Kraków Airport routes, apostille and sworn translators, tax office and consulates: what a Kraków resident needs before buying property abroad.
Kraków is a city with a busy airport, a university community and many Russian-, Ukrainian- and Belarusian-speaking residents, and many of its residents consider a flat in Spain, Italy or Croatia. What is different from Warsaw is the paperwork: the ministry that issues apostilles is in Warsaw, so a Kraków resident either books an appointment there or sends documents by post. This guide covers what is specific to Kraków. We work online and have no office, team or events in Kraków. The text is informational and based on public sources checked in October 2026.
Kraków Airport and the routes
Kraków Airport in Balice (KRK) is the main airport for southern Poland. Ryanair has announced its largest winter schedule there for 2026/27: according to press reports in October 2026, 16 based aircraft, 67 routes and four new routes, to Budapest, Dubrovnik, Rabat and Venice, plus more flights on more than 30 existing routes, including Barcelona, Bari, Málaga and Valencia. Dubrovnik and Venice are relevant for Croatia and Italy; Barcelona, Málaga and Valencia for Spain. These are airline announcements reported by the press, and schedules change, so confirm each route and its dates on the airport and airline sites. We do not quote ticket prices.
For the national overview, see direct flights from Poland to property destinations, and for the trip itself how to plan a viewing trip. Some destinations that interest buyers, for example Cyprus, Bulgaria, Montenegro or Georgia, may have seasonal service or none; where Kraków has no direct flight, Katowice or a connection through a hub are the usual alternatives.
Apostille, power of attorney and sworn translation for Kraków residents
The apostille on Polish documents is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Warsaw. According to its page, you can apply in person after booking in the e-Konsulat system or by post (the Ministry gives up to 30 days for post), and the fee shown is PLN 60 per document; check the current figure. For a Kraków resident the postal route is often the practical one, and nothing in the process requires a trip if you send complete documents. Some documents, such as diplomas or school certificates, are handled by other bodies. The Ministry does not work with private intermediaries.
A notarised document, for example a power of attorney signed at a Kraków notary, first has to be certified by the competent regional court, which for a Kraków notary is the Sąd Okręgowy w Krakowie (confirm with the notary), and only then goes to the Ministry for the apostille. Kraków notaries belong to the Kraków Notarial Chamber (Izba Notarialna w Krakowie). Ask the notary to include the court certification and the postal logistics in the scope of work, or have your destination-country lawyer tell you what exactly they need.
The list of sworn translators (tłumacze przysięgli) is kept by the Ministry of Justice and can be searched by language. You usually need translation into the language of the destination country, which the foreign notary or registry will specify. See apostille and legalisation, certified translations and sworn translators and power of attorney for buying abroad.
Which tax office
The PIT return is filed to the tax office competent for your place of residence on the day of filing, not the registered address. Kraków has several tax offices, and which one you belong to depends on the address; use the office finder on podatki.gov.pl instead of guessing. Most filings, including attachments for foreign income, can be submitted online. What you declare from a property abroad, and how the tax paid abroad is credited, depends on the country and on your status. Start with PIT for foreigners in Poland: income from property abroad; if you are a foreigner with a residence card, that article is about your case.
Consulates and embassies in and near Kraków
Embassies are in Warsaw, about three hours by train away; Kraków has consulates instead. According to public lists, career consulates general in Kraków include Austria, France, Germany, Hungary and the United States. For the destinations that matter to buyers, Kraków has mostly honorary consulates: the city's own list, last dated 2018, names consular offices of Georgia, Thailand, Croatia and Portugal, and press reports mention honorary consulates of Spain, Bulgaria and Turkey. We could not confirm the current status, opening hours and range of services of these offices. An honorary consulate usually promotes relations and helps in limited ways; for visas and consular documents you may still be sent to the embassy in Warsaw. Phone or write first, and do not expect legal or property advice from any consulate.
Russian-, Ukrainian- and Belarusian-speaking community
Kraków has a large student population and a visible Russian-, Ukrainian- and Belarusian-speaking community, so Russian-speaking translators, accountants and agents are easy to find. We cannot give numbers, and a recommendation from the community is a starting point, not a check. Verify the register entry or licence of whoever you hire, agree the scope and the fee in writing, and send money only to the account named in the contract, never to a private person. See how to choose a Russian-speaking property agent abroad and communities and services in popular destinations.
A practical order for Kraków residents
- Decide the country and budget in zloty: what 300, 500 and 800 thousand PLN buys.
- Prepare the bank side early, including the source of funds: bank checks for Russian citizens living in the EU.
- View by video first, then travel on a direct flight if there is one.
- Sign in person, by power of attorney or remotely.
- Order the court certification, apostille and translation with enough time for the post.
- File the Polish tax side after the purchase or sale.
FAQ
Is there an apostille office in Kraków? According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page, the Ministry in Warsaw issues the apostille on most documents. We did not find a Kraków office for it, so plan for post or an appointment in Warsaw. Check the page, because procedures change.
Which court certifies my Kraków notary's signature? The regional court competent for the notary's seat, which should be the Sąd Okręgowy w Krakowie. Confirm with the notary.
Can the consulate of the country I am buying in help me in Kraków? Possibly with information and, for some countries, with documents. Many Kraków consulates are honorary and do not offer the full range of services, so ask by phone or email before travelling.
Which Polish airport should I use if Kraków has no direct flight? Katowice and Warsaw are the common alternatives, or a connection through a hub. Compare the total travel time, not only the flight.
Does D.H. Realting have an office in Kraków? No. We work online in Russian, Polish and English, and have no premises or meetings in Kraków.
How we help
We are a trilingual platform that finds properties abroad and coordinates independent local lawyers and tax advisers. We do not provide legal, tax or investment advice, and this guide is informational only. Rules, fees, flight schedules and consular procedures change; verify current conditions with the official sources before acting. See the countries we cover and the calculators.