Can you vape in Poland?

The legal position for UK visitors

Poland regulates vaping under its Anti-Tobacco Act, aligned with the EU TPD. Product standards are familiar to UK vapers. The differences are in taxation, online sales restrictions and the incoming disposable ban.

• Legal purchase age: 18, same as the UK.
• Maximum nicotine strength: 20mg/ml, same as the UK.
• Maximum e-liquid bottle: 10ml for nicotine liquid, same as the UK.
• Maximum tank or pod: 2ml, same as the UK.
• Personal import: Bringing your own kit and supplies for personal use is fine.
• Online sales: Banned for vape products. Buy from physical retailers in Poland.
• Vending machines: Banned.
• Advertising: Total advertising and sponsorship ban for vape products.
• Public display: Public display of vape products in shops is banned.

The escalating Polish vape duty

Poland has built one of the most aggressive vape duty escalators in the EU. The rate has been climbing each year since 2025 and will continue through 2027. UK visitors will find Polish prices have changed significantly from past trips.

The current Polish rate of €0.33 per ml is now similar to Germany's €0.32 per ml. Once the rate rises to €0.42 in 2027, Poland will be more expensive than Germany. The UK's VPD at €0.26 per ml will be cheaper than both.

The disposable device tax is a flat 40 PLN (€9.30) per single-use device on top of the per-ml tax on its liquid content. Reusable devices also face a 40 PLN device tax.

The disposable vape ban

Poland is moving toward a complete disposable vape ban. The draft law (UD213) is progressing through Parliament during 2026 and would prohibit all single-use vapes, both nicotine and nicotine-free. The ministry says the ban targets youth uptake and environmental harm from single-use batteries.

• What is banned: Sale, import and distribution of single-use disposable vapes. Both with and without nicotine.
• Current status: Bill UD213 is progressing through the Sejm and Senat. Expected to take effect during 2026.
• What is still allowed: Refillable pod kits, prefilled pod kits with replaceable pods, sub-ohm devices, bottled e-liquid.
• Environmental rationale: Around 100 million vapes were sold in Poland in 2024 with around 90% imported from China without prior testing.
• For UK visitors: Switch to a refillable kit before travelling. Disposables you might have are not illegal to carry but cannot be bought in the UK or used to top up in Poland once the ban takes effect.

UD86 and the new regulatory framework

Separate from the disposable ban, Poland implemented a new regulatory framework for vape products on 4 January 2026 (UD86). This brings stricter composition, labelling and reporting requirements.

• Composition rules: Tighter rules on permitted ingredients.
• Labelling: New labelling requirements including specific health warnings.
• Reporting: Manufacturers must report ingredient and emissions data.
• Central Office of Chemicals registration: All vape products (nicotine or nicotine-free) must register with the Central Office of Chemicals before sale.
• Testing powers: The director of the Chemical Management Bureau can order ingredient testing and publish lab results.
• For UK visitors: Products on Polish shelves should now be tested and registered. Look for the “COC” reference number on packaging.

Where you can and cannot vape in Poland

Poland treats vaping similarly to smoking in public places. The general rule is that vaping is banned wherever smoking is banned.

Buying vapes in Poland

Poland still has a relatively healthy vape retail sector despite the heavy tax escalation and incoming disposable ban. The online sales ban directs all sales to physical retail.

1. Dedicated vape shops

   Found in all major Polish cities and towns. Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Poznan all have multiple stores. Good selection of devices and TPD-compliant flavoured liquid.

2. Tobacconists (Sklep tytoniowy)

   Many tobacconists stock vape products alongside cigarettes. Common at high streets and shopping centres.

3. Convenience stores and kiosks

   Limited vape range. May stock disposable vapes (still legal but availability declining ahead of the ban).

4. Online (banned in Poland)

   Online sales of vape products to Polish addresses are banned. UK retailers cannot legally ship to Poland.

5. Border crossings

   If you are coming from Germany or the Czech Republic, prices in those countries can be different. Personal-use limits apply at the border.

Polish vape prices in 2026 are similar to UK pre-duty prices, slightly above. Once UK VPD takes effect from 1 October 2026, Poland and the UK will be comparable. By 2027 Polish prices will have risen above UK prices.

The bottom line