The change of residence from France to Poland – although taking place within the European Union – involves certain formalities and the need to comply with several important procedures. If you are planning such a move, it is worth preparing in advance in legal and organisational terms. In this article, we discuss key aspects of the move, including documents related to confirmation of registration, insurance and formalities at the employment office.
1. Preparations for departure from France
Check-out and confirmation of registration
In France, there is no classic ‘de-registration’ such as in Poland. Instead, documents confirming your address of residence (e.g. Justificatif de domicile), issued by your municipality or town hall, or – in the case of rented accommodation – confirmation from your landlord (the so-called Attestation d’hébergement) are often required. In some situations, it may also be useful to have a certificate from the EDF (energy supplier) or another institution confirming that you have paid your housing bills.
Before leaving France, take care:
- Settlement of contracts (rent, energy, internet, telephony).
- Tax settlement: If you are leaving during the fiscal year, it is worth checking whether you are required to file a declaration with the tax office (Direction générale des Finances publiques).
- Close the bank account (if necessary) or inform the bank of the change of address.
Cancellation of health insurance in France (Carte Vitale)
In France, health insurance is evidenced by the Carte Vitale card, granted under the Assurance Maladie system. If you end up working in France and no longer intend to benefit from French benefits, notify the local health insurance fund (CPAM – Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie) of your departure. In some cases, you may retain your entitlement for a limited period of time (e.g. sickness benefit), but ultimately, when you move to Poland, you will switch to the Polish insurance scheme.
If you intend to continue working remotely (for a company based in France) or are self-employed in France, the situation may require an additional arrangement of the place of contribution (EU coordination).
Transport of property
Moving within the European Union does not require standard customs procedures (as long as you are not transporting restricted items, such as weapons, high-value works of art or animals subject to special regulations). You can:
- Use the services of a removal company: This ensures that the items being moved are insured and streamlines the packing and transport process.
- Organise your own transport: hire a minibus or truck. Ensure that your possessions are secure, especially glass or valuable items.
- Send parcels in stages: Unless you have a large number of items, it is sometimes worth considering courier shipments or what is known as cargo consolidation (you join a larger shipment).
2. Formalities on arrival in Poland
Registration in Poland
Upon arrival in Poland, you must register (permanently or temporarily) with the municipality/city office competent for your place of residence. It is necessary to:
- Identity document (identity card or passport).
- Registration application (available at the office or online).
- Document confirming the right to the premises (title deed, lease agreement, owner’s declaration).
For non-Polish nationals, it is additionally worth checking the rules of residence in Poland – EU citizens have the right to stay, but in the long term they may need a certificate of registration of residence in Poland.
Health insurance
When you move to Poland (and, for example, when you start working under a contract of employment), you will be covered by the National Health Fund (NFZ) insurance scheme. If you are self-employed, you will settle your premiums yourself with the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS). Remember to:
- Apply for Social Security (if you are setting up your own business or starting work).
- Apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you are planning business or private travel outside Poland (EU/EFTA area).
For those who will continue to be insured in France (e.g. working remotely for a French employer), there are rules for the coordination of social security systems in the EU. In this case, it may be necessary to obtain an A1 form, which confirms the appropriateness of the insurance.
Employment office and formalities when seeking employment
If you are planning to look for a job in Poland and are not currently working:
- Registration with the Employment Office: You can register as unemployed or looking for work. The Employment Office in your place of residence will provide information about job vacancies, training, language or vocational courses.
- Transfer of unemployment benefit (U2 form): If you have been receiving benefits in France (Pôle Emploi) and wish to continue receiving benefits in Poland, check the possibility to transfer them under the EU social security coordination rules. It will be necessary to obtain the appropriate form (U2) from the French labour office.
- Polskie uznanie kwalifikacji zawodowych: W niektórych zawodach regulowanych (np. pielęgniarka, nauczyciel, inżynier budownictwa) konieczne może być przeprowadzenie procedury uznania kwalifikacji z Francji w Polsce.
3. Additional organisational aspects
Setting up a bank account and financial matters
- Opening a bank account in Poland is easier if you have a Polish identity card. If you are a foreigner, it is a good idea to find a bank that caters to non-Polish customers and has a multilingual service.
- Transfers from France to Poland: As both countries are in the SEPA zone, the costs of such transactions are usually low (comparable to domestic transfers in euros).
- Tax settlement: If you earn income in both countries, pay attention to the double taxation treaty between Poland and France.
Vehicle registration
If you bring your own car registered in France into Poland:
Deregistration in France: You can do this online via the ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés) portal or directly at the prefecture (in practice, most cases are handled electronically).
Registration in Poland: You must report to the communications department of the office responsible for your place of registration in Poland. The documents usually required are:
- vehicle registration certificate (Certificat d’immatriculation) with information on deregistration,
- proof of ownership (invoice or purchase contract),
- translated documents (if they are not issued in Polish, some offices do not always require a translation, depending on local regulations),
- confirmation of passing a technical inspection in Poland,
- confirmation of payment of excise duty (for passenger cars).
Adaptation in Poland
- Language: For returning Poles, there is no language barrier, but for French or foreigners, Polish can be quite a challenge. It is worth thinking about a language course or the support of an interpreter for the first formalities.
- Culture and customs: Poles are hospitable and appreciate direct contact. Official documents often still need to be in writing, but the digitalisation of administration is progressing and many matters can be handled online (e.g. ePUAP platform, Trusted Profile).
- Cost of living: generally lower than in France (especially the cost of renting or buying a flat outside major cities), although one has to bear in mind rising energy and food prices across Europe.
Przeprowadzka z Francji do Polski
Organising a move from France to Poland includes both administrative matters (closing or re-registering insurance in France, checking out in the French system) and issues related to arranging yourself upon arrival (registration in the Polish office, health insurance, formalities in the labour office). Thanks to the fact that both countries are part of the European Union, you do not have to worry about complicated customs procedures when transporting property, but it is worth taking care of car registration or transferring unemployment benefits in good time.
The most important thing is to prepare a proper plan of action, gather in one place the documents confirming your registration in France, insurance (Carte Vitale) and possible certificates from the labour office (U2 form if you intend to transfer benefits). A well-organised moving process will help you avoid additional stress and smoothly start your new phase of life in Poland.
