Establishing a business
10.03.2010
Since Poland is a member of the EU, the rules that applyto Poles for setting up and operating a business also applyto every foreign person from the European Union (EU) and theEuropean Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) zones (belonging to theEEA European Economic Area).
The following legal forms of conducting business are available in Poland to investors originating from EU and EFTA countries:
- sole proprietorship (indywidualna działalność gospodarcza)
- civil partnership (spółka cywilna)
- registered partnership (spółka jawna)
- limited partnership (spółka komandytowa)
- professional partnership (spółka partnerska)
- limited joint-stock partnership (spółka komandytowoakcyjna)
- limited liability company (spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością)
- joint-stock company (spółka akcyjna)
- European Company (spółka europejska, Societas Europea)
- European Economic Interest Group (Europejskie Zgrupowanie Interesów Gospodarczych)
The same rules apply to foreigners living outside the EU and the EEA who:
- have been granted a permit to settle in Poland
- have been granted consent to tolerated stay or refugee status in the Republic of Poland or
- enjoy temporary protection on Polish territory
Unless international agreements state otherwise, foreign persons, other than those indicated above, have the right to establish and
conduct business activities only in the form of:
- limited partnership (spółka komandytowa)
- limited joint-stock partnership (spółka komandytowoakcyjna)
- limited liability company (spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością)
- joint-stock company (spółka akcyjna)
Therefore a foreigner from outside the EU and EEA still has the right to enter into these types of partnerships or companies and acquire their shares. Additionally, foreign enterprises may conduct business activities in the form of a branch office or they may establish a representative office in Poland. Performing certain types of business activities in Poland is limited/monitored/ regulated by state authorities and requires their written consent.
9 steps to setting up a business in Poland: more
the article from Doing Business - publication prepared by: PriceWaterhouseCoopers in the cooperation with MARR