Planning to buy in Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot or Szczecin? If you're not an EU citizen, there's an important rule you need to know before you pay any deposit.
What is the border zone?The border zone (strefa nadgraniczna) includes not only municipalities along Poland's land borders, but also coastal areas. That means popular cities such as Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot, Szczecin, Świnoujście, Białystok and Przemyśl, as well as other towns in the coastal and border strip.
Who does this affect?Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland — including the UK (after Brexit), the USA, India, Ukraine and many others.
When do you need a permit?In most cases, buying a standard apartment that comes with a share in the land (full ownership, własność) requires a permit from the Polish Ministry of the Interior (MSWiA) — even if it's an ordinary flat in an apartment block.
The main exception: cooperative ownershipYou can buy an apartment in the border zone without an MSWiA permit if it's sold as a cooperative ownership right (spółdzielcze własnościowe prawo do lokalu). With this form of ownership, you don't acquire a share in the land, so no permit is needed — and the purchase follows the standard timeline.
Getting a mortgage when a permit is requiredIf your purchase needs an MSWiA permit, this must be planned before you sign a preliminary agreement or pay a deposit. The permit requires a separate set of documents, and the process can take from several months to a year or more.
That's why it's essential to check in advance:• whether the property is in the border zone• whether you need a permit in your specific situation• which documents you'll need• which bank is willing to finance this type of purchase• how to align the timelines of the bank, the seller and the ministry
Planning to buy in the border zone?Book a free consultation before you pay any deposit. We'll check the property, your documents and any restrictions — and then plan the right mortgage strategy for your situation.