Paperwork
Documents you need to drive a taxi in Poland: the full list
25.08.2026 · 7 min read
To work in ride-hailing in Poland you need legal residence, a Polish driving licence, medical and psychological certificates, a criminal-record certificate, a passenger transport licence issued by the city, and app registration. The licence and the certificates are handled and paid for separately, and a foreign national can only get the Polish driving licence after 185 days of residence.
The full list
This does not take a day, but it does not take six months either — provided you go in the right order.
| Document | Issued by | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Legal residence | immigration office / voivode | The basis for everything else |
| Polish driving licence | transport department | Foreign nationals: after 185 days of residence |
| Medical certificate | occupational health doctor | Has an expiry date |
| Psychological assessment | transport psychologist | Has an expiry date |
| Criminal-record certificate | national register | Required for the licence |
| Passenger transport licence | city hall | Fee depends on the city |
| App registration | Bolt / Uber / FreeNow | Usually via a fleet partner |
The order that saves money
The most expensive mistake is taking the car first and collecting paperwork afterwards. Rent runs weekly; certificates do not arrive faster because of it.
- Residence and an address. Without it there is neither the 185 days nor the licence exchange.
- Driving licence. Exchanging a foreign licence for a Polish one — covered separately alongside the 2024 rules.
- Certificates. Medical and psychological. These can run in parallel with the licence exchange.
- Criminal record. Quick to obtain, easy to forget among everything else.
- City licence.
- App registration.
- Only now, the car.
Steps 3 and 4 do not depend on step 2, so it is sensible to close them while the licence exchange is in progress.
What people forget
Certificate expiry. Medical and psychological assessments are not open-ended. Done too early, a delay on the licence means repeating — and paying for — them.
The licence is tied to the carrier. It is not a personal document for life; it is bound to how you are set up. Change your working model and the licence question comes back.
A driving licence is not a taxi licence. One certifies your right to drive; the other permits carrying passengers for payment. You need both, from different offices.
Your own business, or through a fleet
Two workable routes, and the choice changes the document list:
- Through a fleet partner. Usually simpler to start: the fleet handles part of the formalities and you work on a contract. In exchange, a commission and less freedom over which apps you use.
- Your own business registration. More freedom and usually more money retained, but social contributions, tax and filing come with it.
Most drivers start through a fleet and move to their own registration once it is clear the work is long-term.
Once the paperwork clears
Only at that point does it make sense to look at cars — and to choose on economics rather than urgency. Fuel consumption matters (hybrid or LPG versus petrol), so do the mileage cap, the insurance excess, and whether the fleet allows working several apps at once.
In the ViroCars catalogue those terms appear on the listing before you contact the fleet, so the car can be chosen in an evening once the documents are in hand.
Sources: notesfrompoland.com (Polish licence and 185-day requirement) · uber.com/pl (driver requirements)
Frequently asked
Legal residence, a Polish driving licence, a medical certificate, a psychological assessment, a criminal-record certificate, a passenger transport licence and app registration — plus vehicle papers if the car is yours.
The fee is set by the city and varies between them, so check with your local urząd miasta. It is not part of the car rental price and is paid separately.
Yes — carrying passengers requires a psychological assessment alongside the medical one. Both expire, so note the dates on the day you collect them.
No. The app will not complete registration without the full set. That is exactly why the car comes last: rent runs whether or not your papers are ready.
It depends on the model. Through a fleet partner you can often work on a contract without your own company. Self-employment gives more freedom but adds social contributions and tax filing.