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Branches - Poland

Updated 10/2010

Legal requirements

Foreign businesses can open branches in Poland under the provisions of the Freedom of Business Act.

  • Freedom of Business Act polski

Many of the requirements and procedures for opening a secondary establishment are the same as for starting up a business.

Administrative procedures

Registration

Branches

Foreign companies setting up a branch in Poland must:

  •  apply for an entry in the Register of Entrepreneurs kept by the National Court Register ;
  •  state the type of business activity ;
  •  appoint a representative authorised to represent the foreign company in the branch.  A branch may conduct only the same type of activity as its parent company abroad.
  • Application for registration with the register of entrepreneurs (the main branch of a foreign insurance company) pdf [300 KB] polski  Online government service
  • Business activity - annex to the application for registration with the Register of Entrepreneurs pdf [188 KB] polski  Online government service
  • Representative of the foreign entity - annex to the application for registration in the Register of Entrepreneurs pdf [101 KB] polski  Online government service

Other requirements:

  •  a number in the National Official Business Register (REGON), and
  • a tax identification number (NIP)

Foreign companies

Foreign companies opening a branch in Poland must also:

  • provide the full name and address of their authorised representative in Poland;
  • attach the notarised signature of their authorised representative;
  • for businesses established on the basis of a founding act, agreement or statute, produce copies of these documents for the registration file of a branch together with their sworn translation into Polish;
  • for businesses operating on the basis of an entry in a register, produce a copy of the registration entry in the given register together with a sworn translation into Polish.

Foreign companies must trade under their original name alongside their legal form translated into Polish and the Polish term "oddział w Polsce" (branch in Poland).  Such businesses must also keep separate accounts in Polish.

Many requirements and procedures for opening a company branch are the same as for starting up a business.

Points of single contact in Poland

The Services Directive is a European law that aims to make life easier for businesses that wish to provide services in the European Union – in their home country or abroad. The Directive defines the rules that apply to entrepreneurs wishing to establish a business or perform temporary services in the EU/EEA area (the 27 EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). It obliges member states to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy, simplify formalities for businesses and make public administrations more efficient.

For the implementation of the Directive, each member state had to set up ‘Points of Single Contact (PSC)’ , e-government portals which help businesses complete their administrative procedures on-line. The PSCs provide comprehensive information on all administrative matters related to setting up or expanding a services business in a given country. This includes for example:

- What do I need to do when I want to offer my services abroad on a temporary basis?
- What do I need to do to apply for a licence? Which authority is responsible?
- Are the licences subject to a fee? What kinds of deadlines apply?
- Which acts and decrees apply in my sector?
- What do I need to do to establish, for instance, a restaurant or a shop? Or to work as a tour operator in another country without actually setting up a company?
- Where can I turn for personalised advice and further information?

With the PSCs, you no longer need to approach various authorities one by one!! The PSC allows you to find all relevant information and to send in your online applications to the responsible authority through one single contact point, the PSC. You can complete your administrative formalities electronically through the PSC. Just contact the PSC of the country that you want to do business in.

All PSCs are part of the European EUGO network; through a central website you can easily access all PSCs in Europe. Of course, the services of the PSCs are optional. You may always address yourself directly to the relevant authorities, too.

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

  • References

    Legal texts

    • Freedom of Business Act (Journal of Laws 2004, No 173, item 1807, as amended) polski
    • Act on the National Court Register (Journal of Laws 2007, No 168, item 1186, as amended) polski

    Key documents

    • Application for registration with the Register of Entrepreneurs (branch of a foreign company – the main branch of a foreign insurance company) pdf [300 KB] polski
    • Business activity - annex to the application for registration with the register of entrepreneurs pdf [188 KB] polski
    • Representative of a foreign entity - annex to the application for registration with the Register of Entrepreneurs pdf [101 KB] polski

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If you wish to establish a business or perform temporary cross-border services in the EU/EEA area (the 27 EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), turn to the ‘Points of Single Contact (PSC)’ – Members of the EUGO network – that will help you to complete all necessary administrative procedures on-line! Get the information you need and submit your applications to the responsible authorities online. You no longer have to worry about contacting several different authorities one by one – the PSC will do it for you!