LicenseWarsawTaxi driverKarta Pobytu2026
Warsaw taxi license 2026: complete step-by-step guide
May 5, 202612-minute readPodpin Research Team
TL;DRSince the 17 June 2024 reform, rules for Bolt, Uber, FreeNow and yellow-taxi drivers in Poland are unified. No license — no driving on any platform. Good news: in Warsaw the average wait from application to license is 21 days, and the all-in cost is around 740 zł plus 100-300 zł for incidentals. Here's the breakdown of what the urząd wants and how to avoid the common traps.
Short answer in four numbers
~740 zł
all-in cost
5-year license + all certificates
~21 days
average wait
from filing to license
5 years
validity
minimum tier, same price up to 15 years
+1 year
Karta Pobytu must remain
or application is rejected
These numbers assume "first time, all from scratch" in Warsaw, early 2026. If you already have medical certificates or a clean criminal record on file — less. EU/EEA citizens skip Karta Pobytu but still need certificates plus a Polish or EU cat. B license.
What changed on 17 June 2024 (must-read)
The reform ("Lex Uber") tightened rules across several fronts. Older guides on Google are outdated. The key points:
- Polish category B license is mandatory for everyone. Ukrainian, Belarusian, Georgian and other non-EU licenses no longer work for commercial passenger transport. If yours was issued outside the EU/EEA — exchange it at WORD (regional driving authority). Some countries trigger a re-test of theory and practice.
- Karta Pobytu is mandatory for non-EU citizens. Schengen visa or national D visa is not enough. You need a residence card (czasowy, stały, or UE) with at least 1 year validity remaining at the time of filing.
- Minimum 3 years of driving experience with cat. B. Got your license 2 years ago — you have to wait.
- Minimum age 21 at the date of filing.
- Clean criminal record (niekaralność) required — for offenses against life and health, sexual freedom, and traffic safety. The urząd checks KRK itself, but having an e-KRK certificate ready speeds things up.
- Medical and psychological exams from authorized practitioners (uprawniony lekarz / psycholog). Lists are on the wojewoda's website.
- Topography exam — abolished in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and most major cities on 1 January 2020 (the last exam was held in December 2019). If a blog claims otherwise — it's outdated info.
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Until 30 September 2024 existing drivers had a transition period to swap licenses and karty pobytu. After that date, any roadside check without current paperwork = platform block + fine up to 2 000 zł.
Who specifically needs the license in 2026
Different services, different rules. People often confuse "a courier on a bicycle also needs a license?". Here's the table:
| Activity | Taxi license | Karta Pobytu | PL cat. B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolt / Uber / FreeNow (car) | Yes | Yes (non-EU) | Yes |
| Yellow taxi | Yes | Yes (non-EU) | Yes |
| Bolt Food / Uber Eats / Glovo (car) | No | Recommended | Yes |
| Bolt Food / Glovo (bicycle) | No | No | No |
| Bolt Food / Wolt (50cc scooter) | No | Recommended | AM or B |
| Cargo up to 3.5 t | No (different license) | Yes | Yes |
Couriers on bicycles or scooters don't need a license — but if you plan to side-gig as a taxi driver on weekends, you need it upfront, even for 1 ride per week.
Full document checklist
Gather it all before going to the urząd — saves at least one wasted trip:
- Wniosek o udzielenie licencji — the current application form. Downloadable from Urząd m.st. Warszawy or filled in on-site. Available via ePUAP if you have a profil zaufany.
- Copy of Polish cat. B license (or EU/EEA equivalent). Non-EU licenses must be exchanged for Polish ones before filing.
- Karta Pobytu (non-EU citizens) — original + copy. Minimum 1 year validity from the filing date.
- Zaświadczenie o niekaralności (KRK) — clean criminal record certificate, valid up to 30 days. Online via e-KRK for 20 zł, or in person at any KRK point for 30 zł.
- Orzeczenie lekarskie — medical certificate from an authorized occupational doctor. Cost: 150-250 zł.
- Orzeczenie psychologiczne — psychological assessment from an authorized transport psychologist. Cost: 150-300 zł. Valid 5 years (until age 60).
- Proof of payment — license fee receipt (320 zł for 2-15 years) + wypis (~3.20 zł per car, 1% of the fee). Pay online via bank transfer to Urząd m.st. Warszawy account.
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If you'll drive a rented car — also include a copy of the registration document and a rental agreement. If your own — proof of ownership + OC insurance with commercial-use rider.
Total cost — every line item
Full "all-in" cost for Warsaw 2026, 5-year license, one car:
Total license cost end-to-end, zł
License (5 years)320 zł43%
Wypis for 1 car3,2 zł0%
Niekaralność (e-KRK)20 zł3%
Medical exam200 zł27%
Psychological exam200 zł27%
zł · License fee by validity period
320
380
450
2-15 lat
320 zł
15-30 lat
380 zł
30-50 lat
450 zł
Lifehack: pick 5-15 years on first application. Same price (320 zł) as 2 years, validity 2-7× longer. Wypis for each additional car — separate fee, +11% of the base (≈35 zł); the wypis for the main car is 1% (≈3.20 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.
1
Step 1. Exchange license for Polish0-30 days (skip if already Polish)
If your license is non-EU/EEA — book WORD slot for exchange. 1-2 week lead time. Cost: 100-200 zł exchange + 100-300 zł sworn translation. Do this first — without a Polish license everything else is pointless.
2
Step 2. Karta Pobytu — validity check1 day
Check that your karta pobytu has ≥1 year remaining. If less — first extend with the wojewoda, otherwise the urząd will reject. Extension takes 2-6 months, start early.
3
Step 3. Book medical exams1-7 days
Authorized occupational doctor and authorized transport psychologist — both have queues. Book immediately. The exam itself takes ~2 hours: vision, reaction time, 100-150-question psych test. You leave with the orzeczenie same day.
4
Step 4. Niekaralność via e-KRKSame day
Visit ekrk.ms.gov.pl, log in via profil zaufany or MOJE-ID, pay 20 zł, download PDF. No profile? — any Sąd Rejonowy with passport + 30 zł, ready in 1 hour.
5
Step 5. File application at the urząd1 day (visit)
Walk into Biuro Administracji m.st. Warszawy with the full document set. Fill in the licence application. Pay on-site or show transfer receipt. Clerk verifies the package, gives you a case number.
6
Step 6. Wait for the decision14-30 days (avg 21)
Urząd verifies KRK through its own channel, checks karta pobytu validity, sometimes asks for clarifications. The paper license arrives by post or for in-person pickup. Wypis comes with the license.
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Total: parallel work — 2-3 weeks and 700-900 zł. Sequential after-work pace — up to 6 weeks and 1 200 zł.
Where exactly to apply in Warsaw
Passenger transport licenses in Warsaw are issued by Biuro Administracji i Spraw Obywatelskich Urzędu m.st. Warszawy. Locations:
- Where to file: Kancelaria Ogólna, Urząd m.st. Warszawy, Al. Jerozolimskie 44 (handled by Biuro Administracji i Spraw Obywatelskich)
- Online: the Moja Warszawa portal or mObywatel.gov.pl
- By post: Urząd m.st. Warszawy, Biuro Administracji i Spraw Obywatelskich, Al. Jerozolimskie 44, 00-024 Warszawa
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00, Thu till 18:00. Walk-in queue is 1-2 hours
Online via ePUAP: with a profil zaufany you can submit the wniosek at um.warszawa.pl → e-Urząd → Transport. Originals still need one in-person visit for verification. ePUAP saves you the first queue.
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Tip: book a slot online ("Rezerwacja terminu" tab) — without it you wait 1-2 hours. Show up 5-10 minutes early.
Frequently asked questions
Answers that didn't fit in the main text:
Can I drive Bolt/Uber while waiting for the license?
No. Platforms verify the license at driver registration. The account stays inactive. Drivers who worked under old rules and didn't renew by 30.09.2024 — accounts are blocked.
What if I had a license in Ukraine/Belarus?
Doesn't count. The Polish license is a separate document issued by the Mayor (Prezydent) of Warsaw, by Polish standards only. Foreign driving experience does count where a platform asks for proof of experience.
Topography exam — yes or no?
In Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Poznań, Łódź — abolished. A few smaller towns may still have it. Always check the specific urząd's website.
Can I get the license through a proxy?
No for filing — in-person verification of originals is required. Pickup of the ready license can be done by a notarized proxy.
Is the license tied to the car or to me?
To the carrier (with your own DG that's you). But wypis is a separate document per car. Change the car — renew wypis for ~3.20 zł (1% of the fee), no need to redo the license.
What if I move from Warsaw to Kraków?
License works nationwide. No need to redo. Notify the urząd of the address change within 28 days (free via ePUAP).
How many times can I renew?
Unlimited if no violations. 3 months before expiry, file a renewal application with current documents (new medical, new niekaralność).
What if I have a speeding ticket?
No problem. The urząd checks criminal record, not administrative fines. Accident with fault may be an issue, especially under article 177 KK.
Common pitfalls — where weeks and money disappear
From real driver experiences in 2024-2026:
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Pitfall #1 — Karta Pobytu expires too soon. The urząd checks for ≥1 year remaining. If only 6 months — rejection citing "brak gwarancji ciągłości uprawnień". Fix: extend karta first (2-6 months), then apply for license.
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Pitfall #2 — medical certificate from the wrong doctor. Only authorized occupational doctors with a license to examine professional drivers count. A regular family-doctor visit doesn't. Fix: the list of authorized doctors is on the wojewoda's website. Verify before booking.
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Pitfall #3 — Ukrainian/Belarusian license without exchange. Since 17 June 2024 non-EU licenses don't work for commercial transport, even if you legally drive on them privately. Fix: WORD exchange takes 4-8 weeks plus money. Put it at the start of your plan.
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Pitfall #4 — niekaralność expired by decision time. The certificate is valid 30 days from issue. If you grabbed one early in the process and the decision arrives day 25 — still valid at issuance. But if the urząd asks for fresh docs after day 35 (it happens) — get a new one. Fix: pull KRK the day before your urząd visit, not a week ahead.
License sorted — what about the car?
Podpin lists rental cars for Bolt/Uber/FreeNow across Poland. Filter by partner (QIWI, Promin, Eternis, IAP), read real driver reviews, transparent rentals with no hidden fees.
Sources (May 2026): Urząd m.st. Warszawy — taxi license, ustawa o transporcie drogowym (Dz.U. 2001 nr 125 poz. 1371 as amended; 26.05.2023 amendment effective 17.06.2024), e-KRK, materials from Stowarzyszenie Kierowców Taxi RP. Medical exam prices — average across 5 authorized Warsaw centers. Always confirm exact fees with the urząd before paying — administrative rates may change every January 1.