Як я б переносив свій бізнес до Польщі у 2026 році: дозвіл на проживання, JDG і перші 30 днів
When acquaintances ask me where to start transferring business to Poland, I always answer one thing: not from company registration, but from legal status. Business in Poland rests on the basis on which you yourself are there. So let's start right here. I will be honest right away: the rules for citizens of Ukraine in Poland have changed more than once in recent years, so check all terms, amounts and conditions that you hear about from friends on official websites.
First the status, then the company
Many Ukrainians are in Poland on the basis of special rules adopted after the start of a full-scale war. These rules have been updated, and what was in force a year ago may no longer be in force. Check your current status and what business rights it gives on the official portal of the Polish government gov.pl and on the website of the Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców).
If you are planning a long-term residence, you will most likely need a beaten card, i.e. a temporary residence permit. The application is submitted to the voivodeship office (urząd wojewódzki) at the place of residence. The grounds are different: work, doing business, studying, family. For the basis related to one's own activity, the requirements for income, documents and business plan should be clarified in your voivodeship, because practice varies, and queues in some cities are long.
JDG: The easiest form to start
JDG, jednoosobowa działalność gospodarcza, is the Polish analogue of FOP. Registration takes place through CEIDG, the central register of entrepreneurs, and can be done online. This will require a PESEL number and usually an electronic signature profile such as Profil Zaufany. Whether you as a foreigner have the right to register a JDG depends on your status, so check it before filing.
During registration, you choose PKD activity codes, a tax form and specify the address. The tax form significantly affects how much you will pay, as well as contributions to ZUS, the Polish social insurance body. I will not name specific rates, because they change every year. Here is my main practical advice: find an accountant (księgowa) even before registering. A good accountant will explain in one conversation which form of taxation is suitable for your model.
Should the Ukrainian FOP be transferred
Підписуйтеся на наші соцмережі
A question that everyone asks. Closing or leaving the Ukrainian FOP, how to avoid double taxation, where you are a tax resident, is not something that should be decided on advice in the chat. The answer depends on where you actually live, where your customers are from and how your income is arranged. Talk to an accountant who understands both systems.
About customers and contracts
If your clients remain in Ukraine or in other countries, think in advance how you will issue invoices, in which currency you will receive payment and whether you need to renegotiate contracts with new details. Customers should be notified of the changes in writing so that there are no delays in payments in the first months.
First 30 days: my checklist
Week 1. Housing with a lease agreement, because the address is needed for everything. PESEL number, if you don't already have one. Polish SIM card.
Week 2. Bank account, personal and separate for business. Profil Zaufany. First consultation with an accountant.
Week 3. Registration of JDG through CEIDG, receipt of NIP and REGON, choice of tax form, registration with ZUS.
Week 4. Submission or preparation of documents for a beaten card, if you need it. Setting up invoicing (faktura) and checking whether your activity falls under the mandatory electronic tools introduced by the tax office.
Separately, create a table with all dates: when your current status ends, when you need to apply, when to pay contributions. A missed deadline is more expensive than a planning hour.
Be careful with scammers
I keep having ads like «card beaten in a week» or «guaranteed company registration without PESEL». No one can guarantee the decision of the voivodeship administration. Do not give the original passports to outsiders, do not pay «to intermediaries» for what can be done for free on gov.pl, and always check the account details for paying government fees on the official website. If someone writes on behalf of a government agency in a messenger and demands urgent payment, this is almost certainly a hoax.
Where I kept everything in one place
In order not to keep dozens of links in your head, it is convenient to have one structured plan. MigrantIQ has a free step-by-step analysis of the country: MigrantIQ guide to Poland .
Important
This is not legal or tax advice, but practical experience and general information. The rules change, so before each step, check the current requirements on official websites or contact a licensed specialist.
Finally
Transferring business to Poland is quite real, and many Ukrainians have already gone through this path. The secret is simple: first legal status, then accountant, then JDG, and only after this scaling. Take your time, check everything on official sources and don't trust those who promise too easy a path.