Regulations in business activity

The principal legal act governing business activity in Poland is the Economic Freedom Act of 2 July 2004. It regulates undertaking, running and closing businesses on the territory of Poland, as well as tasks of the public administration within this regard.

Foreign persons [1] from the EU and European Free Trade Agreement zones belonging to the European Economic Area may undertake and run business on the basis of the same rules applicable to Polish entrepreneurs.

The same rules also apply to foreigners living outside the EEA who:

- received a permit to settle on the Polish territory
- a consent for tolerated stay or a status of refugee granted in the Republic of Poland
- enjoy temporary protection within this territory

Other foreign persons  have the right, unless international agreements state otherwise, to undertake and run business activity only in the following forms:

- limited partnership

- limited joint-stock partnership

- limited liability company

- joint-stock company

They have also the right to enter these kind of partnerships or companies and purchase their shares.
Furthermore foreign entrepreneurs [2] may run business activity in the form of branch office, and also set up representative offices on the territory of Poland.

 

Notifications:

[1] Within the meaning of the law, a foreign person is:

- a natural person residing abroad, without Polish citizenship,
- a legal  person with a seat (registered office) abroad, an organisational unit with a seat abroad, which is not a legal entity, but has a legal capacity.

[2] According to the law, a foreign entrepreneur is a  foreign person running a business activity abroad.