Poland is a unique country with a rich culture and history, stunning landscapes and wonderful architecture. This European country offers tourists many museums, seaside resorts and charming old towns. There are 14 UNESCO world heritage sites in the country. Also, the economy and the labor market are quite developed here. Moderate prices in Poland attract many tourists and expats to the country.

However, before planning a trip to Poland, be sure to find out whether you need a visa.

Who needs a visa before traveling to Poland? How to apply for a visa to Poland? Details in our material.

Do I need a visa to Poland?

You do not need a visa to Poland if:

- Your country is part of the EU/EEA countries or any Schengen country (Latvia, Germany, France, etc.).

- Your country of residence has a visa-free agreement with Schengen (Ukraine, USA, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand and Tunisia).

If you are a citizen of a country that does not have a visa-free agreement (eg India, China, Morocco, Thailand, Turkey, Egypt, etc.), you need to apply for a visa to visit Poland.

Importantly! Even if you can visit Poland without a visa for short-term trips, when it comes to work or study, a visa is required for all non-EU citizens.

Types of Polish visas

There are different types of visas in Poland, depending on the purpose of your trip to the country:

- Schengen visa – suitable for those travelers who plan to stay in Poland for less than 90 days, for example, for the purpose of tourism, visiting relatives, participating in a business event or even medical treatment. On the basis of this permit, you can visit all countries of the Schengen Agreement during the validity period of the visa.

- Transit visa in Poland - allows its holder to enter the international transit zone of a Polish airport to change flights. It is aimed at passengers traveling to a third country, but whose flight flies through Poland.

- Work visa to Poland – for those who want to work in the country. To obtain a permit, you need to find an employer who will submit a request for a work permit on your behalf to the local voivodship administration. There are different types of work permits, depending on the duration and nature of your work. You can only start working after your employer has given you a work permit.

- Student visa to Poland – citizens of non-EU countries who have been accepted to a university in Poland must obtain a Polish student visa and residence permit.

- Family visa to Poland - those who want to join their husband, wife or parents need to apply for a Polish family visa. The family visa is valid for 2 years and during this time you are allowed to work in Poland. You must provide proof of your marital status, such as a marriage certificate (for spouses) or a birth/adoption certificate (for minor children).

1. Contact the nearest Polish embassy or consulate and make an appointment

Depending on where you live, you can apply for a visa to Poland in one of the following places:

- Polish embassy or consulate in your country.

- Polish embassy or consulate in a neighboring country.

- Embassy or consulate of another country of the Schengen Agreement to which Poland has transferred the right to issue visas.

- A private visa center or agency to which the Polish Embassy has transferred visa application services.

2. Schedule a visa appointment

It is important to arrange a visa appointment at the embassy. You must apply for a visa to Poland at least two weeks before your planned visit to Poland.

3. Prepare the necessary package of documents

4. Apply for a visa in person

On the day of your appointment, submit the visa application and all necessary documents to the nearest Polish embassy or consulate. Make sure you do not forget any of the requirements as your application may be rejected immediately.

5. Attend a visa interview if necessary

The interview process is an opportunity for interviewers to learn the reasons for your visit and other personal information. You must answer the questions truthfully.

6. Wait for the Polish visa to be issued

The standard term for considering an application for a visa to Poland is from 10 to 14 days. In some cases, this term can be extended by 45-60 days.

In order to safely move, travel or work in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.

- Poland visa application. You must fill out the form completely and sign it at the end.

- Two passport size photos of you.

- Copy of passport. Your passport must be valid for at least three months after the date of entry

- Cover Letter. You may be required to write a letter describing the purpose of your trip, what you are going to do in Poland, etc.

- Confirmation of the availability of sufficient funds to ensure your stay in Poland (bank account statement of income for the last 6 months).

- Paid visa fee.

Additional documents for different types of visas:

Schengen visa

- A travel insurance policy that meets Schengen visa requirements (€30,000 coverage throughout the Schengen area).

- Confirmation of residence in Poland (reservation of hotels, apartments, etc.).

- Booking tickets to and from Poland.

Family visa

- Confirmation of family relationships (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.).

Work visa

- Employment contract.

- Health insurance policy.

Student visa

- Confirmation of school/university enrollment.

Your Polish visa may be rejected even if you have completed all the application steps correctly. If your visa application is rejected, you can appeal within 8 weeks. Common reasons for visa refusal:

- Insufficient documentation.

- The embassy believes that you cannot afford your trip.

- The embassy believes that you can stay in Poland illegally.

Where to look for a Polish embassy abroad?

Poland has about 96 embassies and 125 consulates around the world.

In this list, you can contact any of the indicated specific embassies or consulates in Poland or a Polish embassy or consulate in a certain foreign country to get complete information about the contact details and services offered by that particular diplomatic or consular institution.

Contact details and a list of services of Polish embassies and consulates abroad can be found at the link.

If you want to stay in Poland for longer than three months (90 days), you need to apply for a D visa and then for a residence permit.

We will remind you! Students in Poland have the right to apply for a residence card. However, from 2025, the criteria for obtaining a residence permit will be changed. We talked about the procedure for issuing a residence card for foreign students in Poland in our previous article.