Communications

EU ROAMING RULES

Thanks to the “roam like at home” rules, residents of the European Union do not incur any roaming charges when travelling to other EU member states – in short, you pay the same price for sending texts, making phone calls or using the internet abroad as you would at home. However, if you are planning a longer stay in a different European country (for example, in Poland), it is still advisable that you get a new phone number in your host country. The roam like at home rules were introduced with holidaymakers or short time travellers in mind, which means your mobile phone operator is allowed to contact you and impose additional fees if you exceed the “fair use” limits (according to the fair use guidelines, you should not use the roaming service for more than four months). What other options are you left with? Read on.

PREPAID CARDS

Prepaid or pay-as-you-go SIM cards seem to be the most convenient choice for expats who wish to avoid dealing with too much paperwork upon their arrival in Poland. A prepaid plan does not require drawing up a contract and gives you more control over your money – you can simply top up your card whenever you want (online or by buying top up vouchers in shops, kiosks or supermarkets). Getting a pay-as-you-go card is easy, but there is one requirement – all prepaid SIM cards in Poland must be officially registered before using, so you will need to confirm your identity during purchase. This means you will be asked to present:

• your ID card (EU citizens) or

• your passport or residence card (third-country nationals)

Once you have bought your SIM starter pack and activated the service, it is all ready for use – you can now text as much as you want in Poland.

CONTRACTS

If you are staying in Poland for a longer period of time and keep forgetting to top up your phone, you might favour a solution that will give you more peace of mind than the prepaid option – a subscription plan. A mobile phone contract usually comes with some bonuses, lower pricing and attractive deals such as unlimited data, minutes and texts or packages that offer access to internet streaming services. Those who are looking for a new phone, may also choose the latest handset at a reduced price, as part of their deal.

The subscription rules are simple – you are required to pay a fixed monthly fee for the duration of your contract and to cover any overage charges if you happen to go over your data cap. Contracts are usually signed for 24 or 36 months, but if you plan a shorter stay in Poland, do not hesitate to negotiate the contract length. Also, always make sure that you are familiar with your network’s cancellation policy, just in case you decide to switch mobile phone providers or get out of your contract early.

In order to sign a contract with a mobile phone operator in Poland, foreign nationals are required to present the following documents:

• ID card or passport (EU citizens)

• passport and residence permit (third-country nationals)

Additionally, you might be asked for your student ID, a certificate of employment or a document that proves your registered residence address in Poland.

CALLING HOME

You have already found out how to acquire a Polish phone number in order to save money on international calls. Now you probably wish to know how to make cheap calls abroad and keep in touch with your family and friends back home – after all, a penny saved is a penny earned and there is no reason to spend hefty sums of money on your telephone bills. Today, there are plenty of free video chat services and other technological solutions which allow you to stay connected with your home country without spending a dime: Skype, Google Hangouts or Duo, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger - the list goes on and on. However, if you do not want to rely solely on internet access to talk to your friends, there are a few other options to consider. Cards such as Telegrosik or Telerabat can be used to make inexpensive calls abroad and certain companies (for example, Lycamobile or Klucz Mobile) provide prepaid SIM plans with affordable international rates. It is also worth noting that even the major mobile operators in Poland may include cheaper overseas calls in their plans.

As of August 2019; data from operators’ websites