Bank Account for Emiratis in Poland

Yes. mBank and Revolut allow Emiratis to open an account with just a United Arab Emirates passport — no PESEL required. These are full bank accounts with Polish IBAN, BLIK, and debit cards. For traditional banks like PKO Bank Polski and BNP Paribas, you'll need PESEL, which you can get for free at any municipal office (Urząd Gminy).

No. mBank offers full English online account opening — the entire process is in English, and the app and website are available in English. Revolut is available in English and many other languages. PKO Bank Polski and BNP Paribas have English-speaking staff at branches in major cities like Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, and Gdansk. If you visit a smaller branch, consider bringing a Polish-speaking friend.

Yes — with Revolut. You can download the app and open an account from United Arab Emirates using your passport. You'll get a Polish IBAN immediately, which you can share with your future employer before you arrive. mBank requires a Polish phone number for SMS verification, so it's easier to open once you're in Poland (or if you have a Polish SIM with roaming).

Yes. Both Revolut and mBank give you a Polish IBAN (starts with PL...) that works like any Polish bank account. Most employers accept these for salary payments. However, some employers or government agencies prefer traditional Polish banks (PKO, BNP Paribas). In that case, use a traditional bank for salary and Revolut for international transfers and currency exchange.

Revolut and Wise are the cheapest options. For a 5,000 PLN transfer, you'll pay about 15-25 PLN with the real exchange rate. Traditional Polish banks charge 50-100 PLN per transfer plus use bad exchange rates — costing you 2-4x more. Over a year of monthly transfers, switching to Revolut or Wise can save you 500-1,500 PLN.

Yes — BLIK works with any Polish bank account, regardless of your citizenship. Once you open mBank, PKO, Revolut, or BNP Paribas in Poland, BLIK is automatically available. You can use it to pay in stores, online shops, split bills with friends, and withdraw cash from any ATM using a 6-digit code — no card needed.

Yes. All Polish banks are protected by the Bank Guarantee Fund (Bankowy Fundusz Gwarancyjny / BFG), which insures deposits up to EUR 100,000 per person per bank — regardless of your citizenship or nationality. This applies to mBank, PKO, and BNP Paribas. Revolut has equivalent protection under its Lithuanian banking license (EUR 100,000 via the European Deposit Insurance Scheme).

There is no limit. Many expats in Poland have 2-3 accounts: a traditional bank (mBank or PKO) for salary and bills, Revolut for international transfers and travel, and sometimes a savings account at a different bank for better interest rates. Each account is separately insured up to EUR 100,000.

Your bank account stays open. Polish banks do not automatically close accounts when visas expire. However, some banks may limit functionality or request updated documents during periodic identity verification. To avoid issues: renew your visa/Karta Pobytu on time, inform your bank of any document changes, and keep your contact details current. If you leave Poland permanently, you can close your account remotely or keep it open (useful if you plan to return).