Table of Contents

Overview of Poland

Poland is a central European country situated on the Baltic Sea, bordered by 6 countries, including Germany and the Czech Republic to the west, and Ukraine and Belarus to the east. Polish is the official language for its population of almost 38 million. The 6th most populous country in Europe, over 17.5 million people visit Poland each year as tourists. Its capital Warsaw is located on the Vistula River, and features many historical and cultural sites, including Royal Castle and the Palace of Culture and Science. The city’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site-all the more remarkable for being rebuilt from the ruins of World War II. Just south of Old Town is the 18th-century park, Lazienki, complete with an historic palace, lake, and strolling peacocks. Krakow, a city in Poland’s south, offers a preserved medieval center and Jewish quarter. Its historic Cloth Hall, a 14-century merchant building has been beautifully restored and offers terraces and cafes and views of St. Mary’s Basilica. Travelers to Poland’s city of Gdansk on the Baltic Sea can view the country’s muscular maritime industry, especially its historic Solidarity Centre, commemorating the 1980s trade union movement. Gdansk is famous for the wall murals of Zaspa, and the Long Market, one of the most photographed streets in the world. For nature enthusiasts, Poland offers Tatra National Park in the south and to the east, the mammoth oaks of the Białowieża Forest. Travelers throughout the country can sample Polish cuisine, including bigos, a hunter’s stew, and the Polish staple: pierogies. Poland signed the Schengen Agreement in 2003, becoming part of the Schengen area in 2007.

Poland Schengen Visa Eligibility

Schengen visa eligibility for Poland includes third country nationals from the following states, who are excluded from visa-free to Poland/the Schengen area, and are therefore eligible to apply for a Schengen visa to Poland:

1.     AFGHANISTAN

53.   LAOS

2.     ALGERIA

54.   LEBANON

3.     ANGOLA

55.   LESOTHO

4.     ARMENIA

56.   LIBERIA

5.     AZERBAIJAN

57.   LIBYA

6.     BAHRAIN

58.   MADAGASCAR

7.     BANGLADESH

59.   MALAWI

8.     BELARUS

60.   MALDIVES

9.     BELIZE

61.   MALI

10.   BENIN

62.   MAURITANIA

11.   BHUTAN

63.   MONGOLIA

12.   BOLIVIA

64.   MOROCCO

13.   BOTSWANA

65.   MOZAMBIQUE

14.   BURKINA FASO

66.   NAMIBIA

15.   BURMA/MYANMAR

67.   NAURU

16.   BURUNDI

68.   NEPAL

17.   CAMBODIA

69.   NIGER

18.   CAMEROON

70.   NIGERIA

19.   CAPE VERDE

71.   NORTH KOREA

20.   CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

72.   OMAN

21.   CHAD

73.   PAKISTAN

22.   CHINA

74.   PAPUA NEW GUINEA

23.   COMOROS

75.   PHILIPPINES

24.   CONGO

76.   QATAR

25.   COTE D’IVOIRE

77.   RUSSIA

26.   CUBA

78.   RWANDA

27.   DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

79.   SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

28.   DJIBOUTI

80.   SAUDI ARABIA

29.   DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

81.   SENEGAL

30.   ECUADOR

82.   SIERRA LEONE

31.   EGYPT

83.   SOMALIA

32.   EQUATORIAL GUINEA

84.   SOUTH AFRICA

33.   ERITREA

85.   SOUTH SUDAN

34.   ETHIOPIA

86.   SRI LANKA

35.   FIJI

87.   SUDAN

36.   GABON

88.   SURINAME

37.   GAMBIA

89.   SWAZILAND

38.   GHANA

90.   SYRIA

39.   GUINEA

91.   TAJIKISTAN

40.   GUINEA-BISSAU

92.   TANZANIA

41.   GUYANA

93.   THAILAND

42.   HAITI

94.   TOGO

43.   INDIA

95.   TUNISIA

44.   INDONESIA

96.   TURKEY

45.   IRAN

97.   TURKMENISTAN

46.   IRAQ

98.   UGANDA

47.   JAMAICA

99.   UZBEKISTAN

48.   JORDAN

100.VIETNAM

49.   KAZAKHSTAN

101.YEMEN

50.   KENYA

102.ZAMBIA

51.   KUWAIT

103.ZIMBABWE

52.   KYRGYZSTAN
Third-party nationals from the following entities/territories are also required to apply for a Schengen visa: KOSOVO and the PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY.

Required Documents for Poland Visa

All documents required for your Poland Schengen visa must be filled in using Roman capital letters, completed/translated into Polish or English. Applications for all Schengen visas to Poland will contain the following Basic Required Documents:
  • Valid passport
  • Passport sized photos
  • Application form
  • Fingerprints (biometric data)
  • Travel medical insurance
  • Visa Fee
  • Materials related to your trip:
    • Reason for visit
    • Where you will stay (accommodation)
    • How you will fund your trip (finances)
    • Proof that you will leave Poland before your visa becomes invalid/expires. This is often in the form of a paid roundtrip plane ticket (proof of return).
Note: For more information on what to include in your application, including a detailed description of required materials, please see: Basic Required Documents. Please note that you may have to submit additional Polish Schengen visa supporting documents related to your specific purpose for travelling.  

Poland Schengen Visa Fee

The standard Polish Schengen visa fee for an adult is 80 Euros. Certain types of applicants (most students, children under 6) are exempt from all visa fees. To get a Schengen visa for Poland, you will likely have to submit a service payment with your visa application-this is a separate cost from the visa fee. Please note that these fees are non-refundable in the case of visa rejection.
Poland Schengen Visa

How to Apply for Poland Schengen Visa : Steps

  • Step 1: Determine your Purpose for travelling to Poland, which will determine the Type of visa you should apply for.
  • Step 2: Determine how many Entries to Poland/the Schengen area you need.
  • Step 3: Gather your Required Documents.
  • Step 4: Schedule a Polish Schengen visa appointment (if applicable).
    • No matter where you are applying from, you will likely have to schedule an appointment at your Polish Consulate/visa center in order to submit your application. In certain cases, you may be able to drop off your application without prior arrangement, so long as you do so during normal operating hours. Contact your consulate/visa center directly to find out if you need to schedule an appointment in order to submit your application.
    • Alternatively, you can go ahead and schedule an appointment through Poland’s e-Konsult site via this link.
  • Step 5: Fill out your application.
    • Access your application online by registering for an e-Konsult account here. After filling out the application, print it out and sign it. You will submit this paper copy to whichever Polish Consulate/visa processing center you are applying through.
  • Step 6: Pay the application fee.
  • Step 7: Submit your Polish Schengen visa application (at least 15 days prior to travelling, not before 6 months) at your visa appointment.
    • Different Polish Consulates/visa centers have different procedures for submitting applications. In almost all cases, applications must be submitted in person to the consulate/center you are applying through.
    • When you submit your application, you will likely also be asked to submit biometric data (fingerprints). Children younger than 12 years are likely exempt from having their fingerprints collected. If you have previously submitted fingerprints (within the last 59 months), you likely will not need to resubmit them.
    • Please note, after submitting your application, you may be asked to return at a later date for a personal interview to provide further information/materials related to your trip.

When to Apply

Submit your application at least 15 days prior to the day you intend to travel, and no earlier than 6 months before you leave.

Where to Apply

Applications for Schengen visas to Poland should almost always be submitted in person, at either a Polish Consulate/Embassy or a visa application center that has a relationship with Poland.

Ideally, you will lodge your application in the country where you legally reside/hold a residence permit.

In countries where there is no Polish consular presence, applications may be lodged via the consulate of a Schengen state representing Polish consular interests.

Processing Time for Poland Schengen Visa

The Polish Schengen visa processing time is generally 15 days, although it can take up to 60 days in certain cases.

If your visa was approved:

Collect your visa and make sure the information it contains is valid and complete.

If your visa was denied:

If you receive a Schengen visa rejection for Poland, you (or your legal representative) have the right to an appeal within 14 days of receiving your rejection.

You should submit your Schengen visa appeal to the consul that rejected your visa.

If the consul upholds your rejection, you can submit a final request for appeal to the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw via the same consul.

While there is no appeal fee for the initial appeal request. However, if you the counsel rejects your appeal, and you chose to proceed with a final appeal through the Polish courts, there is a fee, which can in certain cases be refunded, but is in some cases not refundable, regardless of the outcome of the appeal (positive or negative).

Finally, once you obtain your Schengen Visa for Poland, please note the following:

Your visa may be revoked if you do not notify the Polish Consulate/visa application center of any changes to your trip itinerary that occur after you have submitted your application.

Being approved for a Polish visa does not guarantee you entry to either Poland or the general Schengen area – you can still be refused entry to both places upon arrival.

Alternatively, you may have to show additional documents regarding your finances or accommodation in order to enter Poland/the Schengen area.

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FAQ about Poland Schengen Visa

Who needs a Poland Schengen visa?

Poland requires nationals of certain countries (those without visa-free access to the Schengen area) to apply for a visa in order to visit the country and any of the 26 other Schengen states.

How long is Poland Schengen visa valid for?

Schengen visa validity for Poland is 90 days (within a 180-day period), which means you cannot stay in Poland longer than 90 days (on a Schengen visa).

Does Poland require Schengen visa?

Poland requires a Schengen visa for stays of up to 90 days for people from non-Schengen countries (who also lack visa-free access to the Schengen area).

Do I need Travel Medical Insurance for my Poland visa application?

If you are applying for a Poland Schengen Visa, Travel Medical Insurance is mandatory, you will have to submit proof of coverage with your application. This insurance is meant o provide you with coverage in the event that you experience medically related repatriation, medical care, and/or hospitalization or death while you are in the Schengen area on a Schengen visa. Therefore, if you experience a medical issue while you are abroad that requires you to go ot the hospital, your travel medical insurance will pay for the cost of your treatment, rather than your host country.

To simplify your application process, Insurte, partners with leading European Insurance Companies operating under EU regulations provide Compliant Schengen Visa insurances. If you wish o proceed: Buy my Travel Medical Insurance.