Last updated: 08.08.2025
The TSL (Transport- Forwarding- Logistics) industry in Poland is growing rapidly and has become one of the pillars of the national economy. Acting as a natural link between sectors such as e-commerce, construction, and manufacturing, logistics plays an increasingly important role in the entire logistics process and in keeping the market running smoothly.
With the rising demand for transport services, more and more entrepreneurs are deciding to start businesses in the transport industry. However, it is important to remember that operating in this sector requires obtaining all the permits and the appropriate transport licenses
This article explains what a transport license is, when it is required, and how the license issuance process works
What is a transport license in Poland and how to obtain it?
Any person conducting business activities that involves transporting people or goods, as well as acting as an intermediary in such transport, requires the relevant permits or licenses. Only after these documents are obtained can you legally provide commercial transport and forwarding services in Poland and abroad.
A transport license is an official document that authorizes the holder to conduct commercial road transport – both domestic and international transport. It is issued by the relevant public administration authority and is a fundamental legal requirement for engaging in transport activities.
The process of obtaining a license involves fulfilling specific formal requirements and submitting the necessary documentation. Although the relevant regulations are relatively clear, experience shows that mistakes or oversights can delay the entrepreneur’s transport license procedure. For this reason, careful preparation of the entire application is essential.
Types of transport licenses in Poland (domestic transport license, international transport license and Freight forwarding license)
Depending on the type of activity planned in the TSL sector, Polish law provides several main types of licenses and permits that authorize a specific business activity defined as the provision of transport or forwarding services.
1. Permit to practice the profession of road carrier (national transport license) in Poland
Obtaining a national license to practice the profession of road carrier is the first and most important step for any entrepreneur who plans to transport passengers or goods for profit within Poland. This document is issued by the district authority responsible for the company’s registered office.
This permit is required in the case of:
- transport of goods by vehicles with a permissible maximum weight of over 3.5 tons.
- transport of passengers by vehicles adapted to carry more than 9 people (including the driver).
Domestic road transport of goods or passengers may only be carried out after meeting the formal requirements, including obtaining the relevant permit. This obligation applies exclusively to entrepreneurs who actually carry out transport operations – it does not cover companies that outsource transportation services or transport goods solely for their own needs.
The permit to operate as a road carrier is issued as an administrative decision. To obtain it, an entrepreneur must meet several strictly defined conditions:
- appropriate office– Any legal entity must have a permanent and registered office located in one of the EU Member States.
- Good reputation- no serious violations of transport law, labor law or tax regulations and no criminal record.
- Financial capacity– the entrepreneur must be able to meet financial obligations at all times during the financial year. The minimum required capital and reserves are EUR 9,000 for the first vehicle and EUR 5,000 for each additional vehicle. Financial standing is confirmed by annual financial statements certified by an auditor or authorized person.
- Professional competence and appropriate knowledge – at least one of the persons managing transport (transport manager) operations must hold a certificate of professional competence.
- Employ drivers or cooperate with individuals who personally carry out transport on behalf of the entrepreneur and are not banned from working as drivers.
The permit for do is issued for an indefinite period. The national license begins on the date the administrative decision is issued.
The cost of a national license depends on the number of vehicles and extracts requested. Fees associated with obtaining the permit:
- PLN 1,000– an administrative fee for issuing the permit.
- PLN 100– for each vehicle registration listed in the application.
- PLN 10– for issuing an extract from the permit for a registered vehicle.
- PLN 110– for an extract from the permit for an unregistered vehicle.
2. Community license in Poland (international transportation license)
An international transport license is an essential document that enables the performance of commercial international road transport of cargo or transport passengers for hire or reward in EU countries and the European Economic Area.
It is issued by the permitting authority, Chief Inspectorate of Road Transport who oversees transport organization and allows companies to expand their transport operations to international markets.
To obtain an international transport license, it is necessary first to hold a valid national license to practice the professional road carrier. In other words, the applicant applying for the license must meet the requirements described earlier in this article
Applying for an international transport license involves submitting an application to the Chief Road Transport Inspector along with the necessary documents, such as:
- a license to practice the profession of road carrier.
- a certificate specifying the number of vehicles meeting financial capacity requirements.
- a list of heavy goods vehicles.
- proof of payment of the required fee.
An international transport license for freight is issued for a fixed period, usually from 5 to 10 years, and the cost depends on the validity period. It should be noted that a passenger transport license is slightly less expensive, making it more attractive for companies that focus on passenger transport.
The permit for a road carrier includes fees that depend on the number of vehicles and extracts requested:
Goods transport:
- up to 5 years: PLN 4,000 + PLN 440 for each vehicle.
- up to 10 years: PLN 8,000 + PLN 880 for each vehicle.
Passenger transport:
- up to 5 years: PLN 3,600 + PLN 396 for each vehicle.
- up to 10 years: PLN 7,200 + PLN 792 for each vehicle.
Companies may incur additional costs when adding more vehicles after the initial license has been issued
Obtaining a Community license is an investment that opens up new development opportunities and increases a company’s competitiveness in international markets.
3. Freight forwarding license in Poland
This type of license is required for a freight forwarder, creating a network connecting cargo shippers and organizing freight transport on behalf of others, without the need to have own transportation means.
In this case, the entrepreneur does not physically transport goods personally but acts as an intermediary, assigning such a service to carriers.
Formally known as a license to perform road transport in the field of freight forwarding, it allows companies to professionally plan and coordinate the transportation of goods on behalf of clients. This is an ideal solution for businesses wishing to operate in the transport sector without investing in their own fleet.
Freight transport – Who needs a license in Poland?
All entrepreneurs who professionally organize road transport services on behalf of other entities must obtain this license. Operating without it means violating road transport conditions and can lead to serious administrative and financial penalties.
How to obtain a freight forwarding license in Poland?
The procedure for obtaining this license is straightforward, but several formal requirements must be met. The basic steps are:
- Submit an application to the competent district authority.
- Attach the required documents, including:
- a professional competence certificate.
- proof of a stable financial situation and appropriate financial security– assets or financial resources of at least EUR 50,000 to ensure insurance coverage and meet legal obligations.
- a declaration of good reputation.
- proof of payment of the required fee.
Fees, depending on the validity period of the license:
- PLN 800- license valid for 2 to 15 years.
- PLN 900- license valid for 15 to 30 years.
- PLN 1,000- license valid for 30 to 50 years.
A decision is then issued by the competent authority verifies the submitted documents.
Key Things to Know About Transport Licenses in Poland
- A license entitles you only to organize transport, not to physically perform it nd is also required for activities involving intermediary services in the transport sector.
- There is no distinction between national and international licenses—only one type of license applies.
- Before a license is issued, you must prove qualifications, good reputation, and financial stability.
How can we help?
We understand that the process of obtaining transport licenses can be complicated and time-consuming, which is why we are here to make it as simple as possible.
We handle the entire process – from analyzing your situation, gathering the necessary documentation, and submitting the application, to obtaining the decision-saving you time and unnecessary stress.
Thanks to our experience and knowledge of administrative practices, you can avoid mistakes that might delay or prevent obtaining a license.
