Moving to Poland

Whether you’re looking to relocate to Poland for short-term work or want to take
steps to move there permanently, there are a whole host of things you need to know.
Here, we provide a guide to help you learn more about the country and culture before
you make your move.

Facts & Stats

Capital: Warsaw

Population: 38,628,927 (2016 est.)

Climate: July is the warmest month (27°C), and December the coldest (-10°C).

Nationality: Polish 93.52%, Silesian 1.09%, German 0.28%, Belarusian 0.12%,

Ukrainian 0.12%, Kashubian 0.04%, Romani 0.03%, Other 4.80% (2011 census)

Religions: (Based on 2011 survey of 91.2% of the population) Roman Catholic 87.5%

(around 75% who are practicing), Opting out of responding 7.1%, Non-believer 2.4%,
Not stated 1.6%, Eastern Orthodox 1.3%, Other religions 1%.

Government: Republic

Currency: Polish Zloty

Local time: GMT+01:00

National Holidays: Constitution Day, 1 May (1791), Independence Day, 11 November

(1918).
Ukrainian Embassy in Warsaw, Poland: al. Jana Chrystiana Szucha 7
00-580 Warszawa Poland.
(+48) 22 629 34 46, (+48) 22 622 47 97
emb_pl@mfa.gov.ua
poland.mfa.gov.ua

Useful links:
https://krakow.pl/zalacznik/251029
https://career.xeos.aero/files/presentation-relocation-to-poland.pdf
https://www.put.poznan.pl/sites/default/files/attachments/live_and_work_in_poznan._2017.pdf
The Languages of Poland
The official language of the country is Polish, and around 38.5 million people in Poland
speak it (as well as it being spoken as a second language in several nearby countries).

A Slavic language, the Polish alphabet has 9 additional letters to those used in the basic
Latin alphabet, making a total of 33. It is the second most spoken Slavic language after
Russian, and some of its vocabulary is shared with the languages of other neighbouring
Slavic countries – Czech, Slovak, Belarusian, and Ukrainian.

There are a number of officially recognised minority languages that are spoken in
Poland; Belarusian, Czech, Lithuanian, German, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian Armenian,
Hebrew, and Yiddish, and there is also one regional language; Kashubian

English is the most common foreign language spoken in Poland.

Local Culture & Values

With a rich history that can be traced back over hundreds of years, Poland has a unique
and diverse culture. The majority of all people living in Poland (about 60%) have settled
in the country’s urban areas. There are quite a few bigger towns in Poland, with life in
Poland focusing on five of them, which qualify as major cities. In Warsaw and other
major cities there has been a recent increase in the inward migration of other
nationalities.
When it comes to local culture, religion plays a vital role in society and an even bigger
part in Polish culture.
The country’s many traditions and local customs emerged from Latin and Byzantine
influences and were strongly shaped by various European occupiers.The culture is a
rather welcoming one. Even if you do not speak the language fluently yet, you will
probably be quickly included and find new friends in Poland.
 It is common for most businesses to close on religious holidays – they are
considered to be national holidays in Poland.
 Christmas is considered the religious holiday that holds the most importance,
with celebrations lasting a full 2 1/2 days.November 1st, All Saints Day is another
very important religious holiday on the Polish calendar. It is a time to honour
loved ones who are no longer with them, with many Poles visiting cemeteries.
 Poland is one of the most devoutly religious countries in Europe.
 The very large percentage of the country is Catholic, making for a conservative
country with strong family values. It is still a country where family values and
Catholicism dominate many aspects of life.
 Many of the younger generation speak English, whilst the older generations do
not, which makes learning at least some Polish vital in order to be able to go
about day-to-day life.
 When it comes to social structure, family is right at the heart of everything and
family obligations will always come first. Whilst extended family is still very much
a part of any individual’s social group, Poles mark a distinct difference between
this group, an inner circle so to speak, and any outsiders. This inner nucleus is
made up of family and close friends, with interaction within this group and with
outsiders being very different. Poles rely very much on the people in their inner
circle when it comes to advice, help with finding a job, assistance with official
decisions and even finding an apartment.

Good to know
 They don’t serve milk in a milk bar.
Yes, that’s right. Milk Bars or “Bar mleczny” in Poland are not literally bars that
serve milk, but rather, they are local cafeterias that serve traditional Polish dishes
for cheap. Milk bars are the usual restaurants that workers frequent for lunch on
a regular work day. Milk bars gained prominence during economic depression
and World War II in Poland.

 Shop during public holidays!

But know that you will regret it. Most people rush the stores to buy food and gifts
or whatever they need for the holiday on the holiday itself. Queues can last for
about 30 minutes to an hour and you might get into fights over a can of beans.
It’s totally a local thing to do, but you should know better and just shop before the
holidays.

 Poland is also known for being quite unpredictable, primarily because it is a

country known for its wealth of biological life. Its green campaigns are famous
especially for eco-friendly tourists and expats who can’t get over the country’s
successful exploits as nature’s defenders, so don’t be surprised if you happen to
be riding the train with a horse or a goat.