How to Start a Company in Poland as a Non-EU Citizen (2026)
Poland allows 100% foreign ownership of companies — including by non-EU citizens. There is no requirement for a local partner, no minimum investment threshold, and no obligation to visit the country. Whether you are an entrepreneur from China, Turkey, India, the UAE, Nigeria, the USA, or any other non-EU country, you can establish a fully operational EU company in Poland remotely, within days.
This guide covers the entire process: choosing the right ownership structure, formation methods, remote setup options, registrations, timelines, costs, and the most common scenarios we see from non-EU entrepreneurs. If you are considering Poland as your EU base — this is where to start.
Can a Non-EU Citizen Own a Polish Company
Yes. Polish law places no restrictions on foreign ownership of a sp. z o.o. (limited liability company). A non-EU citizen can be the sole shareholder, the sole director, or both. There is no requirement for a Polish or EU co-owner, no minimum investment beyond the standard share capital (PLN 5,000 / ~€1,150), and no residency requirement.
This applies equally whether the shareholder is a natural person (individual) or a foreign legal entity (a company registered in another country). A Hong Kong Ltd, a Turkish A.Ş., an Indian Pvt Ltd, or a US LLC can all be the 100% owner of a Polish sp. z o.o.
Three Ownership Structures
Non-EU entrepreneurs typically choose one of three ownership structures. The right choice depends on your business model, tax situation, and long-term plans.
Structure 1: Individual as Shareholder
The simplest setup. You — as a natural person — own 100% of shares in the Polish sp. z o.o. and serve as the sole director. This is the most common structure for solo entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small-scale traders entering the EU market.
Advantages: fastest to set up, lowest administrative overhead, straightforward governance. One person makes all decisions.
Considerations: dividends paid from the Polish company to you as an individual are subject to 19% withholding tax in Poland. This may be reduced by a double tax treaty between Poland and your country of residence. You are also personally visible in the Polish company register (KRS) as shareholder and director.
Structure 2: Foreign Company as Shareholder
Your existing company in another country (e.g., a Hong Kong Ltd, UAE LLC, Singapore Pte Ltd, or Turkish A.Ş.) becomes the 100% shareholder of the Polish sp. z o.o. You serve as director of the Polish company. This creates a parent-subsidiary structure.
Advantages: liability separation between jurisdictions, potential tax optimisation on dividends (depending on applicable treaties), cleaner corporate structure for businesses with operations in multiple countries. The foreign parent can consolidate financial reporting across jurisdictions.
Considerations: additional documentation required during formation — the parent company’s registration documents must be apostilled (or legalised) and translated into Polish by a sworn translator. The CRBR (UBO register) filing must trace through to the ultimate beneficial owner (natural person) behind the foreign parent company. Administrative overhead is slightly higher than the individual structure.
This is the preferred structure for Chinese and Hong Kong entrepreneurs establishing EU operations, and for trading companies that want a clean corporate chain between the sourcing country and the EU market.
Structure 3: Joint Ownership
Two or more shareholders — individuals, foreign companies, or a mix — co-own the Polish sp. z o.o. This is common for business partnerships, investor-backed ventures, and joint ventures between a non-EU operator and an EU-based partner.
Advantages: shared risk, combined resources, and flexibility for investor involvement. The articles of association can be customised to define share classes, voting rights, profit distribution, drag-along/tag-along provisions, and other governance rules.
Considerations: customised articles of association require notarial formation (not S24 online), which takes longer. All shareholders must provide identification documents, and all UBOs must be registered in CRBR. Corporate governance becomes more complex with multiple parties.
For a comparison of formation methods, see our guide on ready-made vs new company registration in Poland.
Remote Setup — How It Works Without Visiting Poland
The entire company formation process can be completed without visiting Poland. There are two methods for remote setup, and the right choice depends on your preference and how actively you plan to manage the company.
Option A: Qualified Electronic Signature (Recommended)
A qualified electronic signature (e-podpis kwalifikowany) allows you to sign all corporate documents, manage the company through the S24 system, file documents with the court register, and authorise your accountant — all remotely. It is the most flexible and practical option for ongoing company management.
How to get it: through a certified provider (Certum / SimplySign) via video verification. You do not need to visit Poland or a Polish embassy. The process takes 1–3 business days. The signature is valid for 3 years and costs €350 (included as an add-on in LEXCARTA packages).
This is the recommended option for non-EU entrepreneurs who will manage their Polish company actively. After formation, the e-signature is used for signing resolutions, filing annual reports, and making changes to the company register — all without leaving your home country.
Option B: Notarised Power of Attorney (PoA)
If you prefer not to obtain an electronic signature, you can grant a notarised power of attorney to LEXCARTA’s attorneys to act on your behalf during the formation process. The PoA must be notarised in your country of residence and apostilled (under the Hague Convention) or legalised (if your country is not a Hague Convention member).
How it works: you sign the PoA before a local notary, have it apostilled, and send the original to our office in Warsaw. We handle all registration steps on your behalf. The process adds approximately 1–2 weeks compared to the e-signature route (time for notarisation, apostille, and postal delivery).
Note: with the PoA method, you will still need an e-signature (or another PoA) for ongoing management tasks later. Most clients start with PoA for formation and obtain an e-signature in parallel or shortly after.
Step-by-Step: From Zero to Operational
Here is the complete process for a non-EU citizen establishing a company in Poland through LEXCARTA.
Step 1: Consultation (Day 1)
We assess your business model, preferred ownership structure, and compliance requirements. This determines whether you need a ready-made company or a new registration, which VAT scheme applies, and whether any sector-specific registrations are needed (EORI for trade, OSS for cross-border e-commerce, GPSR for physical products).
Step 2: Documentation (Days 1–3)
You provide: passport copy, residential address, email, phone number. If a foreign company is the shareholder: company registration certificate, apostilled and translated into Polish.
In parallel: you either begin the e-signature process (video verification, 1–3 days) or prepare the notarised PoA.
Step 3: Company Transfer or Registration (Days 2–5)
For a ready-made company (most common): ownership is transferred via a share transfer agreement. The company is already registered in KRS with active VAT EU, EORI, and registered address. You become the owner the same day the agreement is signed. KRS update with your personal data takes 1–2 weeks (but the company is operational immediately).
For a new company: articles of association are filed with KRS (via S24 online or at a notary). KRS registration takes 1–3 days (S24) or 1–3 weeks (notary). After KRS entry, VAT registration takes an additional 3–4 weeks, and EORI 1–2 weeks.
Step 4: Post-Formation Registrations (Week 1–2)
CRBR (UBO register) — filed within 14 days of KRS registration. NIP-8 form — submitted to the tax office within 21 days (declares the company’s bank account and other details). Both handled by LEXCARTA.
Step 5: Banking (Weeks 2–6)
A bank account is not included in formation packages and is not required for VAT registration. However, it is necessary for business operations and VAT refund processing.
Options: traditional Polish bank (requires personal visit in most cases, 2 weeks to 3 months processing) or Wise Business (100% remote, no monthly fees, but not a licensed bank — no credit facilities, no VAT refund processing). Most non-EU clients start with Wise for initial operations and open a traditional bank account when ready to visit Poland or when VAT refund volume justifies it.
Step 6: Ongoing Operations
Once operational, your company has monthly obligations: VAT declarations (JPK), KSeF e-invoicing (mandatory from April 2026), and bookkeeping. Annual obligations include financial statements and KRS filings. LEXCARTA’s accounting and compliance program covers all statutory reporting from €350/month for active companies.
Timelines: Ready-Made vs New Company
| Step | Ready-Made (LEXCARTA) | New Company (S24) | New Company (Notary) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation / transfer | 2–5 days | 1–3 days (KRS) | 1–3 weeks (KRS) |
| VAT EU activation | Already active | 3–4 weeks | 3–4 weeks |
| EORI activation | Already active | 1–2 weeks | 1–2 weeks |
| Total to operational | 2–5 days | 5–7 weeks | 6–10 weeks |
For non-EU entrepreneurs, the ready-made route is the fastest path to an operational EU entity. The company, VAT EU, and EORI are already in place — you only need to complete the ownership transfer.
Costs
Formation
| Package | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Structured EU Setup | €2,200 | Ready-made sp. z o.o., VAT EU, EORI, registered address (1 year), CRBR, full documentation in English |
| Premium EU Setup | €3,000 | Everything above + 6 months accounting, compliance onboarding, dedicated account manager, same-day transfer |
| E-signature (optional) | +€350 | Qualified electronic signature, 3 years, video verification |
Ongoing (Year 1)
| Cost item | Range |
|---|---|
| Accounting (monthly) | €150–500/month depending on activity |
| Registered address (after Year 1) | €300–600/year |
| E-signature renewal | €350 / 3 years |
| Banking | €0–15/month |
For a detailed cost breakdown, see our article on the cost of running a company in Poland.
Real Scenarios: How Non-EU Clients Use a Polish Company
Every company formation is different, but most non-EU entrepreneurs fall into one of these patterns.
Scenario A: Amazon Seller — Turkey
A Turkish entrepreneur sells private-label products on Amazon. He needs an EU legal entity to act as importer of record and to comply with GPSR requirements. He forms a Polish sp. z o.o. as an individual shareholder, obtains an e-signature via video call, and has the company operational within 4 days. Goods ship from Turkey to Amazon’s Polish fulfillment centres. The company handles customs clearance (EORI), issues invoices (KSeF), and reports through Pan-European FBA. Monthly accounting covers VAT, JPK, and OSS for cross-border B2C sales.
→ Related: Amazon & E-Commerce service page
Scenario B: Trading Company — Hong Kong Parent
A Hong Kong trading company wants an EU hub for importing electronics components from Shenzhen and distributing them to clients in Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The HK Ltd becomes the 100% shareholder of a Polish sp. z o.o. The company registration certificate from Hong Kong is apostilled and translated. The director (a HK resident) manages the Polish company remotely via e-signature. The Polish entity imports goods through Gdańsk port using its EORI number, stores them in a Polish warehouse, and sells B2B across the EU under the reverse-charge mechanism. Intrastat declarations are filed monthly due to high trade volumes.
→ Related: Trade & Import-Export service page
Scenario C: Consulting / SaaS — India
An Indian IT company provides consulting services to enterprise clients in the EU. Several clients require their vendors to be EU-based entities with GDPR-compliant data processing. The Indian company forms a Polish sp. z o.o. (Indian Pvt Ltd as shareholder) to issue EU invoices, sign EU contracts, and process data under EU jurisdiction. The Polish entity operates with minimal overhead: remote management, Wise Business for payments, and monthly accounting at the consulting tier (€200–300/month). No physical goods, no EORI needed — but VAT EU registration is essential for reverse-charge invoicing to EU business clients.
→ Related: SaaS & Digital service page
Country-Specific Notes
The formation process is the same regardless of nationality, but some countries have specific documentation requirements.
China (PRC)
China joined the Hague Apostille Convention in November 2023. Documents issued by Chinese authorities can now be apostilled directly — previously, a more complex legalisation process was required. This significantly simplifies company formation for Chinese entrepreneurs. Company registration certificates from China must be apostilled and translated into Polish by a sworn translator.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong has been part of the Hague Apostille Convention since 1965 (through the UK, continued after 1997). HK company documents are straightforward to apostille. Hong Kong is one of the most common jurisdictions for parent companies owning Polish sp. z o.o. entities, particularly in trade and e-commerce.
Turkey
Turkey is a Hague Convention member. Apostille is straightforward. Poland and Turkey have a double tax treaty that may reduce withholding tax on dividends. Turkey is one of the most active source countries for LEXCARTA company formations — particularly for Amazon sellers and trading companies.
India
India is a Hague Convention member. Documents can be apostilled through the Ministry of External Affairs. The Poland-India double tax treaty provides for reduced withholding tax rates. Indian IT companies and consulting firms are a growing segment of LEXCARTA’s client base.
UAE
The UAE joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2024. Previously, UAE documents required a more complex legalisation process through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Polish embassy. Apostille is now the standard route. UAE free zone companies and mainland LLCs can both serve as shareholders of a Polish sp. z o.o.
Countries Without Apostille
If your country is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents must go through a full legalisation process: notarisation in your country → authentication by your Ministry of Foreign Affairs → legalisation by the Polish embassy or consulate in your country. This adds time (2–4 weeks) but does not prevent company formation. LEXCARTA guides clients through the legalisation process for non-Hague countries.
Why Poland — Not Estonia, Netherlands, or Germany
Non-EU entrepreneurs often consider multiple EU jurisdictions. Here is why most LEXCARTA clients choose Poland:
- 9% CIT for companies under €2M revenue — lowest in the EU for SMEs
- 2–5 day formation with ready-made companies — VAT EU and EORI active from day one
- 100% remote — e-signature via video call, no visit required
- Real EU substance — unlike Estonia’s e-Residency, a Polish company provides genuine economic presence (office, accounting, compliance infrastructure)
- Logistics hub — 10–11 Amazon fulfillment centres, deep-water ports, centre of Europe
- Cost efficiency — accounting from €150/month, registered address from €25/month
- No banking crisis — unlike Estonia (hundreds of licences revoked 2022–2023), Polish banks operate normally for foreign-owned companies
For detailed jurisdiction comparisons, see our articles on Poland vs Estonia and why start a business in Poland.
Start Your EU Company
LEXCARTA is a licensed Polish law firm — not a registration agency. We have formed over 500 companies since 2013 for entrepreneurs from 30+ countries. Every formation is supervised by licensed attorneys, with fixed pricing and full English-language service.
If you are a non-EU entrepreneur ready to establish your EU presence, check your eligibility or schedule a free consultation. No obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa to own a Polish company?
No. Company ownership does not require a visa or residence permit. You can own and manage a Polish company entirely from abroad. A visa or residence permit is only needed if you plan to live or work in Poland physically. Company directors who do not reside in Poland do not need a work permit if their stay is under 6 months per calendar year.
Can my existing foreign company own the Polish sp. z o.o.?
Yes. Any foreign legal entity — Ltd, LLC, GmbH, A.Ş., Pvt Ltd, Pte Ltd — can be the 100% shareholder. You will need the parent company’s registration documents apostilled (or legalised) and translated into Polish.
Do I need to speak Polish?
No. LEXCARTA operates entirely in English. All corporate documents, correspondence with authorities, and accounting reports are provided in English. Court filings and tax submissions are in Polish (as required by law), but your accountant and legal team handle these on your behalf.
What is the minimum capital I need?
The minimum share capital for a sp. z o.o. is PLN 5,000 (approximately €1,150). This is deposited upon formation. There is also a small tax on capital (PCC) of 0.5%, which amounts to approximately €6. No additional capital investment is legally required.
How much does it cost in total to get started?
The Structured package is €2,200 and the Premium package is €3,000 (including 6 months of accounting). Add €350 for an e-signature if needed. Share capital of ~€1,150 is deposited into the company’s account. Total first-month cost: approximately €3,500–4,500 depending on the package chosen. See the full breakdown in our article on the cost of running a company in Poland.