In order to legally come to Poland it is necessary for a foreigner to obtain a visa. The exceptions are EU citizens who can travel to Poland without a permit, citizens of States who can stay in Poland for 90 days within a period of 180 days as part of visa-free travel or possibly have a residence card in Poland. The issue of visas is carried out by consular offices.
Types of visas The legislator distinguishes between national visas and Schengen visas:
| national visas | Schengen visas | |
| method of visa marking | TYPE D | TYPE C |
| period of validity | – the minimum period of validity of a national visa is 91 days, the maximum – 365 days. | – the minimum validity period for a Schengen visa is 1 day, the maximum is 5 years. |
| period of stay | visas for stays exceeding three months | visas entitle them to stay for a maximum period of 90 days during a 180-day period |
In addition, the law provides for various purposes of stay, on the basis of which the visa has the appropriate marking:
“01” – when a visa is issued for tourist purposes;
“02” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of visiting family or friends;
“03” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of participating in sporting events
“04” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of conducting business activity;
“05” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of performing work by a foreigner for a period not exceeding 6 months within the next 12 months, based on a declaration of the intention to entrust work performance registered in the poviat labor office;
“06” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of performing work on the basis of documents other than those referred to in art. 60 paragraph 1 point 5 of the Act on foreigners;
“07” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of conducting cultural activities or participating in conferences organized in connection with such activities;
“08” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of performing official duties by representatives of a foreign state authority or an international organization;
“09” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of undergoing first-cycle studies, second-cycle studies or uniform Master’s studies or third-cycle studies;
“10” – when a visa is issued for vocational training;
“11” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of education or training in a form other than that specified in art. 60 paragraph 1 point 9 or 10 of the Act;
“12” – when a visa is issued for didactic purposes;
“13” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of scientific research or development works;
“14” – when a visa is issued for treatment;
“15” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of joining a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, a Member State of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) – parties to the agreement on the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation;
“16” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of participating in a cultural or educational exchange program, humanitarian aid program or summer work program, and if the program is governed by an international agreement to which the Republic of Poland is a party, the name of the program shall also appear on the visa sticker ;
“17” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of arrival on the territory of the Republic of Poland as a member of the immediate family of the repatriate;
“18” – when a visa is issued in order to exercise the rights arising from the possession of a Pole’s Card;
“19” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of repatriation;
“20” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of enjoying temporary protection;
“21” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of arrival for humanitarian reasons, due to state interests or international obligations;
“22” – when a visa is issued for the purpose of applying for a temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification;
“23” – when a visa is issued for a purpose other than specified in art. 60 paragraph 1 points 1-24 of the Act;
In the case of a visa with “21” mark, the foreigner holding it will not be able to obtain a temporary residence permit.
To submit your visa application you will need:
– pictures;
– medical insurance;
– a copy of the first page of the travel document;
– confirmation documents: purpose and conditions of the planned stay, credibility of the foreigner’s declaration of intention to leave the territory of the Republic of Poland before the expiry of the visa (e.g. return flight tickets), other circumstances given in the application.
The consul will refuse to issue a visa if:
• the entry of foreigner’s data into the list of foreigners whose stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland is undesirable;
• the foreigner’s data is in the Schengen Information System for the purposes of refusing entry (Article 65 (2));
• the foreigner does not have sufficient financial resources for the duration of the planned stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland and for a return journey to the country of origin or residence, or for transit to a third country which grants permission to enter, or the possibility of obtaining such funds in accordance with the law;
• the foreigner does not have health or medical insurance;
• it is required by reasons of national defense or security or the protection of public safety and order or the interests of the Republic of Poland;
• the foreigner’s travel document does not meet one of the following criteria:
1. the period of validity expires not earlier than 3 months after the expiry of the visa for which he is applying;
2. has at least two blank pages;
3. has been issued in the last 10 years;
• in the procedure for issuing a national visa a foreigner:
1. submitted a request containing false personal data or false information or attached documents containing such data or information, or
2. testified untruthfully or concealed the truth, or forged or forged a document in order to use it as authentic or used such a document as authentic;
• did not justify the purpose or conditions of the intended stay;
• there are justified doubts as to his intention to leave the territory of the Republic of Poland before the expiry of the visa.
• applicant for visa:
1. presents a false, counterfeit or forged document;
2. fails to provide confirmation as to the purposes and conditions of the intended stay;
3. does not provide proof that he has sufficient means of subsistence appropriate to the duration of the intended stay and measures to return to the country of origin or residence or transit to a third country which he can be sure will grant the applicant permission to enter, or is unable to obtain such funds under the law;
4. has already stayed for three months in the territory of the Member States for the current six-month period on the basis of a uniform visa or a visa with limited territorial validity;
5. is a person who has been entered in the SIS to refuse entry;
6. is considered to be a person whose presence constitutes a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Member States, especially if in the national databases of Member States there is an entry on the applicant’s behalf which for these reasons, would order the entry refused;
7. where applicable, it does not provide proof of having adequate and valid travel medical insurance;
the authenticity of the supporting documents presented by the applicant or the accuracy of their content, the reliability of the statements made by the applicant or his intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa for which the applicant expires raises serious doubts. apply for a visa;
Each new visa application is considered separately. One refusal does not prevent the foreigner from applying for a visa again.
