How much does it cost to build a house in Poland?

Disclaimer: The contents of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Decisions related to tax should be made after thorough research, consultation and verification from a qualified financial and legal advisor.

Planning a move to Poland from the UK? If you can’t find what you’re looking for in the country’s existing housing stock - or you want to create something bespoke - you might want to consider building your own home.

However, turning your dream into reality will often come down to money.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the cost of building a house in Poland as a UK national.

This includes essential info on the process, including building costs in Poland and the different fees and taxes you’ll need to budget for.

We’ll also look at the best way to pay for overseas building work in Polish zloty (PLN), using low-cost solutions such as the Wise account.

Open your Wise account

Why build in Poland?

There are many reasons why you might want to build a house in Poland.

To start with, it offers a chance to build your dream house, to your exact specifications, in the perfect location.

You may be moving to Poland because you have connections there already, whether through family, work or business. Or you may simply be drawn there by the affordable cost of living, fantastic central European location, great job opportunities and rich cultural heritage of the country.

It could also be cheaper to build your perfect home rather than buy a property abroad, especially in expensive areas of Poland where house prices are out of your budget.

Can a UK citizen buy or build a house in Poland?

Yes, you can build and buy property in Poland as a UK national.

However, as a non-EU citizen you may need to apply for a permit from the Polish Ministry of Interior to buy either a house or land to build on. You shouldn’t need this to buy an apartment.¹

You should also be entitled to build a property on the land you buy. But crucially, only as long as the plot is designated for building purposes according to the Local Spatial Development Plan (Miejscowy Plan Zagospodarowania Przestrzennego or MPZP) for the area - and not earmarked for anything else.

We’ll look at that in more detail later in this guide.

Can you build your own house in Poland?

Yes, you can build your own home in Poland, and you may even be able to do it without the need for a building permit. New rules introduced in January 2022 allow for the construction of single-family homes of up to 70 square metres without the need for a building permit.²

If you want to build anything larger than this, you’re likely to need house plans drawn up by a fully qualified architect or other professional in order to get a building permit. This means that you may not be able to manage your self-build project entirely alone - you’ll need to appoint some professionals along the way.

When building a house abroad, it’s also strongly recommended to seek as much professional advice as you can throughout the building process.

Buying land in Poland

Before you can start building your dream home in Poland, you’ll need to find and buy a suitable plot of land.

First things first - you need to find a plot of land to build on. You’ll need to check the Local Spatial Development Plan (Miejscowy Plan Zagospodarowania Przestrzennego or MPZP) for the area, to ensure the land is zoned for residential property.³

If there isn’t a local MPZP in place, you can apply to the mayor of the city for a Decision on Building Conditions. This is known as Decyzja o warunkach zabudowy, and it's a document which sets out how a plot of land can be developed.³

You’re unlikely to be able to buy or build on agricultural land, as there are lots of restrictions on it in Poland.

To find your plot, you can use a local agent or one specialising in overseas property and land sales. Or you can start your search online, using real estate sites such as:

• Otodom.pl
• Nieruchomosci-online.pl
• Adresowo.pl
• Morizon.pl
• Domiporta.pl

How to buy land in Poland

The process of purchasing land in Poland usually looks something like this:

1. Find a plot of land to purchase.
2. Check its suitability for building with the local MPZP
3. Check whether you need to apply for a permit from the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji or MSWiA)
4. Arrange your funding and get your documentation together, including your identification.
5. Make an offer, and negotiate and agree the price with the seller.
6. Appoint a solicitor to check contracts and carry out due diligence checks
7. Sign the preliminary agreement
8. Once the legal work has been carried out, sign the final Purchase Agreement (Umowa Sprzedaży) and transfer the funds to the seller. The land will be registered in your name in the local Land Registry.

Can you build on your own land in Poland?

You can build on your own land in Poland, but only if the following conditions are met:

• The land you own is designated for residential buildings in the local MPZP
• There are no restrictions or conditions affecting your plans outlined in the Decision on Building Conditions for the plot
• You have a building permit (unless not needed - for homes under 70 metres squared²).

Can you build on undeveloped land?

You may find it difficult to get permission to build on undeveloped land, especially if it isn’t already designated for building on - or it’s agricultural land.

The best way forward is to contact the local planning department or other relevant authorities to find out about the status of land and the intentions for it under local zoning plans.

You should also bear in mind that rural plots can be difficult to build on, as the terrain may not be suitable and the land may not be connected to mains power, water and sewage systems. Access for construction vehicles may also be a problem.

Do you need planning permission to build in Poland?

In order to build a house in Poland, you’ll usually need to apply for a building permit.

The exception to this is if you’re building a smaller house under 70 m sq that you intend to live in.²

You’ll still need to meet certain conditions though, such as having plans drawn up by a suitably qualified professional and issuing a notification for building works to the local authorities.

Poland is known for its bureaucracy, so it’s likely that there will still be plenty of paperwork and requirements even if the process is somewhat simplified by the introduction of this new rule.

For larger properties, you’ll need a building permit. You can apply for this at the architecture and construction department of your local authority.³

How long does it take to get planning permission in Poland?

According to Polish construction law, the authorities should issue a decision on your building permit within 65 days of the application being submitted.³

How much does it cost to build a house in Poland?

Now we come to the crucial issue of how much it will actually cost you to build your dream home in Poland.

There are many different fees and taxes to factor in, and lots of people to pay - including your architect and building contractors.

How much does an architect cost in Poland?

Architect’s fees in Poland will vary depending on the specific project. Some architects may charge a fixed fee, an hourly/daily rate or a percentage of the overall construction costs.

As a very rough guide, you can expect architect’s fees to be around 130 to 200 PLN (£26.54 to £40.83 GBP) per sq m for the full plans required to submit an application for a building permit.⁴

Is building work expensive in Poland?

Building work in Poland is generally much cheaper than in the UK, although it depends what you’re building and where in the country you are.

The cost per square metre in Poland is 5,550 to 6,000 PLN, which is around £1,122 to £1,224 in GBP.⁵

In the UK, it’s around £1,750 and £3,000 GBP per m2.⁶

How much do builders get paid in Poland?

The average salary for a builder in Poland is 46 PLN (£9.39 GBP) an hour, or 95,083 PLN (£19,412 GBP) a year.⁷

How much is a building permit in Poland?

The admin fee to issue a building permit is extremely low, at around 17 PLN (£3.47 GBP).⁸

However, there may be other admin fees involved, especially if you need to have additional surveys or plans drawn up, or use other professional services, in order to complete the application process.

What is the tax on a new house in Poland?

When you own land or property in Poland, you’ll need to pay something known as Real Estate Tax (RET) to the local authority.

For land, the rate is calculated based on the total area in square metres, while for property it’s the total usable area in square metres.

The rates of RET for 2025 are 1.38 PLN (£0.28 GBP) per square metre for land, and 1.19 PLN (£0.24 GBP) per square metre for residential buildings.⁹

You’ll also pay 2% in property transfer tax when you initially buy the land or property.¹⁰

Polish building challenges and restrictions

Now, let’s take a look at some of the challenges you may need to overcome when building a house in Poland.

Building permits

A building permit is essential before you can legally build on a plot of land you own, unless you’re building a smaller property under 70 sq m.²

Different types of permits

In Poland, the main permit you will need to build a new house is a Pozwolenie na budowę. This gives you permission to build a property in line with the region’s zoning plan and conditions.

You may also need:

• A land/property purchase permit from the Polish Ministry of Interior, as a buyer from outside the EU
• A permit for cutting down trees, if there are any in the way of the building site³
• An occupancy permit once the work is complete, following an inspection and sign off by the local Building Supervision Authority.³

Documents needed for applying for your permit

When submitting the application for your permit, you’ll need to provide the following supporting documents (among others):³

• A completed application form
• Blueprints and design plans drawn up by an architect or other suitably qualified professional
• A statement on the right to use the land for construction purposes
• Evidence that the plot is zoned for residential use under the local zoning plan, such as a copy of the ‘Decision on Building Conditions’ for the plot or area.

It’s important to check with the local planning authority what exact documents you’ll need, to avoid any delays.

Environmental restrictions

Before starting any construction work, it’s important to check that the terrain is stable enough for excavation and building.

You may be required to commission a geological report, or surveys to assess any seismic or hydrogeological risks or constraints.

Historic and artistic restrictions

It’s also important to check whether there are any restrictions or laws in the local municipality governing how your new building should look. You’ll find details of these in the local spatial development plan for the area.

There may be restrictions related to protected areas or listed buildings, which determine what can and can’t be built in the area.

For example, the old town areas of both Warsaw and Krakow are protected UNESCO heritage sites, which means lots of restrictions on the appearance of buildings.

Over in the city of Gdynia, the local spatial development plan for parts of the downtown area stipulates that new or renovated buildings must use specific materials and have basic façade colours in shades of white, grey and beige.¹¹

Language barriers

If you’re not fluent in Polish, it’s a smart idea to appoint a multilingual project manager - or hire a translator.

You should also aim to get any agreements in writing, and have those agreements translated into English. Otherwise, the risk of miscommunication and misunderstandings is high - and this could derail your project.

Paying your builders, contractors and architects

You’ll also need to think about how you’ll pay your contractors, builders, tradespeople and architects in Polish zlotys (PLN). You’ll need to make sure you’re not losing out to currency conversion, so opening a local bank account could be a good idea.

Alternatively, open a Wise account online and you can make fast, secure payments in PLN for low fees* and mid-market exchange rates. It’s a low cost option that could save you money throughout the project.

Paying for materials and construction costs

It’s recommended to do some research on the cost of construction materials while putting together your budget.

You’ll also need to speak to your building contractor about available payment methods, but bank transfer or cash are likely to be the most commonly accepted.

How much money do you need to build a house in Poland?

The amount you’ll need to build a house in Poland varies considerably depending on where you’re building, what size property and the specifications of the project.

As a ballpark figure, you can expect to pay roughly 5,550 to 6,000 PLN (around £1,122 to £1,224 in GBP) per square metre to build a house in Poland.⁵

To calculate your construction costs, you’ll need to multiply this by the total square metre size of your planned property.

You’ll also need to factor in architect fees, building permit application fees, taxes and other associated costs.

Do you need a Polish bank account to build a house in Poland?

It isn’t mandatory to have a Polish bank account in order to build a house in the country.

However, you could find it difficult to cover your costs and pay international bills without one.

Ways to purchase land and pay for building work abroad

There are a few different ways you can pay expenses in Poland, while still based in the UK.

You can use your bank, but bear in mind that there may be relatively high fees related to sending money overseas. You may also lose out to currency conversion, as banks often add a margin to the mid-market exchange rate.

Another option is to use a specialist money transfer service like Wise. Open a Wise account and you can use the dedicated service for large amount transfers to send money safely and securely overseas.

Wise - the easy, low-cost way to pay for overseas projects

Open a Wise account at the start of your project and you’ll be able to quickly and easily send money between the UK and Poland.

This is a good way to keep currency exchange costs down, and make sure everyone gets paid on time.

There’s even dedicated support for large amount transfers, essential when you’re buying land or property, or paying large bills.

It’s could save you money and guarantees you mid-market exchange rate with no margin on top*.

➡️ Open a Wise account

FAQs

How long does it take to build a house in Poland?

It all depends on the complexity and size of the house you’re building, but you may want to plan for a long building schedule.

The average time to build a residential house from commencement to occupancy in Poland in 2023 was a huge 43 months.¹² This may be due to delays in planning, issuing of permits or the occupants moving in.

What size property can I build in Poland?

The size of property you’ll be permitted to build will be set by the local authority, according to its zoning plan. There may also be height limits, as well as rules on proximity to other houses.

How much does an average house in Poland cost?

While Poland house prices vary depending on where and what you buy, the average house price per square metre is between 10,809 PLN and 14,457 PLN (approx. £2,206 GBP to £2,951 GBP).¹³

This is based on buying an apartment, with the higher end of the range relating to apartments within city centres.

Do Brits with homes in Poland pay tax?

Yes, non-EU citizens including UK nationals must pay the local Real Estate Tax (RET) just like Polish citizens.

You’ll also have to pay property transfer tax when you buy the land or property, and capital gains tax (CGT) when selling property in Poland.

Can I get residency in Poland if I buy a house?

There’s no direct route to permanent residency through the purchase of property in Poland, although it could potentially support an application.

To apply for residency there as a non-EU national, you’ll usually need to go down the route of employment, starting a business, studying or having family ties in Poland.

Are building materials cheaper in Poland?

Yes, building materials in Poland do tend to be cheaper than in the UK,¹⁴ but it does very much depend on what you’re buying, the quantities and where you buy it from.

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Sources used:

1. Investropa - why you may need a permit to buy land or property
2. TGCV Corporate Lawyers - new building permit rule
3. Dudkowiak & Putyra - construction law in Poland
4. LaFoA Architektura - estimate of architect fees
5. Warsaw Business Journal - cost of building a house in the Poland per sq m
6. Urbanist Architecture - cost of building a house in the UK per sq m
7. Economic Research Institute - average house builder salary in Poland
8. KB.pl - cost of building permit
9. Dudkowiak & Putyra - Real Estate Tax (RET) in Poland
10. Dudkowiak & Putyra - tax in Poland
11. Protection of Cultural Heritage - restrictions on materials and facade colours in Gdynia
12. Statistics Poland - construction results - time it takes to build a house in Poland
13. Numbeo - average property prices in Poland
14. Fenbro - importing building materials from Poland

Sources last checked on date: 16-Oct-2025