Krakow's Main Market Square at night with the Cloth Hall lit up
Guide Poland → United Kingdom · moving · checked 1 Nov 2026

Moving from Poland to the UK

A plain checklist: what to sort before you go, and your first weeks in Britain.

Photo: Pexels
First: can you move?

Moving from Poland to the UK since Brexit

Free movement ended on 31 December 2020. To live and work in the UK now, people from Poland need a visa, unless they already have settled or pre-settled status from living here before.

Job
A job offerFrom a UK employer that can sponsor your visa. The usual way to move for work.
Uni
A study placeAt a UK university or college, with a student visa.
Fam
Family hereJoining a close family member who lives in the UK.

Lived here before 2021? With settled or pre-settled status you can come back without a visa. Long absences can end it, so check your status first. Which visa fits you: gov.uk/check-uk-visa. We don't give visa advice.

Just visiting first? For a look around or a job interview you don't need a visa, but since April 2025 you need an ETA: a digital permission you get online before you travel. You can't work on a visit.

Before you go

Your checklist in Poland

  1. Your visa approved. It's digital now (an eVisa), linked to your passport.
  2. A valid passport. Most EU ID cards are no longer accepted at the UK border.
  3. Documents in a folder: birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, driving licence, references from work.
  4. Money for the start: the first month's rent, a deposit (in England at most 5 weeks' rent) and a few weeks of living costs.
  5. Tell your Polish bank you are moving, and keep the app working so you can pay bills at home.
  6. Set up your home TV before you go, so it works on day one (how to watch Polish TV in the UK).
A cosy living room in the evening with a TV and warm shelf lights
Day one in the UK

Home TV, ready when you land

The first weeks abroad are the hardest. The news from home, your series and the kids' cartoons in Polish make the new flat feel like home.

How to watch Polish TV in the UK →
Advertisement: almost 400 Polish channels, live, with VOLTIX →
Photo: Pexels
Your first weeks

Your checklist in the UK

  1. Phone: a pay-as-you-go SIM works at once, with no checks.
  2. Proving your status: employers and landlords check it online. You give them a share code from gov.uk.
  3. Bank account: banks often ask for proof of address; app banks are usually quicker to open.
  4. National Insurance number: you need one for tax. Apply online if you don't have one; you can start work while you wait.
  5. Doctor: register with a GP surgery near you. It's free to register.
  6. Council tax: tell your local council you moved in.
  7. Driving: check if and when you need to swap your Polish licence for a UK one.
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Do I need a visa to move from Poland to the UK?

Yes, since 1 January 2021, unless you have settled or pre-settled status. The usual ways in are a sponsored job, study or family. Check which visa fits you on gov.uk.

Do I need a visa just to visit?

No. Visits don't need a visa, but since April 2025 you need an ETA, which you get online before you travel. You can't work on a visit.

Can I enter the UK with my Polish ID card?

Usually not any more. Most people need a passport.

How big is a rent deposit in England?

At most 5 weeks' rent, when the rent is under £50,000 a year. Your landlord must protect it in a government-backed scheme.

Do I need a National Insurance number?

Yes, for tax. Apply online on gov.uk if you don't have one. You can start work while you wait, if you can prove your right to work.

Can I watch Polish TV in the UK?

Yes. Our Polish TV in the UK guide shows every option, from the free TVP Polonia channel to all-in-one subscriptions.

More for Polish people in the UK

Guides for you

Polish TV in the UKEvery Polish channel, live, and how the official apps compare.The Polish community in the UKWhere Polish people live, community life and where people meet online.Moving from Poland to the UKA plain checklist: before you go and your first weeks.
Sources