Visa

Citizens of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) do not need a visa to enter Poland. They are allowed to enter the country with a valid passport or national ID card and can stay for up to 90 days.

If you are from a non-EU country, in most cases you will need a C- or D-type national visa to enter Poland.

C-type national visa is a short-term Schengen visa allowing the holder to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days over a 180-day period.

D-type national visa is a long-term national visa issued for up to one year, allowing travel around the Schengen Area for up to 90 days over a 180-day period.

The costs of visa include visa fee, health insurance for the duration of the visa and potential additional costs related to the translation/apostillation of documents if required by the consulate.

How to apply for a visa?

  1. Find the relevant Polish Consulate/Embassy where you can submit your application – use this website: https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/polands-missions-abroad.
  2. Check the procedure and carefully read all the requirements on the consulate’s website.
  3. Book your appointment at the consulate.
  4. Prepare the necessary documents and pay the visa fee. The requirements might slightly differ between the countries of application, but generally you will need the following:
    1. a valid passport: Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the intended date of departure from Poland and have at least two blank pages,
    2. a completed visa application form: the form must be filled out completely and signed by the applicant,
    3. a recent passport-size photo,
    4. proof of accommodation in Poland (ask IBB about the possibility of staying at IBB guest rooms for the initial period of 3 months),
    5. proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in Poland,
    6. proof of health insurance covering the duration of your stay in Poland,
    7. proof of payment for the visa fee,
    8. documents confirming the purpose of your stay (our Institute will provide you with the relevant documents),
    9. other documents required by the consulate.
  5. Submit your application with all required documents.

It is important to note that the specific requirements may vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for, your country of citizenship and the specific embassy/consulate.

In general, we recommend you to apply for a visa well in advance of your intended travel date, as the processing of your application can take a considerable amount of time.

For more information, please check https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/visas and the website of the relevant Polish Consulate.