Polish real estate not for Russians. These two nations buy the most

The demand for Polish real estate is not weakening. Foreigners are looking at the domestic housing market with increasing appetite and investing in both apartments and land on the Vistula River. The latest data from the Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) show that over 2.1 thousand were issued in 2025. permits for the purchase of land properties (including single-family houses) and 669 residential and commercial premises, mainly in border zones.

Who buys real estate in Poland?

The structure of buyers remains similar to that of previous years – there were no Russian citizens among the buyers again. The largest number of permits were granted to citizens of Ukraine, who were allowed to purchase over 1.4 thousand. real estate. The next places were taken by citizens of Belarus, who obtained 475 such consents.

– EU citizens do not need permits. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that this opportunity is used by Russians who also have an EU passport, notes Marek Wielgo, an expert at GetHome.pl.

He explains that in practice, the consent of the Minister of Interior and Administration is required primarily when purchasing land properties and apartments located in the border zone.

– This restriction covers, among others, part of the Tricity area as well as Szczecin, Świnoujście and Zakopane – says an expert from the GetHome.pl portal.

He adds that the housing market outside the border zone remains largely available to foreigners, including Russian citizens. However, in 2025 they did not show any greater purchasing activity.

– The Ministry of Interior and Administration registered 281 housing transactions that did not require a permit. This is a result of as much as 24 percent. worse than the year before. Despite this, Russians still buy more apartments on the Vistula without permission than, for example, the Chinese (112), Indians (214), Turks (149) or Vietnamese (82), although these nations seem to be more numerous in our country – points out Marek Wielgo.

Ukrainians dominate the housing market

Citizens of Ukraine have been most active in purchasing in Poland for years. This trend has been ongoing since 2014 and has not changed recently.

In 2025, Ukrainians purchased nearly 9.3 thousand without the need to obtain a permit. apartments, which means an increase of 6%. year to year. The scale of purchases shows that for many of them Poland is no longer just a stopover, but is becoming a place to live.

– Although there are still a huge number of refugees from Ukraine in Poland, the current scale of their purchases is not surprising. It’s natural that people planning to stay longer want to invest in their own home, comments Wielgo.

Belarusians are slowing down, but still in the lead

The second largest group of buyers remain citizens of Belarus, although their case has slowed down slightly. In 2025, the number of apartments they purchased decreased by 7%.

– In previous years, they were the fastest growing group of foreigners purchasing apartments in Poland. Data from the Ministry of Interior and Administration show that in 2025, Belarusian citizens purchased over 2.7 thousand without permission. apartments. Within five years, their number has doubled – notes an expert from the GetHome.pl portal.

At the same time, the data show that despite the decline in dynamics, Belarusians still play a very important role on the real estate market.

The appetite of other nationalities is growing

The latest report also shows that interest in the Polish housing market is not decreasing – on the contrary. In 2025, foreigners bought over 17.7 thousand in Poland – with and without a permit. apartments, i.e. by 2%. more than a year earlier.

The growing activity of Indian citizens is also noteworthy.

– There is also a growing appetite for apartments among Indian citizens, who started buying them in 2005, i.e. after Poland’s accession to the EU. However, they have been doing it more and more boldly for six years – in 2025, they bought apartments with a total area of ​​16,000 m2. square meters, which means an increase of 22%. year to year and placed them in the top five nationalities purchasing the most premises in Poland, says Wielgo.

The largest cities still attract

Foreigners most often choose the largest urban centers, where it is easier to find work and stable income. The most popular locations remain Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Łódź, Poznań and Gdańsk.

– However, the costs of purchasing apartments in metropolises can be very high, and mortgage loans are still expensive. Last year, Warsaw and Kraków saw a decline in the number of housing transactions by 11 percent, respectively. and 15 percent Interestingly, in Gdańsk, located in the border zone, there was an increase by 28 percent, in Poznań – by 11 percent, and in Łódź and Wrocław – by 2-3 percent. – notes Wielgo.

The expert emphasizes that more and more often, the purchase of an apartment by foreigners is not purely an investment. This is a decision to stay associated with Poland for a longer period of time.

– For many foreigners, Poland is no longer just a country “for a moment”. It is increasingly becoming a place where people want to work, start a family and put down roots. Purchasing an apartment is a natural element of such a decision, emphasizes Wielgo.

It also points to the importance of a stable labor market, access to education and developing urban infrastructure.

– In the case of citizens of Ukraine and Belarus, cultural, linguistic and geographical proximity are additionally important, which facilitate adaptation and everyday functioning – sums up the GetHome.pl expert.