PLN, signed once and you go alone), or, if they actively refuse, a civil claim to establish registration (rare, slow, usually not worth it). What works in practice: a tenancy with an explicit registration clause, or a meldunek-friendly landlord we vet for you.

Do I need meldunek for a TRC under MOS v2.0?

In 2026, effectively yes. MOS reads the address from PESEL. Without zameldowanie the system flags the case as formally incomplete and your TRC sits in limbo. Workaround: a notarised umowa najmu plus a written owner statement, but it raises rejection risk by an order of magnitude.

How long should I register for?

For the duration of your current stay document. When you renew TRC, you renew meldunek. Permanent is reserved for PR cardholders.

Can I hold several meldunki at once?

One permanent only. Multiple temporary registrations are legal for citizens, but foreigners are capped at one.

I'm moving across Warsaw. What do I do?

You have 30 days. We file the new registration at the new urząd dzielnicy and the old one closes automatically in PESEL. One visit, no separate deregistration form.

What does it actually cost end-to-end?

Registration: 0 PLN. Certificate: 17 PLN. Landlord time: 50 to 100 PLN cash, or around 150 PLN for a notarised authorisation. Our fee from 350 PLN turnkey.

Is the meldunek certificate good enough for my UK or US bank back home?

For most British and American institutions yes. The certificate with a sworn English translation passes proof-of-address checks at HMRC and IRS-facing banks alike.

Temporary / Permanent · USC

Meldunek (address registration)

Name: LegalWin
Address: ul. Świętokrzyska 30/63, Warszawa, Mazowieckie, 00-116, PL
Telephone: +48 506 55 07 21
Price range: PLN 200-3000

You can't open a corporate bank account, enrol a child in district school, register a car, or file a TRC through MOS v2.0 without an address logged in the PESEL register. That's what zameldowanie does. Most foreigners trip on it because the landlord won't sign the form, or signs it for the wrong period. We handle the wniosek, secure owner consent (or a notarised authorisation if they refuse to show up at urząd), and walk you through the filing. Usually one working day.

Registration

1 day

on-site at urząd dzielnicy

State fee

0 PLN

registration itself is free

Certificate

17 PLN

one wypis for bank or urząd

Types

Temporary / Permanent

up to 3 years vs indefinite

When meldunek actually matters

Polish law gives foreigners 30 days to register if their stay exceeds 30 days. Here is where the rule bites in practice.

01 / 08

Filing TRC via MOS v2.0

From 2026 the system reads your address straight from PESEL. No zameldowanie means MOS rejects on formal grounds before a clerk reads the case.

02 / 08

Enrolling a child in district school

Public schools allocate spots by registered address. Without meldunek you go on a waitlist for any free seat, typically a school across town.

03 / 08

Opening a corporate bank account

KYC officers want either zaświadczenie o zameldowaniu or a notarised tenancy. Santander and mBank refuse to onboard without one.

04 / 08

Registering a car

Wydział komunikacji needs the owner zameldowanie. Bought a car but not registered locally? Plates sit in limbo.

05 / 08

Temporary residence, up to 3 years

Default for TRC, D-visa, student visa, visa-free stays. Tied to the validity of your stay document.

06 / 08

Permanent residence, indefinite

Open only to PR cardholders, EU long-term residents, and Polish citizens.

07 / 08

Voting in local elections

EU foreigners with at least 12 months of meldunek can vote at commune level.

08 / 08

NFZ healthcare and POZ assignment

Your assigned primary-care clinic follows your registered address. Useful if you want a specific GP.

How we run it

Engagement to certificate, typically 1 to 2 working days.

01
Free 20-min call
20 min
We map stay form, type of meldunek, and whether the landlord will cooperate.
02
Application prepared
1 day
We fill the foreigner registration form (cudzoziemiec) or the standard wniosek and pack the supporting documents.
03
Landlord consent
1 day
Signature on the form, or, if they won't come to urząd, a notarised authorisation around 150 PLN at any notariusz.
04
Filing at urząd dzielnicy
1 visit
We meet you outside the building. In person with passport and stay document. The clerk runs the registration on the spot.
05
PESEL register updated
same day
Entry is live immediately. Certificate (wypis) issued for 17 PLN when you need paper proof.
06
Certificates for KRS, US, ZUS, MOS, bank
1 day
We collect whichever zaświadczenia your downstream filings need.

/ documents

What we need from you

Minimum set.

Passport (original; the clerk verifies and returns it the same visit)01
Stay document: D-visa, TRC card, or visa-free permit02
Tenancy or sub-tenancy agreement signed by the actual owner (or title deed if you own)03
Landlord signature on the form in person at urząd, or a notarised power of attorney04
PESEL if you already have one (if not, we file in parallel)05
Child's birth certificate with sworn translation (only when registering minors)06
Completed wniosek that we prepare from the call07
Owner notarised authorisation if there is any chance they cancel on the day08

Our fee

Registration is free at urząd. Certificate is 17 PLN. Our work is the only billable item.

Consultation

Free

20 minutes · case review · go or no-go

PopularTurnkey meldunek

from 350 PLN

Application, landlord coordination, urząd visit

Meldunek + certificate + sworn translation

from 500 PLN

For banks, MOS filings, employer onboarding

LegalWin business address

from 250 PLN/mo

Legal address for Sp. z o.o. or CEIDG when meldunek isn't possible

* LegalWin fees only. A notarised landlord power of attorney runs around 150 PLN extra and goes straight to the notariusz.

Legal basis

§01Ustawa o ewidencji ludności of 24 September 2010, Chapter 3
§02MSWiA regulation on foreigner registration form templates
§03Ustawa o cudzoziemcach of 12 December 2013, Article 199
§04Stamp Duty Act of 16 November 2006 (the 17 PLN certificate fee)
§05Code of Administrative Procedure (KPA) for appeals

/ questions

Frequently asked

Yes, but it costs a bit more. Either a notarised authorisation (~150 PLN, signed once and you go alone), or, if they actively refuse, a civil claim to establish registration (rare, slow, usually not worth it). What works in practice: a tenancy with an explicit registration clause, or a meldunek-friendly landlord we vet for you.

Journal

Articles on this topic

LegalWin Blog

Real estate

Renting a flat in Poland as a foreigner: lease, deposit, registration

Standard, occasional and institutional leases compared, lawful deposit limits, the clauses your contract needs, and how to get the deposit back on moving out.

4 min read

Documents

Deregistration in Poland: how to do it and why fake addresses backfire

Deregistering when you leave Poland, the administrative route for a tenant who moved out, the evidence and timelines, and the risks of a fictitious meldunek.

4 min read

Immigration

Name, passport and address changes: when to replace a Polish residence card

Fourteen days to apply for a replacement, the duty to notify the wojewoda, and what to do after marriage, a new passport or a move. Fees of PLN 100-300.

5 min read

Related services

Everything a foreigner needs in Poland

Meldunek sorted in a day

Free 20-min consultation. We map the case, line up the landlord, and file at urząd. Typical turnaround is 1 to 2 working days from first call.

Send request +48 506 55 07 21