Pet Insurance in Poland: Owner Liability and Vet Cost Cover
Short answer: Pet insurance is voluntary in Poland, but owners are liable for damage their animal causes (Civil Code art. 431). A pet clause in home or private-life OC cover is the cheaper route, per the Ombudsman (Sept 2024).
Pet insurance is not compulsory in Poland, but owners are legally on the hook for what their animals do and for their pets' vet bills. The Financial Ombudsman (Rzecznik Finansowy) published a guide to pet insurance in September 2024, and held a webinar on animal insurance in late November 2025. This article summarises the guide for expats with a dog, cat or other companion animal. It is general information, not advice on a specific policy. If you are moving with a pet, see also the rules for bringing a dog or cat to Poland.
Is pet insurance required?
No. The guide says an owner in Poland has no obligation to buy an insurance contract for a pet. But Article 431 of the Civil Code says that whoever keeps an animal or uses it must repair damage it causes, whether or not it was under their supervision or had strayed or run away, unless certain conditions are met. The guide gives examples: a dog biting a person or another dog, or damaging a neighbour's door. The person who has the animal under lasting care can be liable, not only the legal owner. The owner must also pay for treatment if the animal falls ill or has an accident, plus burial costs, search costs for a lost pet and care costs if the owner is in hospital.
Three ways to get cover
The guide says pet insurance is either a voluntary contract or an extra clause in another policy. You can add it to:
* a home insurance policy, * a private-life civil liability (OC w zyciu prywatnym) policy, * a travel policy, if it has a pet clause.
You can also buy a dedicated dog or cat policy. The Ombudsman says that in Poland the most popular choice is a pet clause in a home or private-life OC policy, because it is the cheaper option. The scope can differ a lot. Under a home policy, animals may be insured only as movable property.
What a dedicated policy can include
Depending on the offer, a policy can cover treatment after illness, treatment after an accident or sudden illness, damage to property or people caused by the pet, the cost of searching for a lost or stolen pet, costs related to the pet's death, care costs and assistance services. Some cover only one risk, for example injuries from an accident.
Which animals count? The guide says a policy's own terms define "pet". Usually it is a dog, or a dog and cat, and sometimes also hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, turtles or aquarium fish. Farm animals cannot be insured as pets, and working animals such as police or rescue dogs are excluded. Dogs of breeds the insurer treats as aggressive are often excluded or cost a higher premium. Some insurers set an age range, such as 2 months to 8 years.
Common exclusions
The guide lists exclusions you should look for in the general terms (OWU):
* damage caused on purpose or by gross negligence of the owner or relatives, * poor care or failing to meet the animal-protection law's conditions, * hunting, dog sled racing or dog fights, * missing compulsory vaccinations, * certain diseases, such as rabies, and COVID-19 variants, * listed treatments, for example behavioural treatment, rehab, prostheses, preventive procedures, parasite and tick removal, sterilisation or neutering, and cosmetic surgery, * conditions that were diagnosed, treated or observed before cover began.
Limits to check
* Sum insured. The insurer pays nothing above it. Compare several offers. * Deductible (udzial wlasny). An amount you pay yourself. * Waiting period (karencja). The insurer may refuse costs in the first 30 days or longer after signing, even for a real illness.
Treatment abroad
The Ombudsman says insurers mostly cover treatment inside Poland. Owner liability cover is usually limited to Europe. If you travel with your pet, consider a travel policy that includes the pet. For the travel rules themselves, see the article on travelling with a pet from Poland.
* Photos: Domestic cat in Krakow, by Jakub Halun, CC BY 4.0; dog exercise area, Sardynska Street, Warsaw, by Wistula, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to insure my dog in Poland?
No. The Ombudsman's guide says there is no obligation, but you are liable for damage the animal causes under Article 431 of the Civil Code.
What is the cheapest way to cover my pet?
According to the guide, adding a pet clause to home insurance or private-life civil liability is the most popular and cheaper route. A dedicated pet policy covers more but costs more.
Will insurance pay for an illness my pet already had?
Usually not. The guide lists conditions diagnosed, treated or observed before cover began among common exclusions.
