Why Poznań for offices, warehouses or retail
Poznań sits directly on the A2 motorway, the main east-west route linking Berlin and Warsaw, and on the S11 expressway — a combination that has made the surrounding area a well-established hub for warehouses, logistics and light manufacturing. The city itself has a sizeable office market serving both local and international businesses, plus a retail scene ranging from Old Town storefronts to large shopping centres like Posnania and Stary Browar. That mix of connectivity, labour market and price level (generally lower than Warsaw for comparable space) is what draws foreign companies to evaluate Poznań specifically, rather than just "Poland" in general.
Lease or buy?
For most foreign companies establishing a first presence in Poznań, leasing is the more common starting point: it's faster to arrange, doesn't require the foreign-ownership permit that applies to non-EEA buyers purchasing commercial real estate, and keeps capital free while local demand and space needs are still being proven. Buying tends to make more sense once a company has an established, long-term presence and wants to control the asset directly — at which point the same legal rules that apply to any commercial property purchase by a foreign buyer come into play (see below).
Legal rules for foreign buyers of commercial property
EEA/EFTA-based buyers (EU member states, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) generally face no special permit requirement when buying commercial property in Poland. Non-EEA buyers generally need a permit from the Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) to buy commercial real estate, a process that typically takes around three to six months — this requirement does not apply to leasing. Source: CGO Legal — Buying Property in Poland as a Foreigner, accessed September 2026. See our full explainer: Can Foreigners Buy Property in Poland?
What to check before committing to a space
For a lease, review the length of the term and any renewal or break options, service charge structure, permitted use of the space, and fit-out responsibilities and costs. For a warehouse specifically, confirm ceiling height, floor loading capacity, the number and type of loading docks, and connection capacity for power — all of which affect what the space can actually be used for. For any commercial purchase, a full legal and technical due diligence review (title, existing leases, permits, condition of the building) is essential before signing, and setting up a Polish company or branch, along with VAT registration, is usually handled alongside the property transaction by an accountant or corporate lawyer.
How Wałęsa Group can help
Wałęsa Group supports foreign companies and investors with office, warehouse and retail space in Poznań — running a needs and process audit, comparing total cost of occupancy (rent, service charges and fit-out) across on- and off-market options, and shortlisting properties that actually match the operational requirements, in English, Polish, Russian or Portuguese.