Who can run a business like a Pole
Citizens of EU and EEA countries and Switzerland run a business on the same terms as Polish citizens (Art. 4 para. 1 of the Act on the participation of foreign entrepreneurs), as do non-EU foreigners who (Art. 4 para. 2):
- have a permanent residence permit or an EU long-term resident permit,
- have a temporary residence permit, among others, for studies, for a researcher, for family reunification, on the basis of an EU Blue Card or as the spouse of a Polish citizen living in Poland,
- have a temporary residence permit for business, granted to continue a business already entered in CEIDG,
- have refugee status, subsidiary protection, a humanitarian or tolerated stay permit or enjoy temporary protection,
- have a valid Pole's Card,
- are family members of an EU citizen.
The entitlement remains while you wait for a decision on a further permit, if before the application you had it thanks to a permit from the second point of the list (Art. 4 para. 2 point 5).
Who can only use a company
Other foreigners can run a business only in the form of a limited partnership, a limited joint-stock partnership, a limited liability company, a simple joint-stock company or a joint-stock company (Art. 4 para. 3). See: company and management board.
PESEL for CEIDG
From 1 November 2026 a foreign person applying for entry in CEIDG must have a PESEL number or an EU identifier for cross-border identification (Art. 4 para. 9, added by the Act Dz.U. 2026 poz. 507). See: PESEL for foreigners.
A business alone does not give a right of residence. If the business is to be the purpose of stay, see the conditions of the permit for business in the hub business.