A busy street in Catania, Sicily, with passers-by
Guide Poland → Italy · community · checked 1 Nov 2026

The Polish community in Italy

How many Polish people live in Italy, where Polish Mass and schools are, and how to keep a piece of home close.

Photo: Pexels
In numbers

How many Polish people live in Italy?

According to Eurostat, 94,442 people born in Poland lived in Italy at the start of 2025, 72,212 of them Polish citizens. Polish people have been here a long time: Rome has had a Polish church, St Stanislaus, for centuries.

94,442born in Poland (2025)
72,212Polish citizens
95,297born in Poland in 2023
3 monthsdeposit at most
RAITV fee with the power bill

Eurostat (figures of Italy's statistics office ISTAT, 1 January 2023 and 2025).

Where people live

Where Polish people live in Italy

Polish people live all over Italy: most in Rome and Lazio, and in the north (Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna) and Campania.

ROM
Rome and LazioThe most Polish people; the Polish embassy and the Polish church of St Stanislaus are here.
MIL
Milan and the northThe most jobs; the Polish consulate general in Milan.
NAP
Naples and CampaniaA big Polish community in the south.
Community life

A piece of home, close by

Mass
St Stanislaus, the Polish church in RomeThe church of St Stanislaus in Rome was given to the Polish nation in 1578. It is still the main seat of Polish pastoral care in Italy.
Sch
Four Polish state schoolsORPEG runs Polish schools at the embassy in Rome (in Rome and Ostia) and at the consulate in Milan (in Milan and Bologna). The Rome school began on 22 November 1973.
PL
The embassy in Rome and the consulate in MilanThe embassy's consular section in Rome covers central and southern Italy, Sardinia, Sicily and San Marino; the consulate general in Milan covers the eight northern regions. Passports: in person after booking on e-Konsulat, 140 euros for an adult.
Shop
Polish shopsIn many towns, and Polish food in the big supermarket chains too.
Sch
Community Polish schoolsCommunity Polish schools work together in a council set up in Naples in October 2014, with members in Padua, Venice, Genoa, Catania and Palermo.
1944
Monte CassinoOn 18 May 1944 Polish soldiers raised the flag over the ruins of the monastery. 1,072 soldiers lie in the Polish War Cemetery below it, and General Anders was buried there in 1970.
1995
How the community beganAfter the war many soldiers of General Anders' army stayed in Italy and founded the first Polish organisations. The Union of Poles in Italy, set up in 1995, brings together 21 Polish organisations.
IP
The Polish Institute in RomeAt Via Vittoria Colonna 1: exhibitions, film shows, book launches, language courses and a library.
2006
Open labour market since 2006Italy gave workers from Poland free access to its labour market in 2006.
TV
Polish TVThe channels from home, live in Italy.Read the TV guide →
A cosy living room in the evening with a TV and warm shelf lights
Miss home?

The channels you grew up with, here

The news from home, your series, the big matches and the kids' cartoons in Polish. Live in Italy, on your TV.

How to watch Polish TV in Italy →
Advertisement: almost 400 Polish channels live with VOLTIX →
Photo: Pexels
Online

Where Polish people in Italy meet online

Much of the community talks on Facebook: jobs, flats, advice and events, in Polish.

FB
Your town's groupSearch Facebook groups for “Polacy we Włoszech” or “Polacy w Rzymie”.
PL
The embassy's pageThe Polish embassy in Rome.gov.pl →

Stay safe: groups are great for jobs and flats, but never send money or photos of your ID to someone you only know from a group.

Quick answers

Questions people ask

How many Polish people live in Italy?

94,442 people born in Poland at the start of 2025, 72,212 of them Polish citizens (Eurostat).

Where do most Polish people in Italy live?

In Rome and Lazio, in the north (Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna) and in Campania.

Is there Mass in Polish in Italy?

Mass in Polish is held in many towns; in Rome at the Polish church of St Stanislaus. The embassy's page (gov.pl) has the details.

Are there Facebook groups for Polish people in Italy?

Yes. Search Facebook groups for “Polacy we Włoszech” or “Polacy w Rzymie”.

Where do I get a Polish passport in Italy?

In person, after booking on e-Konsulat: at the embassy in Rome for central and southern Italy, Sardinia, Sicily and San Marino, or at the consulate general in Milan for the north. An adult passport costs 140 euros.

Can I get a Polish ID card at the embassy in Italy?

No. Consulates do not issue Polish ID cards: you apply in Poland, at any municipal office (urząd gminy).

Is there a Polish school in Italy?

Yes. ORPEG runs Polish schools at the embassy in Rome (in Rome and Ostia) and at the consulate in Milan (in Milan and Bologna), and community schools work together across Italy.

Can I watch Polish TV in Italy?

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

More for Polish people in Italy

Guides for you

Polish TV in ItalyEvery Polish channel, live, and how the official apps compare.The Polish community in ItalyHow many, where people live, Polish Mass and schools, and where people meet online.Moving from Poland to ItalyA plain checklist: before you go and your first weeks.
Sources