Safety and security

Crime

Crime remains relatively low in Poland. Pickpocketing can be a problem in public areas and on public transport, especially in crowded situations.

Do not leave drinks or food unattended and beware of accepting drinks from strangers or recent acquaintances. There have been a small number of reports of drinks being spiked in bars and night clubs.

There have been reports of large amounts of money being taken from bank cards in some bars and night clubs in Poland. Check your bill carefully and consider paying in cash. Report any suspicious activity on your bank account immediately to your bank and to police.

Reporting a crime

If you are a victim of a crime while in Poland, report it to the local police immediately. You can contact the Embassy if you require assistance.

Loss/theft of passport

If your passport is lost or stolen, the Embassy in Warsaw may be able to issue a replacement travel document for your return home.

If you believe that your passport has been stolen, we recommend that you report this theft to the police as soon as possible.  A police report will be requested by the Embassy in order for a document to issue in case of theft.

Once a replacement document is issued, your missing passport will be considered cancelled. If this passport is found at a later date, it should not be used for travel.

We advise you to have a copy or scan of your passport information page available during your stay in case required.

Driving

Irish driving licences are accepted in Poland. It is a legal requirement to carry your full driving licence, original vehicle registration papers, ownership documents and insurance papers while driving.

If you are planning to drive in Poland, you should exercise caution. Some roads are in poor condition, driving can be dangerous and fatal car accidents are common. If visiting in winter, be aware that conditions for driving may be severe and your car should be equipped with winter tyres.

Be aware of Polish traffic laws. If you are not resident in Poland, you will be expected to pay fines immediately in cash in Polish currency to the police officer issuing the fine. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is strictly prohibited and is punishable by up to two years in prison.

You can find information in relation to bringing a vehicle into Poland here.

Hiring a vehicle

If you are hiring a vehicle, we advise you not to hand over your passport as a form of security. If you are allowing your passport to be photocopied, keep it in your sight at all times.

Check that you have adequate insurance and read the small print of the vehicle hire contract (particularly any waiver that will come into effect if the vehicle is damaged).

Local laws and customs

Personal identification

Under Polish law, if asked by Polish police, you must verify your identity by presenting photographic identification. As well as your passport, which we do not advise you carry with you unless absolutely necessary, you should carry another form of identification while in Poland, such as a driving licence or Passport Card. The Passport Card fits easily into a wallet and can be used for travel within the EU/EEA and Switzerland. It is available to Irish citizens, aged 18 and over, who hold a valid Irish passport with at least 6 months remaining validity.

Currency

The currency in Poland is the Złoty. This is available from currency exchange providers in Poland called ‘kantor’. ATMs are available in all major cities and towns. Visitors can also pay by credit or debit card in most shops, bars and restaurants.

Alcohol

It is against the law to consume alcohol in public places in Poland and fines may be imposed.

Public drunkenness (i.e. in the streets, on public transport, etc.) may be dealt with very severely by the Polish authorities, who have the right to detain people overnight in detoxification centres. If you are detained overnight in a detoxification centre, you must pay for the cost of the stay.

The drink-drive limit in Poland is 0.2 milligrams of alcohol per  millilitre of blood, which is lower than in Ireland (0.5 milligrams).

Public Transport

Public transport tickets can be purchased at ticket machines located at main bus and tram stops. Tickets must be validated at the start of a journey in the small yellow machine on the bus or tram. You will be fined on the spot if you are caught travelling without a ticket or with an invalid ticket. Digital tickets can also be purchased through mobile applications such as ‘Jakdojade’, where you can find real-time information on transport connections in Polish cities.

Taxis

Make sure you order a taxi from an official and reputable company. Official city taxis will have the name and telephone number of the taxi company on the side of the door and information about price on the window.

If ordering through a ride-share application such as Uber or Bolt, make sure that the details of the driver and car are correct before departure. You should also ensure that you are familiar with the safety and emergency features available in the application.

LGBT Travellers

Homosexuality is legal in Poland, but there is still a degree of intolerance among some sections of the population. You can find general guidance on travel for the LGBT+ community here.

Poland does not recognise marriage or civil partnership between two persons of the same sex. This can have implications should you or your spouse become ill as you may not be recognised as the next of kin. We advise you to explore the possibility of bringing written consent for you and your spouse, to authorise them to access your medical information should you become ill or require hospitalisation. The Embassy can help you to find English-speaking lawyers in Poland. 

Hen/stag parties

Stag and hen parties can often have a reputation for being disruptive for local communities. Please be sensitive to this and respectful of residents during your stay in Poland.

Dual Nationals

Under Polish law, Polish citizens with dual citizenship are treated as Polish while in Poland, even if they hold another country’s passport.

If you have dual Irish-Polish citizenship, Polish authorities may request to see a Polish passport or ID, for example, when entering or leaving Poland.

As an Irish-Polish dual citizen, you will be treated as Polish by the Polish authorities if you are arrested or detained in Poland. You will have the same rights as any other Polish citizen in these circumstances (including the right to legal representation).

The Embassy will endeavour to provide assistance to all Irish citizens in Poland but may only be able to offer limited consular assistance if you are also a Polish citizen.

Additional information

Entry requirements (visa/passport)

Irish citizens need a valid passport or passport card to enter Poland.

We advise you to have a copy or scan of your passport information page available during your stay in case required.

Climate

‌Polish winters can be very harsh by Irish standards. The average temperature in January is about -4'C but can fall as low as -25'C. It is essential to be properly dressed for the weather if travelling to Poland in the winter months.

Polish summers can be hot, with temperatures rising to over 35’C. It is important to wear appropriate clothing and to use sunscreen in the summer months. 

Travel Insurance

The Embassy cannot pay for emergency medical repatriation, repatriation of remains, or for expenses arising from a personal emergency while you are abroad. If you buy an appropriate travel insurance policy, these costs may be covered in accordance with the terms and conditions of your policy.

Buying comprehensive travel insurance can save you and your family a lot of money and stress if something goes wrong. It will also assist you to get the medical attention you need, when you need it.

Make sure your policy covers all the activities you plan to do on your trip. 

Emergency expenses

Your policy should cover:

• All medical care abroad, including evacuation by air ambulance, or other emergency procedures, and any other costs associated with an unexpected longer stay.
• Your entire trip, from departure to return. Consider an annual multi-trip policy if you are making more than one trip in the year.   
• 24-hour emergency service and assistance.
• Personal liability cover (in case you are sued for causing injury or damaging property).
• Lost and stolen possessions.
• Cancellation and curtailment.
• Any extra activities you intend to do that are excluded from standard policies (e.g. water sport activities such as jet skiing or other extreme sports).

Exclusions: You should know most insurance policies will not cover drink or drug-related incidents.

European Health Insurance Card

As an Irish resident you are entitled to get healthcare through the public system in countries of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland if you become ill or injured while on a temporary stay there. Ensure that you obtain or renew your EHIC (formerly E111) before you go, and remember, you need one for every person travelling in your group.

Apply for your EHIC and find out more information.

The EHIC is not a substitute for proper travel insurance provided by a reputable insurer. It doesn’t cover medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. Also, some private hospitals may not accept the EHIC, so you should check with the hospital administrator beforehand.

Accident and Emergency departments in Polish public hospitals may not accept private insurance membership cards and may require a cash payment if you cannot produce an EHIC card.

Registration in Poland

Irish citizens, as EU nationals, have the right to live, work and travel in Poland freely for periods of up to three months without having to register with the Polish authorities.

However, Irish citizens who plan to spend an extended period in Poland – more than 90 days – are obliged to register with the local voivodeship office (Urząd Wojewódzki) and have a Certificate of registration of residence of a European Union citizen issued.

Full information on registration can be found here: New to Poland? - Department of Foreign Affairs (dfa.ie)

Polish roads 

From 2021, a new e-toll system has taken effect on certain national roads and motorways in Poland. All necessary information regarding this new system and actions to take before driving on Polish roads can be found in English at etoll.gov.pl