Anyone planning to start a business in Poland will now need to complete their initial registration online. Since 1st November, applications for the first entry in the Central Registration and Information on Business (Centralna Ewidencja i Informacja o Działalności Gospodarczej, CEIDG) can no longer be submitted using traditional paper-based procedures.
The change affects individuals setting up a business in Poland, with the exception of minors. However, going digital does not mean that prospective entrepreneurs in Poznań have to work through the process entirely on their own.
The City of Poznań is making computer workstations available at its Entrepreneur Service Point, where people can complete their applications themselves with guidance from municipal staff.
Business registration in Poland moves online
The new rules mean that anyone applying for their first CEIDG registration must submit their application electronically.
There are two main ways to do this:
Through the government business portal.
Through the mObywatel mobile application, using its Entrepreneur service.
CEIDG is Poland's central register of sole traders and other individuals conducting business activity. Registration is an important first step for those planning to operate independently in the Polish market.
It is worth noting that the change applies specifically to the initial registration. Existing business owners can still submit applications concerning changes to their registered details, suspension, resumption or closure of their business through the Poznań City Office's Department of Business Activity and Agriculture (Wydział Działalności Gospodarczej i Rolnictwa).
Where to get help with registration in Poznań
For those unfamiliar with Polish administrative procedures, the move to online registration may raise practical questions, particularly when dealing with official forms and electronic signatures.
The Poznań City Office has made computer workstations available at its Entrepreneur Service Point (Punkt Obsługi Przedsiębiorcy), located within the Department of Business Activity and Agriculture at 404 ul. 28 Czerwca 1956 r.
Visitors can use the facilities to prepare, sign and submit their CEIDG application, with assistance from a member of staff.
There is an important distinction between guidance and completing the application on someone's behalf. Municipal employees will explain the process and help applicants understand the form, but they will not fill it in, make decisions about the information provided or submit the application for them.
The applicant remains responsible for checking that all details are correct and complete, signing the document and sending it electronically.
In-person assistance is available by appointment only. Visitors should arrange their visit in advance rather than arriving without a booking.
What documents and information should you prepare?
Before starting the application, it is worth gathering the information you will need.
You will require an electronic identification method to access the system and sign your application. Accepted options include:
Profil Zaufany (Trusted Profile).
The mObywatel application.
A qualified electronic signature.
An electronic ID card (e-Dowód).
Not every signing method is available in every registration channel, so it is sensible to check the requirements of the service you intend to use.
You should also prepare information about your planned business activity and the addresses associated with its operation.
If you do not yet have a Profil Zaufany, you can prepare an application to establish one using the computers at the Entrepreneur Service Point. You will then need to confirm it at the Department of Business Activity and Agriculture.
This requires a separately arranged appointment.
Additional requirements for non-EU nationals
Foreign nationals considering self-employment in Poland should pay particular attention to the eligibility requirements.
Citizens from outside the European Union and European Economic Area must hold a residence document or status that entitles them to conduct business activity in Poland. Having a valid passport or permission to stay in the country does not automatically mean that someone is eligible to register a business.
The government business portal provides information about the different types of residence documents that allow non-EU and non-EEA nationals to establish a business.
Those who need assistance at the Poznań Entrepreneur Service Point should bring the relevant documents in their original form. Municipal staff can scan the documents so that applicants can attach them to their electronic registration application.
Anyone unsure whether their residence status permits self-employment should check the official eligibility guidance before arranging their registration.
Further information is available through biznes.gov.pl.
How to submit your CEIDG application
Applicants using the government portal should log in, complete the electronic form and sign it using an accepted identification method.
Those using the mObywatel application should look for the Entrepreneur (Przedsiębiorca) service and then the Company (Firma) section.
Alternatively, applicants can use one of the computers at the Poznań Entrepreneur Service Point and complete the process independently with guidance from municipal staff.
When using the facilities at the City Office, Profil Zaufany or mObywatel can be used to sign the application.
A more accessible starting point for entrepreneurs
Moving initial CEIDG registration online is another step in the digitalisation of Poland's public administration. For people already comfortable with electronic identification and online government services, the process should be relatively straightforward.
For newcomers to Poland, however, registering a business can involve additional questions about residence eligibility, official terminology and the practical requirements of setting up a company.
The support available at Poznań's Entrepreneur Service Point provides a useful way to navigate those first administrative steps while keeping applicants in control of their own applications.
For anyone preparing to become self-employed in Poznań, checking the documentation in advance and booking an appointment should help make the transition to the new system considerably easier.
