Debt Collection in Poland: Amicable and Court Recovery

Methods of debt collection in Poland include amicable negotiations, legal procedures, and enforcement actions based on the debtor’s reaction and the case’s circumstances. We help Polish and international creditors recover their unpaid debts by providing legal representation during the process of evaluation of the case, up to court and enforcement proceedings.

Quick Facts
Applicable law	The Civil Procedure Code is the main applicable law on debt collection in Poland
Other specific regulations that apply (YES/NO)	YES, Poland also enforced EU directives on debt recovery
Types of debts that can be chased in Poland	Unpaid bills, various types of contracts with terms that have not been respected, bank loans and mortages, etc.
Availability of out-of-court procedures (YES/NO)	YES, amicable debt recovery is usually the first step in debt recovery
Court proceedings available (YES/NO)	YES, Poland has enabled court proceedings for debt collection
Pre-trial proceedings requirements (YES/NO)	NO, an amicable attempt is not strictly mandatory, but the statement of claim must state whether the parties tried mediation or another out-of-court settlement and, if not, why
Court in charge of debt collection procedures	In the case of natural persons, any Civil Court can try a debt collection case. In the case of companies, the Business Court is in charge of proceedings
Existence of minimum claim for court proceedings (YES/NO)	NO
Duration of amicable debt recovery process in Poland (approx.)	Through amicable procedures, an agreement for the payment of the debt can be reached in a few days or weeks
Duration of debt recovery through court application (approx.)	Court proceedings can take between 6 months and 2 years
Recognition of foreign court order related to debt collection (YES/NO)	YES, Poland recognizes foreign enforcement order under international or bi-lateral agreements
Possibility to use the services of debt collection agencies/lawyers (YES/NO)	YES, it is possible to use the services of debt collection and law firms in Poland
Availability of debtor protection measures (YES/NO)	YES, personal bankruptcy can be invoked by natural persons. Restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy can be used by companies
Debt collection services available (YES/NO)	YES, we offer debt collection support
Available debt collection services	Our debt collection lawyers in Poland can assist in out-of-court and in-court proceedings
Parties involved in debt recovery	– Creditor; – debtor; – debt collection agency or law firm
Steps in amicable debt collection	– Contacting the debtor; – sending out dunning letters; – trying to reach a payment settlement.
Options available for the creditor	The creditor can initiate the procedure on their own or use specialized services
Conclusion of amicable debt collection	Amicable debt recovery in Poland ends in reaching an agreement with the debtor
Steps in court proceedings	– Filing a petition; – hearing procedures; – ruling
Types of court proceedings	– Injunction orders; – writ proceedings
Mandatory hearing stage in debt recovery through court (YES/NO)	No, payment orders are issued in closed session without a hearing; a hearing is usually held only if the debtor files an objection
Conclusion of court debt recovery proceedings	Issuance of enforcement and payment orders
Availability of appeal procedures (YES/NO)	Yes, debt collection cases can be appealed
Availability of seizure of assets measure (YES/NO)	Yes, the seizure of assets is part of the debt recovery procedure in Poland
Requirement for the creditor to appoint a representative (YES/NO)	No, it is not mandatory for the creditor to appoint a representative, but it is recommended to
Fees related to debt recovery	Basic, flat, proportional fees may be asked in debt collection cases
Availability of small claims procedure (YES/NO)	Yes, the small claims procedure can be used in Poland
Availability of debt collection services for businesses (YES/NO)	Yes, our debt collection lawyers are at the service of corporate clients
Assistance in enforcement of court orders (YES/NO)	Yes, we can assist with the enforcement of court orders.

What debt collection services do you offer in Poland?

We offer the following debt collection services in Poland for both domestic and international creditors. These include:

assessment of the legal grounds for the debt;
drafting of payment requests and debt recovery papers;
negotiations with the debtor;
bringing the case to court;
representation of creditors before the relevant Polish authorities and courts.

What are the types of debt collection in Poland?

The types of debt collection in Poland are broadly categorized into two forms:

Debt collection in an amicable way: the creditor tries to recover the debt in an amicable way by making demands and negotiating with the debtor.
Debt collection in Poland by way of judicial procedure: court process is initiated to recover the debt.

Our specialists also created an infographic about the debt recovery procedure in Poland:

How amicable debt collection in Poland works?

The important aspects of an amicable debt recovery procedure are:

there are no specific court protocols to follow when starting the amicable debt recovery process in Poland;
the creditor has the freedom of choosing to try and collect the debt him/herself, or appoint a law firm or debt collection agency in Poland;
the initial purpose of the amicable debt collection procedure is to have the debtor acknowledge the debt;
then, the procedure should help the creditor and the debtor reach an agreement for the repayment of the debt;
the amicable Polish debt collection procedure should help with a speedy and simple recovery of any amount of money and thus avoid court litigation.

When judicial debt collection in Poland starts?

When the debtor does not answer the creditor’s amiable attempt, the creditor has the right to bring the case before the Common Court to obtain a writ of payment. When the case reaches this point there are two possibilities:

Injunction: when the creditor has all the documents that prove the debt, the proof of delivery and the debtor’s recognition (signed and stamped) regarding the debt, a situation in which the Court issues the writ of payment and charges the creditor with a 1,25% court fee and the second situation implies that the creditor.
Writ proceedings: this procedure targets the situation when the creditor can not present the complete documentation and the missing document is the debtor’s recognition of the debt. However, when the rest of the documentation is accurate, the Court may issue a writ of payment.

Which documents are essential to debt collection in Poland in 2026?

The creditor needs to provide the necessary documents proving the existence and amount of the debt. These documents may vary from case to case and can include:

contracts and their amendments;
invoices and accounting documentation;
documents on delivery or receipt;
documents on rendered services;
documents on payments;
communications with the debtor;
documents on established payment terms.

Below, find more information on debt collection in Poland offered by our specialized lawyers in Poland, from this video:

When the recognition and enforcement of EU court orders in Poland happens?

When it comes to debt collection in Poland, it is important to note a few key aspects before a Polish court or even an EU court issues a decision. These are:

Before any legal action is taken in a debt collection case, the creditor should attempt an amicable settlement and the claim must state whether this was attempted;
If the case goes to court, the procedure can be completed in an expedited manner or like any other civil case;
Both the claimant and the defendant have the right to appeal the case if the desired outcome has not been reached;
If the debtor is in another EU Member State, the creditor can sue there or use EU procedures (European Payment Order, European Small Claims Procedure) rather than any appeal to an EU court;
A judgment given in another EU Member State is enforceable in Poland without a declaration of enforceability (Brussels I bis Regulation), on the basis of the judgment and the Article 53 certificate filed by the claimant.

Is it possible to collect debts from a debtor in another EU member state in 2026?

Yes. The cross-border collection of debts in the EU can take place according to European procedures depending on the case. One such procedure is the European Payment Order which is intended for certain cross-border claims that are not disputed. In Poland, the competent courts and procedural provisions are determined by Polish law.

Please contact us for details on our services and information on how we can help you with debt collection in Poland. Our team can also help you start an LLC in Poland.