Taxi license in Białystok 2026: step-by-step guide

In Białystok the passenger-transport (taxi) license is issued by the Mayor of Białystok (Prezydent Miasta Białegostoku) through the relevant department of Urząd Miejski w Białymstoku. Since the 17 June 2024 reform, the rules for Bolt, Uber, FreeNow and yellow-taxi drivers are unified nationwide. Białystok is primarily a city and regional market — there's no large airport here, but steady demand for rides around the city and across the Podlasie region. From filing to decision the average wait is about 21 days, and the all-in cost is around 740 zł plus 100-300 zł for incidentals. Below is the breakdown for the Białystok office. If you want to start faster, you can drive on a fleet partner's license without dealing with the office yourself.

Short answer in four numbers

These numbers assume "first time, all from scratch" in Białystok, 2026. If you already have medical certificates or a clean criminal record on file — less. EU/EEA citizens file certificates plus a Polish or EU cat. B license. Non-EU drivers (Białystok has a large Ukrainian and Belarusian driver community) need a settled residence status. Confirm exact fees and requirements with Urząd Miejski w Białymstoku — administrative rates can change.

What changed on 17 June 2024 (national rules)

The reform ("Lex Uber") tightened rules across several fronts and applies the same in Białystok, Warsaw and across Poland. Older guides on Google are outdated. The key points:

• Polish category B license is mandatory for everyone. Since the 17 June 2024 reform, passenger transport requires a Polish driving licence — foreign ones (Ukrainian, Belarusian, Georgian, etc.) must be exchanged. In Białystok the exchange and exams are handled by WORD Białystok (the voivodeship road-traffic centre).
• In-person driver verification and proof of credentials — from 1 October 2024 platforms verify the driver's identity and documents; remote registration without showing originals no longer works.
• Settled residence status for non-EU citizens. This matters in Białystok given the large community of drivers from the East — check the current residence-document requirements and validity with the office, as interpretations vary.
• Minimum age 21 plus driving experience; clean criminal record — for offenses against life and health, sexual freedom, and traffic safety.
• Medical and psychological exams from authorized practitioners (occupational doctor / transport psychologist). Lists of authorized providers are available via the Podlasie voivodeship office.
• The passenger-transport license itself has been mandatory since 2020 — it is not new in 2024. The 2024 reform added the Polish-licence requirement and driver verification (from 1 October 2024).
• Topography exam — abolished across all of Poland from 1 January 2020 (not 2024). Białystok no longer requires it either. If a blog claims you must pass a city topography exam — it's outdated info.

Who specifically needs the license in Białystok in 2026

Different services, different rules. Here's the table:

Couriers on bicycles or scooters don't need a license — but if you plan to side-gig as a taxi driver in Białystok on weekends, you need it upfront, even for 1 ride per week. The local market is mainly Bolt, Uber, FreeNow and traditional taxi fleets working the city.

Full document checklist

Gather it all before going to the Białystok office — saves at least one wasted trip:

1. Wniosek o udzielenie licencji — passenger-transport license application. Downloadable from BIP Białystok or filled in on-site. Available via ePUAP if you have a profil zaufany.
2. Copy of Polish cat. B license (or EU/EEA equivalent). Non-EU licenses must be exchanged for Polish ones before filing — in Białystok via WORD Białystok.
3. Document confirming legal residence (non-EU citizens) — original + copy, with sufficient validity. Check the current residence-document requirements with the office.
4. Zaświadczenie o niekaralności (KRK) — clean criminal record certificate, valid up to 30 days. Online via e-KRK for 20 zł, or in person for 30 zł.
5. Orzeczenie lekarskie — medical certificate from an authorized occupational doctor. Cost: approx 150-250 zł.
6. Orzeczenie psychologiczne — psychological assessment from an authorized transport psychologist. Cost: approx 150-300 zł.
7. Proof of payment — license fee receipt (200 zł for 2-15 years) + wypis (~2 zł per car, 1% of the fee). Pay to the City of Białystok account.

Total cost — every line item (approximate)

Full "all-in" cost for Białystok 2026, 5-year license, one car. The license fee is national and depends on the validity period:

Lifehack: pick 5-15 years on first application. Same price (200 zł) as 2 years, with longer validity. Wypis for each additional car — separate fee, +11% of the base (≈22 zł); the wypis for the main car is 1% (≈2 zł).

Step-by-step plan: zero to license in 3 weeks

Done in parallel (2-3 items per day) — realistic 14-21 days. One after another — 4-6 weeks.

Where exactly to apply in Białystok

The passenger-transport (taxi) license in Białystok is issued by the Mayor of Białystok through the relevant department of Urząd Miejski w Białymstoku. Approximate details (confirm on bip.bialystok.pl):

• Urząd Miejski w Białymstoku — main site bialystok.pl, documents and forms — on bip.bialystok.pl
• Transport license matters are handled by the relevant city department — check the exact department name and address in the BIP (the structure is occasionally reorganized)
• Residence matters (non-EU) are handled by the Podlasie voivodeship office, and driving-licence exchange by WORD Białystok
• Office hours are usually Mon-Fri; walk-in queues are possible — book a slot

Online via ePUAP: with a profil zaufany you can submit the wniosek electronically. Originals still need one in-person visit for verification.

Frequently asked questions

Answers that didn't fit in the main text:

Common pitfalls — where weeks and money disappear

From real driver experiences obtaining the license in Białystok in 2024-2026: