Poland Schengen Visa Application Requirements
All you need to know about applying for a Schengen visa as a Polish tourist, including all the details on what documents you’ll need and how to submit them.
Poland Schengen Visa for Tourists
Poland Schengen Visa: Applicant Guide
Poland has a population of 38.307 million and an area of 312,696 km2, making it the sixth most populous member state of the European Union. Poland, which goes by its official name “the Republic of Poland,” has one of the EU’s most robust economies.
With 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, its capital Warsaw, and other significant towns including Kraków, ód, Wrocaw, Pozna, Gdask, and Szczecin, Poland has a burgeoning tourism industry. The Wawel Castle, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Malbork Castle, Gdansk Old Town, Masurian lakes, and of course Poland’s capital Warsaw is a few of the country’s major touristic attractions.
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These figures were last updated on MONDAY, 7th NOVEMBER 2022, at 3:45 PM GMT +4
Poland Schengen visa overview?
To visit Poland, you do not require a Schengen tourist visa if:
- Your country is a member of either Schengen or the EU/EEA.
- Countries like the US, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, and Tunisia have visa-free arrangements with the Schengen region.
You need a Schengen visa to enter Poland if you are from a Country without a visa-free policy, such as China, Egypt, India, Morocco, Thailand, or Turkey.
To work in Poland, you'll need a visa if you're not a citizen of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland. You need only to register your stay at a local registration office if you are a citizen of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland and plan to work in Poland for more than three months. Unlike applying for a visa, registering your stay simply notifies the Polish authorities of your intention to extend your stay and employment in the country.
Depending on his or her country, anyone intending to enter the Schengen Area for any reason may be required to obtain a visa. Contact us to benefit from our expert assistance and facilitate your travel to Poland.
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Requirements to enter Poland
You will need to provide some travel and identification documents to the Austrian border official when you arrive at the Polish port of entry. As a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA), all you need to travel with is your national identification card.
If, however, you do not hold an EEA citizenship, you will need to provide the following documents:
- A passport, or other appropriate travel documents-a passport issued not more than 10 years ago and is valid for at least three months after the day you intend to leave Schengen
- A visa, if required by the Polish government
- Proof of funds-verification that you have enough money to cover the costs. The minimum charge for a three-night stay is 300 PLN (or 67.76€). And if you’re going to be there for a while, you need to bring at least 100 PLN (around 22.59€) for each day
- Purpose of stay-documents demonstrating the intent to stay and its terms, like a letter of invitation
Note: Passport validity and date of issuance are not required for British passport holders.
In addition to these documents, the Polish border guard could inquire about your visit to Poland by asking you:
- Why do you intend to visit Poland?
- How long will you be staying in Poland?
- Where will you be staying in Poland? Etc.
Remember that the border police have the last say in whether or not you are allowed to enter Poland. After reviewing your documentation, the Polish border guard may let you into Poland and the Schengen area if they determine that you pose no threat to Poland.
When entering Poland, kindly make sure the Polish border guard stamps your passport. If you leave Poland without a stamp, you risk being fined or imprisoned.
If you fall into one of the following categories, you must apply for a short-stay visa before travelling to any Schengen member state, including Poland:
- You carry a passport from a developing nation that is not party to an agreement with the Schengen nations on the liberalisation of visa requirements.
- You previously had your entry to Poland or any other Schengen country denied because you had a passport from a third-world nation that has a visa liberalisation agreement with the Schengen nations.
Due to the Schengen Visa Code, you must meet Poland visa requirements in order to enter the Republic of Poland. The following are the necessary documents for a visa to Poland:
- Application form filling. Use your computer to fill out the form, print it, and then sign it at the bottom.
- Two identical photos. The images must be recent whole-face shots with a light background and be in passport format. See the specs and requirements for photographs.
- Your valid passport. To be stamped, it must have at least two blank pages. Before applying, make sure your passport is still valid because it needs to be for at least 3 months after the date you leave the Schengen area. Additionally, it must not be more than ten years old.
- Duplicates of your past visas (if applicable).
- Travel health insurance for Poland. You must provide proof that you have travel insurance for Poland and the entire Schengen region, with at least €30,000 in coverage for medical emergencies and repatriation in the event of death.
- Route of a round-trip flight. Evidence that you have a confirmed flight to and from Poland. The names, dates, and flight numbers should all be listed in this paper.
- Evidence of accommodation a statement detailing your accommodations in Poland I.e., a hotel booking.
- A cover letter outlining your reasons for wanting to visit Poland, your plans for the trip’s duration, your departure date, and other pertinent information.
- Evidence of civil status This could be a marriage licence, a child’s birth certificate, a spouse’s death certificate, etc.
- Evidence of enough financial funds for the duration of the stay in Poland. The Polish embassy/consulate requests proof that you have at least 300 PLN ($67.76) or three days’ worth of expenses for stays. And if your vacation is more than three days, at least 100 PLN ($22.59) or €22.59 each day of stay. The daily payment drops to 20 PLN or 4.52€ if lodging is paid for by a third party or in advance of departure.
According to your employment status, there may be additional Polish visa requirements
Depending on your employment status, you may also need a visa for Poland.
- Employment agreement
- The most recent six months’ worth of bank statements.
- Employer’s leave authorization form
- The Income Tax Return (ITR)
- Your company licence copy
- A company’s most recent six-month bank statement and
- The Income Tax Return (ITR)
- Evidence of enrolment
- A letter of approval from a school or university
- Advertisements
- The most recent six-month pension statement
- Proof of consistent property income for the past six months
The following additional Polish visa requirements must be completed in the application file of minors requesting for short-stay visas to Poland or for their parents’ minor children seeking visas:
- Birth document for the young person visiting Poland.
- Both parents have signed the Poland application form.
- Family court ruling. under circumstances where a child has sole custody of one parent.
- Certified copies of each parent’s ID or passport
If the child will be travelling with another person yet alone:
- a valid visa copy, an original, and a copy of the accompanying person’s passport page with the holder’s information, expiration date, and most current photo.
- A notarized document with both parents’ or guardians’ signatures authorising travel to Poland
Note: The minor must be accompanied by a guardian or parent while submitting an application at the Polish embassy or consulate abroad.
Requirements based on the purpose of entry to Poland
Depending on your purpose for visiting Poland, you may need to present some additional documentation to demonstrate that you are eligible to enter and remain in Poland. The additional Poland visa requirements, dependent on your reason for visiting, are shown below.
Airport Transit Visa requirements for Poland
You must apply for a Poland Airport Transit Visa if Poland is not your final destination and you simply need to arrive at one of its airports before continuing on to another flight that will take you to your non-Schengen destination country.
Some citizens of the Schengen nations do not require a transit visa for Poland. Actually, relatively few of these countries’ citizens do. If you need to apply for a transit visa to Poland, check the list of nationals who require one.
The following extra documents are required when applying for a transit visa for Poland airports:
- A valid visa, if one is required, for the destination country.
- The airline ticket for the last destination you’re visiting.
- Foreign citizens must apply for a Poland Transit Visa if they need to disembark at a Polish port to board another ship for their non-Schengen/EEA destination country.
The following extra paperwork is required when applying for a transit visa for Poland:
- A valid visa, if one is necessary for your intended destination.
- The travel document for the destination nation.
- Seaman’s book, both the original and a copy (required only for seafarers).
- Letter from the shipping company inviting you. Should be issued by the Polish shipping company that invited you (required only for seafarers).
- Employment agreement. To board the ship, make a contract with the navigational service or ship (required only for seafarers).
Poland's requirements for tourist visas
If you want to travel to Poland for vacation or to observe the nation and its culture, you must apply for a Polish Schengen Tourist visa.
The following extra documents are required when applying for a Polish tourist visa:
- Financial statement. Ideally for the latest six months
- Travel schedule. A day-by-day account of your travels
- Evidence of your plans to pay for your travel to Poland
You must apply for a Polish guest visa if you wish to visit a friend or relative who resides in Poland and they have invited you to do so.
The following extra paperwork is required when applying for a visa to visit friends or family in Poland:
- Written and signed invitation from the person inviting you, outlining the terms of your visit, the length of your stay, who is responsible for your expenses, etc.
- A formal invitation submitted to the Polish government (Urzad Wojewodzki)
- A photocopy of the invitee’s passport or other official identification issued by Poland or the EU, if appropriate, and, if the invitee is not a citizen of Poland or the EU, a photocopy of their visa or residency permission in Poland or the EU
How to apply for a short-stay visa in Poland?
You must carry out the following actions in order to complete the application procedure for a short-stay visa to Poland:
- Find out where you can submit your visa application for Poland
- Pick the appropriate Poland visa category. Select the appropriate sort of visa to apply for based on why you are visiting Poland
- Determine the location for the Poland visa application
- Assemble the paperwork needed to apply for a visa to Poland. Make sure the documentation you gather complies with the requirements established by the Polish embassy or consulate in your country of residency and is appropriate for the type of Polish visa you are applying for
- Schedule a visa interview
- Attend the interview for the visa
- Wait for the processing of your application
Where to Apply for a Short-Stay visa for Poland?
The Polish authorities in your place of residency will determine where you must file your application. You must submit an application at one of the following Poland diplomatic missions in your country:
- The Polish Embassy
- A consulate of Poland
- A centre for processing visa applications that Poland has contracted with
- Poland’s outsourced visa submission to the embassy or consulate of another Schengen nation
Questions? You’re covered
The Polish embassy/consulate will only process your application if you meet the requirements listed below:
Your primary destination is Poland, so:
- You will only travel to one Schengen nation, which is Poland
- You will go to other Schengen nations, but you will stay in Poland for a longer period
- Despite entering the Schengen Area via Poland, you will spend an equal number of days in each nation
One of the following applies to you:
- A national of the nation you are applying from
- A foreign national who has a valid visa for either temporary or permanent residence in the nation from which you are seeking
- You cannot use a country where you are currently on a visa to apply for a short-stay Polish visa.
A short-stay visa for Poland can be processed in no more than 15 days. The Polish embassies may need to consult with other Schengen consulates in exceptional circumstances, which could add 30 days to the process.
You should submit your application as soon as possible, but no later than three months before your trip, to prevent any delays in the issuing of your Polish short-stay visa.
Depending on your nationality, you may visit Poland without a visa for a certain amount of time. Passport holders of the following countries are not required to obtain a visa in order to enter Poland and remain there for up to 90 days:
- EU/EEA members: If you desire to stay longer, you must register with the appropriate Polish authorities
- If you want to stay longer and are from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of South Korea, or the United States of America, you must apply for a residence visa within three months of arriving in Poland
- Poland visa-exempt nations - if you desire to stay longer, you must get a Polish national visa for long stays from your country of residence.
However, if you possess a passport from one of the nations that have not yet ratified a visa-free travel pact with the Schengen Area, you will need to apply for a visa before travelling to Poland or any other Schengen member state.
Yes! You can renew your Polish Schengen visa, but only in extraordinary circumstances, such as after arrival in Poland when new facts and unusual circumstances, such as force majeure or humanitarian considerations, emerge.
Yes, if the relevant Polish authorities determine that the requirements for granting the visa are no longer met, your Poland visa may be revoked.
You will be assigned a departure date if you are still in Poland at the time your visa is decided to be revoked. You will be regarded as an unlawful resident of Poland if you do not depart the country or the Schengen region within this time frame.
Please be aware that, although not automatically, the decision to cancel or revoke the visa may result from the visa holder's failure to furnish the border official with the entry requirements.
Poland Schengen Visa Eligibility Checkup
Are you eligible for the Polish Schengen tourist visa? Check it out
To visit Poland, you must obtain a Schengen visa if you are from a nation with a visa-free agreement. Fill out the form to find out if to meet all the eligibility criteria to enter Poland for tourism.
Poland Schengen Visa Application Process - Apply with us
1 1
STEP 1
Choose visa type and gather documents
From our free assessment, based on the purpose of your travel to Poland, we will assist you in choosing the right visa type to apply for. Contact us for our expert support.
2 2
STEP 2
Make a visa appointment and attend interview
Make sure you gather the appropriate documents for the Polish visa type you’re applying for and that it all complies with the standards established by the Polish consulate.
3 3
STEP 3
Submit your Polish Schengen visa application
You have 15 days prior to travelling, not before 6 months to submit a ZERO mistake application. Our processing officers are best in document verification and application filling.