The sixth most populous member state of the European Union, Poland, has a population of 38.307 million and an area of 312,696km2. Officially known as the Republic of Poland, the country has one of the most dynamic economies in the EU.
It joined the Schengen Area in 2007, since when all world travelers can enter Poland with a Schengen visa, and lodge a Schengen visa application at the Polish Embassy/consulate at their country of residence.
Poland has a growing tourism, with 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, its capital Warsaw and other major cities as Kraków, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk and Szczecin.
Some of the top tourist attractions in Poland are the Wawel Castle, the Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Malbork Castle, the Gdansk Old Town, Masurian lakes, and of course its capital Warsaw.
Poland Entry Requirements
When you show at the Polish port of entry, you will have to present some travel and identification documents to the Austrian border officer. If you are an EEA national, all you have to carry is your identification document.
On the other hand, if you are a non-EEA citizen, you will have to submit the documents listed below:
A valid passport or travel document. Valid for at least three more months beyond your planned date of exit from Schengen, and issued within the last 10 years.
A visa – if you are subject to Polish visa regime.
Documents proving the purpose and conditions of intended stay. As i.e. an invitation letter.
Proof of sufficient financial funds. A minimum of 300 PLN or 67.76€ per 3-day stays. And an amount of at least 100 PLN or 22.59€ per each day of stay, if your trip is longer.
*British passport holders are exempt from the criteria of passport validity and issuance date.
Aside of these documents, the Polish border officer may ask you a few questions about your trip to Poland like:
What is your purpose of visiting Poland?
How long do you intend to stay in Poland?
Where are you going to stay in Poland? Etc.
Keep in mind that the border police holds the final decision if you shall be permitted to enter Poland or not. If the Polish border officer concludes that you are no risk for Poland, upon checking your documents, you will be permitted to enter Poland, and thus the Schengen territory.
Please, make sure that the Polish border officer stamps your passport when you enter Poland. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained from Poland.
Who Needs a Schengen Visa to Enter Poland?
Apply for a short-stay visa to enter Poland and any other member country of the Schengen zone, before heading to this area, if you belong to one of the following categories:
You are a passport holder of a third-world country that has not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states.
You are a passport holder of a third-world country that has signed a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states, but you were previously rejected from entering Poland or any other Schengen country.
What Documents Are Required for a Poland Schengen Visa Application?
Due to the Schengen Visa Code, to enter the Republic of Poland you will need fulfill the Poland visa requirements. The mandatory required documents for a visa to Poland are as follows:
Polish visa application form. Fulfill the form with your computer, print it and the sign it at the end.
Two identical photos. The photos should be of passport format – a recent whole-face capture with a light background. See photograph requirements & specifications.
Your valid passport. It should contain at least two blank pages in order to be able to affix the visa sticker. Check the validity of your passport before you apply, since it must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you exit the Schengen territory. It must be no older than 10 years, as well.
Copies of your previous visas (if applicable).
Poland Travel Health Insurance. You are required to submit a document, which confirms that you have purchased travel insurance for Poland and the whole territory of Schengen, with a minimum of €30,000 coverage for medical emergencies, and repatriation in case of death.
Round-trip Flight Itinerary. Evidence you have a booked flight, to enter and leave Poland. This document should specify flight numbers, dates, and your details.
Proof of accommodation. A document that shows where you will stay in Poland I.e. a hotel reservation.
Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in Poland. The Polish embassy/consulate wants you to prove that you have a minimum of 300 PLN or 67.76€ per 3-day stays. And an amount of at least 100 PLN or 22.59€ per each day of stay, if your trip is longer that three days. If the accommodation costs are covered by a third party or prior to travel, the daily amount reduces to 20 PLN or 4.52€
A cover letter. A personal letter in which you explain why you are applying to visit Poland, how long you plan to stay, when will you leave and other details.
Proof of civil status. This could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.
Additional Polish Visa Requirements Based on Your Employment Status
The additional Poland visa requirements depending on your working status are as follows:
If employed:
Employment contract
Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
Leave permission from the employer
Income Tax Return (ITR) form
If self-employed:
A copy of your business license
Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
Income Tax Return (ITR)
If a student:
Proof of enrollment
No-objection certificate from school or university
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If retired:
Pension statement of the latest 6 months
If applicable:
Proof of regular income generated by property, for the last 6 months
Additional Polish Visa Requirements for Minors
Minors applying to get a short-stay visa to Poland, or parents applying for their minor child to get a visa, will need to complete the following additional Polish Visa Requirements in their application file:
Birth certificate of the minor traveling to Poland.
Poland application form signed by both parents.
Family court order. In cases where only one parent has full custody over the child.
Certified copies of ID / passport of both parents
If the minor will be travelling alone with another person:
An original and copy of the accompanying person’s passport page containing the holder’s data, and expiry date, a recent photograph and valid visa copy.
A notarized parental authorization to travel to Poland, signed by both parents / guardians
*Note: When applying at the Polish embassy/consulate in their home country, the guardian or parent should accompany the minor.
Additional Requirements Based on the Purpose of Entry to Poland
Depending on your reason for traveling to Poland, you will need to provide some additional documents to prove you meet the criteria to enter and stay in Poland. Following find the additional Poland visa requirements based on your purpose of traveling to Poland.
Poland Airport Transit Visa Requirements
If Poland is not your destination country, but instead you only need to land at one of the Polish airports, in order to take another flight that will take you to your non-Schengen destination country, you will need to apply for a Poland Airport Transit Visa.
Not all nationals of countries under the Schengen visa regime need a Polish Airport Transit Visa. Actually, the nationals of very few of these countries do. Check the list of the nationals that need a Poland Airport Transit Visa, to find out if you need to apply for one.
Required Documents for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa to Poland
When applying to obtain a Poland Airport Transit visa, you must provide the following additional documents:
A valid visa (if needed) for the final country one is travelling to.
The flight ticket for the final country you are travelling to.
Poland Transit Visa Requirements
Foreign nationals who need to disembark at a Polish harbor to take another vessel to their non-Schengen/EEA destination country will need to apply for a Poland Transit Visa.
Required Documents for a Transit Schengen Visa to Poland
When applying to obtain a Poland Transit visa, you must provide the following additional documents:
A valid visa (if required) for the final country you are travelling to.
The ticket for the final country you are travelling to.
Original and photocopy of Seaman’s book (required only for seafarers).
Letter from the inviting Shipping Company. Issued by the inviting Shipping Company in Poland (required only for seafarers).
Employment contract. Contract with the navigation company / ship in order to board the ship (required only for seafarers).
Poland Tourist Visa Requirements
You shall apply for a Polish Schengen Tourist visa if you wish to visit Poland for vacations or for sightseeing and experiencing the country and its culture.
Required Documents for a Tourist Schengen Visa to Poland
When applying to obtain a Polish Tourist visa, you must provide the following additional documents:
Bank statement. Preferably for the last 6 months.
Travel Itinerary. A description of your trip day-to-day.
Proof how you will be financing your trip to Poland.
Poland Visitor Visa Requirements
If you want to travel to Poland in order to visit a friend or family member that lives there, upon their invitation, then you will need to apply for a Polish visitor visa.
Required Documents for a Schengen Visitor Visa to Poland
When applying to obtain a visa to visit your friends or relatives in Poland, you must provide the following additional documents:
Written and signed invitation from the inviting person, which states the conditions of visit, period of stay, who covers expenses etc.
An official invitation registered with appropriate Polish authorities (Urzad Wojewodzki)
Photocopy of inviting person’s Polish/EU passport/national ID (if applicable) and – in case the inviting person is not a Polish/EU citizen – photocopy of the inviting person’s visa or residence permit in Poland/EU;
Poland Business Visa Requirements
When traveling to Poland in order to engage in activities related to business, as i.e. visiting a business/company, to have meetings, to make business deals, to recruit, to train or other similar activities, you will need to hold a Polish Business Visa.
Required Documents for a Business Schengen Visa to Poland
When applying to obtain a Polish Business visa, you must provide the following additional documents:
A letter from your employer. In this letter should be stated why you will be traveling to Poland.
Invitation letter from company/authority in Poland with full address, stating the purpose and duration of the business trip.
Evidence on purpose of entry – information on event/congress/trade fair, i.e. information about organizer/host incl. full address in Poland, duration of event and purpose of participation (e.g. confirmed congress participation, trade fair visitor’s ticket or exhibitor’s ticket, confirmation proof of trade fair exhibitor).
Proof of trip financing. Regarding your expenses during your stay in Poland, either the employer or the partner company must state coverage of expenses on the letter or invitation.
Poland Study Visa Requirements
You should apply for this visa if the main purpose of your trip to Poland is to attend a study course, training or an internship related to your field of study.
Required Documents for a Student Schengen Visa to Poland
When applying to get a Polish Student visa, you must provide the following additional documents:
Acceptance/enrollment letter allowing attendance of courses.
No objection letter from the educational institution where you are currently enrolled (if applicable).
Internship agreement. Signed between the company in Poland, the establishment of origin and the trainee.
Poland Medical Visa Requirements
If you want to enter Poland in order to seek medical treatment, undergo health therapies, surgeries or similar, then you will need to apply for a Polish Medical Visa, prior to your trip.
Required Documents for a Medical Schengen Visa to Poland
When applying to get a visa to receive medical care in Poland, you must provide the following additional documents:
A local medical report. Issued from a doctor / clinic / hospital in your home country, confirming that you need medical treatment in Poland.
A medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in Poland, confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation. It should also confirm that the hospital can perform the specific medical treatment and that you will be accepted accordingly.
Proof of financial arrangement made. Pre-payment of the treatment or other proof of sufficient financial means to cover the medical treatment and related expenses, such as additional insurance.
Correspondence between the sending and receiving side.
Official confirmation of the treatment/appointment by the receiving medical institution (hospital/clinic) in Poland Visa for Cultural/Sports/Film Crew/Religious Purposes
Requirements
If you are a member or a film crew traveling to Poland for movie scene shooting, or you wish to attend a cultural / sports / religious event in Poland, then you will have to apply for a short-term Polish Visa for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes.
Required Documents for a Schengen Visa to Poland for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes
When applying to get a Polish visa under the purpose of attending a Cultural / Sports / Religious Event in Poland you must provide the following additional documents:
Event Information. As:
Invitation letter from the relevant body in Poland with details upon the nature of events or activities that are to be held in Poland.
Entry tickets to the event.
Enrollment conditions & detailed program of the event in Poland.
Other documents that present names of the applicants (crewmembers) and other relevant information about the event.
Proof of previous performances. Participation in previous festivals and ceremonies (cultural, religious), sports competitions, winners certificates, proof of world/international ranking (sports).
Documents proving applicant’s qualifications for the purpose of the visit, as i.e. proof of employment in a related field, career history; certificates, diplomas, etc.
Poland Visa for Spouse of Polish National Requirements
If your spouse (husband or wife) is a Polish national, and you wish to travel to Poland for a short-stay visit, then you can apply for a Poland Visa for the Wife/Husband of a Polish Citizen.
Required Documents for a Polish Schengen Visa for the Wife/Husband of a Polish Citizen
When applying to get a Polish visa as the spouse of a Polish national/citizen, you must provide the following additional documents:
Proof of Polish citizenship (ID card or consular card or certification of Polish nationality or naturalization order).
Polish marriage certificate.
Polish family record book.
Poland Official Visit Visa Requirements
When traveling to Poland as a member of an Official Delegation representing the government, an institution or organization, you will need to apply for a Polish Visa for Official Visits.
Polish Schengen Visa for Members of Official Delegations
When applying to get a Polish visa as a member of an official delegation, you must provide the following additional documents:
The official invitation copy.
Evidence about the purpose of journey (negotiations, meetings, event by intergovernmental organizations, consultations).
Where to Apply for a Polish Short-Stay Visa?
Where you need to lodge your application depends on the Polish authorities in your country of residence. You will have to apply at one of the following Poland diplomatic bodies in your home country:
The Polish Embassy
A Polish consulate
A Visa Application Center to which Poland has outsourced visa submission
The Embassy / Consulate of another Schengen country to which Poland has outsourced visa submission
Who Can Apply for a Schengen Visa at the Polish Embassy / Consulate / VAC?
Additionally, the Polish embassy/consulate will process your application only if you meet the following criteria:
Poland is your main destination, which means:
Poland is the only Schengen country you will be visiting.
You will visiting other Schengen countries, but you will be spending more days in Poland
You will be spending an equal amount of days in each country, but you will enter the Schengen Zone through Poland.
You are one of the following:
A citizen of the country from where you are applying.
A foreign citizen on a permanent / temporary residence permit in the country from where you are applying.
You cannot apply for a short-stay Polish visa from a country in which you are currently on a visa.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Polish Visa?
The processing time for a Poland short-stay visa takes no longer than 15 days. Exceptional cases may take up 30 days, since the Polish embassies may have to consult with other Schengen consulates.
To avoid any delay in the issuance of your Polish short-stay visa, you should submit your application as soon as possible, though no earlier than three months before you travel to Poland.
How Much Does It Cost to Apply for a Polish Visa?
The Polish Schengen Visa fees are as follows:
Poland visas for adult travelers – €80
Poland visas for children (6 – 12 years) – €40
Poland visas for children (under 6 years) – Waived
Moreover, according to applicant’s nationality, purpose of visit and some other factors, there are some categories of applicants exempt from paying the fee, and others that need to pay a lower amount as well.
Check the list of the Poland Schengen Visa fees, to see if you belong to any of these categories!
How Long Can We Stay in Poland Without a Visa?
The permitted length of your visa-free stay in Poland depends on your nationality. If you are a passport holder of one of the following, you can enter Poland visa free, and stay there up to 90 days:
EU / EEA member countries– you need to register at the relevant Polish authorities if you wish to stay longer.
Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of South Korea or the United States of America – you need to obtain a residence permit within three months of arrival in Poland, if you wish to stay longer.
Poland visa-exempt countries – you need to obtain a Polish National visa for long-stays from you country of residence, if you wish to stay longer.
Whereas, if you are a passport holder of any of the countries that still have not signed a visa-free agreement with the Schengen Area, you must obtain a visa before heading to Poland, or any other Schengen member country.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand the 90/180 Schengen Visa Rule. Do not violate this rule, not even for one day, since you may face consequences for overstaying in the Schengen territory.
Can I Extend My Schengen Visa in Poland?
Yes, you can extend your Polish Schengen visa, but only in exceptional cases where new facts and special reasons arise after entry in Poland, as i.e. humanitarian reasons or force majeure.
The Civil and Migration Affairs Departments in Voivodeship Offices, where you can apply for a visa extension in Poland are as follows:
Wojewoda Mazowiecki
Wojewoda Kujawsko-Pomorski
Wojewoda Lubelski
Wojewoda Lubuski
Wojewoda Łódzki
Wojewoda Małopolski
Wojewoda Dolnośląski
Wojewoda Opolski
Wojewoda Podkarpacki
Wojewoda Podlaski
Wojewoda Pomorski
Wojewoda Śląski
Wojewoda Warmińsko-Mazurski
Wojewoda Świętokrzyski
Wojewoda Wielkopolski
Wojewoda Zachodniopomorski
Please read How to Extend a Schengen Visa in Poland to understand in what circumstances and under what conditions you can extend your Polish Schengen Visa.
Can My Polish Schengen Visa Be Revoked?
Yes, your Poland visa can be revoked, in case the competent Polish authorities conclude that the conditions for issuing the visa are no longer met.
If you are in Poland when the decision on the revocation of your visa happens, you will be given a deadline to leave Poland. If you do not leave the Poland or the territory of Schengen within this period, you will then be considered an illegal resident in Poland.
Please note that failure of the visa holder to provide the border officer, with the entry requirements, may also lead to a decision to annul or revoke the visa, though not automatically.
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