Poland

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Authorization Required

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Any company transporting goods for hire and reward with vehicles (or vehicle combinations) over 3.5 tonnes needs either a zezwolenie na wykonywanie zawodu przewoźnika drogowego (domestic authorization) or a licencja wspólnotowa (Community Licence). Where a mover subcontracts the transport, the carrier’s own authorization covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold the licences that transport requires.

Four Qualifying Conditions

Required for the authorization. Dobra reputacja (good repute), zdolność finansowa (financial standing), kompetencje zawodowe (professional competence, evidenced by a Certyfikat Kompetencji Zawodowych), and posiadanie bazy (a genuine operating base), matching the EU Regulation 1071/2009 framework used across the EU.

The Licencja Wspólnotowa Automatically Covers Domestic Transport Too

Yes. A mover holding a Community Licence does not need to separately hold the domestic zezwolenie; the Community Licence covers both. However, obtaining the Community Licence itself requires the applicant to already hold (or simultaneously apply for) the domestic authorization as a precondition.

Digital Application System

Yes. Since November 27, 2023, applications for both the domestic authorization and the Community Licence can be submitted through GITD’s Portal Klienta (Client Portal), a dedicated IT system for the Bureau of International Transport.

Fees

Domestic authorization: approximately 1,000 PLN, plus 10 PLN per vehicle extract and roughly 800 PLN for the Certyfikat Kompetencji Zawodowych. Community Licence: 4,000 PLN (5-year validity) or 8,000 PLN (10-year validity), plus 440 PLN or 880 PLN per vehicle extract respectively.

Processing Time

2 to 4 weeks for the domestic authorization (varies by county); 6 to 12 weeks for the Community Licence through GITD.

Non-Transferable

Yes. A transport authorization is tied to the specific business holding it and cannot be transferred, sold, or lent to another company.

Ongoing Reporting and Review

Yes, for authorization holders. Carriers must report annually to GITD on employee and vehicle counts, and the issuing authority conducts a routine compliance review approximately once every 5 years, verifying the operating base, financial standing, and that no disqualifying convictions have occurred among decision-makers.

Vehicle Extract Required

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Each vehicle operating under the authorization needs its own extract (wypis) from the licence, which must be carried in the vehicle; operating without it during a roadside check results in immediate fines.

Consumer Protection

Yes. UOKiK (Urząd Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów) is the national authority responsible for consumer protection generally.

Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)

Yes, multi-layered. Consumers can get free advice and assistance from municipal or county consumer ombudsmen (miejski/powiatowy rzecznik konsumentów), reachable through the local Starostwo Powiatowe or Urząd Miasta, or via UOKiK’s dedicated consumer information portal (prawakonsumenta.uokik.gov.pl). A national free helpline (0 800 800 008) is also available. Disputes can additionally be resolved through Sądy Polubowne (amicable arbitration courts) attached to the Inspekcja Handlowa (Trade Inspection), free of charge to the consumer.

Industry Association

Polskie Stowarzyszenie Przeprowadzkowe (PSP) is a dedicated national moving-industry association, founded in 2005 and formally registered (with NIP, REGON, and KRS numbers), based in Warsaw. Its website is currently offline, and whether it is still active has not been confirmed. Membership is not a government licence and does not replace the requirements on this page.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Poland licenses movers under the standard EU-1071/2009 framework, with a domestic authorization (zezwolenie) issued by the local Starosta or GITD, and a Community Licence (licencja wspólnotowa), issued by GITD and requiring the domestic authorization as a precondition, automatically also covering domestic transport. These authorizations attach to the company operating the vehicles; where a mover subcontracts transport, the carrier’s own authorization covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold it. Since late 2023, applications for both run through GITD’s digital Portal Klienta. Authorizations are non-transferable, tied to annual reporting obligations, and subject to a routine compliance review roughly every 5 years. On the consumer side, UOKiK is the national authority, but the practical, accessible layer for most consumers runs through free municipal and county consumer ombudsmen, a national helpline, and amicable arbitration courts attached to the Trade Inspection. Poland also has a dedicated moving-industry association, PSP, registered since 2005, though its current activity is unconfirmed.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Company licensing (where the mover operates its own vehicles over 3.5 tonnes for hire)

1. Apply for a zezwolenie or licencja wspólnotowa through the Starosta or GITD, via the Portal Klienta digital system, paying the applicable fees (confirm current amounts directly given periodic adjustments).
2. Demonstrate good repute, financial standing, professional competence, and a genuine operating base, including the Certyfikat Kompetencji Zawodowych for the person managing transport operations, and maintain these conditions continuously for the routine compliance review conducted roughly every 5 years.
3. Report annually to GITD on employee and vehicle counts.

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

4. Obtain a vehicle extract (wypis) for each vehicle and ensure it is carried during operation.

Subcontracted transport

5. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Customer practices

6. Ensure consumer-facing practices comply with general Polish consumer protection law.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Zezwolenie na wykonywanie zawodu przewoźnika drogowego or licencja wspólnotowa heldWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles over 3.5 tonnes for hire)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Certyfikat Kompetencji Zawodowych held by the person managing transport operationsWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles over 3.5 tonnes for hire)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Qualifying conditions maintained (good repute, financial standing, genuine operating base)Where applicable (mover holds a transport authorization)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• Annual report on employee and vehicle counts submitted to GITDWhere applicable (mover holds a transport authorization)Verified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• Vehicle extract (wypis) held for each vehicle and carried during operationWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Customer practices

• Consumer-facing practices comply with Polish consumer protection lawVerified by AffirmationRequired