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The most underestimated line in the first month’s budget is not the rent. Four payments land at once when you move in: the first month of rent, the deposit, the agent’s commission, and temporary housing for the search period. Together they add up to noticeably more than a month’s rent, and they all arrive in the same few days after arrival.
At the same time, proof of housing in Poland is not on the published document list for a student visa. It appears neither in the list for studies nor in the general list for the national type D visa. But housing cannot be put off until later: the consul has the right to request documents beyond the list, and by the start of the academic year the student needs an address to arrive at.
No prices are named here: the reference figures on the EEC website are given without a city or a date, and rental costs depend on the city, the year, and the market. Visa requirement data is current as of 28 July 2026.
Short answer: three options and what is decided before arrival
There are three options, and the choice between them is made not by price but by how much time is left before classes and how ready the student is for independent living.
| Option | What EEC does | What to clarify before deciding |
|---|---|---|
| Dormitory | Search, consultation on the procedure | Whether your university has places, application deadlines, what the fee covers |
| Room | Search, contact with the agent or landlord, rental support | Who the flatmates are, what is paid on top of rent, contract term |
| Apartment | Search, contact with the agent, signing the contract, support | Deposit, agent’s commission, utilities, term and termination conditions |
Only one thing is decided before arrival: where the student will sleep on the first night. If permanent housing has not been found by the flight, the student pays for temporary accommodation out of pocket, and that is a separate budget line, not small change.
Housing and the visa: what belongs in the package and what does not
This distinction is worth checking before the family starts looking for a “contract for the visa”.
| Document | What it confirms | Where it is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Rental contract or F-6 certificate, or a screenshot of the egov.kz account | The applicant’s residence in the consular district, that is, an address in Kazakhstan | Visa package, mandatory |
| Rental or booking contract for housing in Poland | Having housing upon arrival | Not listed in the published visa document list |
Source: the consulate’s page on student visas and the page on the national type D visa, data as of 28 July 2026.
A caveat that cannot be dropped: a complete package does not guarantee a visa, and the consul has the right to request additional documents. So the correct wording is “there is no housing document on the published list”, not “no housing is needed for the visa”. What goes into the full package: student visa to Poland.
Why the search starts alongside the visa stage
Finding housing is a period, not a single action, and the period has a price: until permanent housing is found, the student lives in temporary accommodation and pays for it separately. Late August and September are when all students hit the market at the same time. The full calendar: admission to Poland month by month.
One-time move-in costs
EEC explicitly lists four items paid separately from the housing service and from the monthly rent:
- First month of rent. Paid at move-in, not at the end of the month.
- Deposit. A refundable amount frozen for the entire rental term.
- Agent’s commission. A one-time payment to the intermediary if the housing was found through an agent.
- Temporary accommodation until housing is found. Paid by the student, for the entire search period.
This is the part of the budget worth transferring or withdrawing in advance. How these costs fit into the overall budget for the year: how much studying in Poland costs.
What to pin down in the contract before signing
What follows is not legal analysis but a list of what should be fixed in writing before any payment. The questions work equally for a room and for an apartment.
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Contract term and early termination conditions | The academic year and the rental term rarely match, and a first-year student’s first visa covers only the first semester |
| What the payment includes and what is paid on top | Utilities, internet, and waste collection may be billed separately from rent |
| Deposit amount and refund conditions | The deposit is the most common point of dispute at move-out |
| Who is named as the landlord | The contract must be signed with someone who has the right to rent the place out |
| The address in the contract and its spelling | The address will be needed in everyday procedures, and a spelling discrepancy creates problems later |
| House rules | Flatmates, guests, quiet hours: everyday conflict is a frequent reason to ask for help |
| Contract language and translation | The contract is signed in Polish, and its content must be understood before signing |
Contract support is part of the housing and accommodation service: contact with the agent or landlord, signing the contract, and support during the rental period.
Residential address and PESEL
PESEL and address registration come up for the student right after arrival, together with a bank account, transport, and the route to the university. EEC includes PESEL help and address support in the housing service, and the first everyday steps are covered by the welcome package.
This page does not describe the procedure itself: retelling a Polish municipal procedure from memory is exactly the case where inaccuracy costs the family time, so this section is waiting for a verified primary source.
Separately, remember that a first-year student has a second paperwork step after arrival: the first visa covers only the first semester. What that means: student visa to Poland.
What the EEC housing service includes and what it does not
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Search for housing or a dormitory | First month of rent |
| Consultation on the procedure | Deposit |
| Signing the contract | Agent’s commission |
| Contact with the real estate agent | Temporary accommodation until housing is found |
| Rental support, PESEL help, address support |
The service scope and price are on the housing and accommodation page. The country route: Poland, and a specific case is worked through in a consultation.