Entering Poland - general information
When entering Poland one needs to be able to justify the purpose and conditions of the planned stay and has to provide the following documents for the border control purpose:
- valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned stay,
- issued within last 10 years,
- having at least 2 blank pages.
The proof of health insurance is required for the whole planned stay in Poland, including the travel. This mean that you need to buy travel medical insurance before your arrival in Poland. The information on the travel insurance companies is available in the Polish consulates when applying for the visa before the arrival. The travel medical insurance is not required if you have the insurance covered by your employer.
The health insurance during your employment in Poland is usually covered by the employment contract or within a scholarship agreement. If it is not covered, you need to buy the insurance from an insurance company in the amount of at least 30 000 euro or sign an individual insurance agreement with the Polish National Health Fund.
You need to prove that you have sufficient financial resources for the planned stay and return journey or you have a possibility of earning/obtaining them in a legal way:
- PLN 300 for stays up to 4 days,
- PLN 75 for each day in case of stays exceeding 4 days.
If you are entering Poland for the purpose of study (including PhD) or participation in scientific research or training, you need to posses at least PLN 1270 for the first two months of stay or the same amount in foreign currency.
Additionally to all the above-mentioned amounts, for the return journey to the country of origin or residence, one needs to have:
- PLN 200 in case of countries neighbouring to Poland, OR
- PLN 500 in case of countries members of the European Union not neighbouring to Poland or in case of European Economic Area countries or Switzerland, OR
- PLN 2500 in case of other countries.
In order to justify the legal stay in Poland, the border guards may check such documents as: your employment contract, scholarship agreement or admission letters to a university or doctoral school. Also these documents are related to proving the possession of sufficient financial resources to stay in Poland.
The mentioned documents are also required to apply for visa to Poland, if needed - see below.
In most cases of scientists the work permit is not required, namely:
- in case of employment (scientific research and/or teaching) at public institutions such as universities, institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, state-funded research institutes, including those operating under the Łukasiewicz Research Network,
- in case of PhD candidates enrolled in Polish doctoral schools as well as full-time students who would like to work during their study
Generally speaking, the work permit is only required for employment in the business/private sector.
In order to enter Poland foreigners may be required to have a visa to Poland - if not subject to visa-free travel - or a visa/residence permit issued by another European Schengen country**.
Visa-free entry and stay up to 90 days
Citizens of more than 60 countries do not need a visa to enter the European Schengen area**, including Poland. In this case they can come to Poland just on the basis of a valid travel document (e.g. passport). However, the total stay on the territory of one and/or all the Schengen states cannot exceed 90 days within each 180-day period. You can use this special calculator to count the stay in the visa-free period.
Residence card / visa issued by another Schengen country
If you have a residence permit or a visa issued by another Schengen country** for the purpose of work, you can come to Poland to work as a scientist (not required to have the work permit) for up to 90 days counted within each 180-day period. You can use this special calculator for counting the allowed days.
Note: employment is not allowed based on a tourist visa!
Visa to Poland
If you don't have either the residence permit nor a visa issued by another Schengen country or you are not coverd by the visa-free movement, you need to apply for a visa to Poland before arrival. Visas to Poland are issued by Polish embassies/consulates located worldwide so you have to apply in the consulate in your country of origin or country of legal residence.
There are short-term and long-term visas and different types of visas depending on the purpose of stay (visa for research, work or study), based on what you state in the visa application form. In addition, visas are issued for single or multiple entries which you also choose in the application. With the multiple entry visa you can travel multiple times between your country of origin and Poland, if needed.
Also visa entitles you to travel within the territory of other Schengen area countries** for up to 90 days during a 180-day period, during the validity period of the visa.
- Schengen visa(C-type visa) is a short-term visa for stays up to 90 days within each 180-day period either in several specified countries of the Schengen area** or in the area as a whole, depending on the planned stay. The validity period of the visa can be even 5 years but a total stay in the Schengen area cannot exceed the 90 days.
- National visa(D-type visa) is a long-term visa, for stays exceeding 90 days, that can be issued for a maximum period of 365 days,depending on the length of your planned stay in Poland. Having the D-type visa also entitles you to travel toother Schengen countries for max 90 days within the 180-day period.
You can use this special calculator for counting the 90 days of the stay in the Schengen area.
Note: it is most beneficial to obtain the national D visa for the maximum possible period if you have your employment contract/scholarship agreement for such time or more, as it gives you more time to apply for the residence permit. Also the national visa gives you more time for travel outside Poland.
Visas are issued for various purposes of stay, marked with numbers from 1 to 23, depending on what you state in the visa application form and what supporting documents you provide. For the different purpose it is required to provide different supporting documents.
For scientific activity the following visa purposes are possible:
- conducting scientific research or development activities - for this visa application a special hosting agreement/contract has to be signed between the researcher and the research institution in Poland authorised by the Ministry of Interior and Administration for the purpose of hosting foreign scientists; here is an example template of such an agreement;
- visa for the purpose of work - for this type of visa the researcher does not need the above signed agreement, only a promise of employment letter from the employer describing the basic work conditions (period, position, salary, main duties, etc.);
- visa for the purpose of study including PhD study/doctoral school - a document from the university/institution is needed stating the admission to the study programme/doctoral school.
Note: if you apply for the visa for conducting research or work, in the application form you need to choose "Purpose of stay: Other" and describe the situation.
Go to the on-line visa application system at https://secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl and localise the Polish embassy or consulate nearest to your place of residence where you will apply for visa. You should check the list of the required documents on the embassy's website or by contacting the consular office directly. In the on-line system you first choose the visa type (Schengen or national) and the visa service type after which the system should propose dates for visa appointment. If there are no dates available, you need to try again later.
As mentioned above, depending on the visa purpose, the following documents may be required which have to prove the purpose and conditions of the planned stay in Poland:
- a hosting agreement/work contract/ a scholarship agreement / admission document to the study or PhD programme,
- documents proving necessary financial resources,
- travel medical insurance and document proving health insurance on the territory of Poland,
- address of stay in Poland, acommodation,
- travel document e.g. passport,
- photograph,
- visa fee (typically 80 euro),
- if you are coming with your family members, documents proving family ties such as marriage and birth certificates.
Please contact the embassy/consulate for the full list of the required documents. The documents and the duration of visa procedure may slightly differ depending on the country where the visa application is submitted.
You can stay in Poland legally until the last day of the visa validity date. If you want to prolong your stay, you need to apply for the temporary residence permit at the Voivodeship/Provincial Office in the region of your residence in Poland.
Moving within the European Union
As a general rule, all non-European citizens who hold a residence permit or a visa issued by one of the 27 Schengen countries** can move freely within the Schengen area for up to 90 days within each 180 period. After the 90 days pass, one needs to return to the country that has issued the residence permit/visa.
In addition, scientists and their families are allowed to travel for even longer periods between the EU members states*, including Poland, for the purpose of conducting part of scientific research in another country. Note that this privilige (called intra-EU mobility) applies only to scientists-holders of a residence permit/visa with annotation "researcher" issued by one of the European Union member state (except for Denmark, Ireland, Bulgaria and Romania). A similar mobility rule is addressed by full-time students, including PhD candidates, who posses a residence permit/visa with annotaion "student".
The allowed periods of travel within the mobility rule are as follows:
- short-term EU mobility of researchers/ their families: up to 180 days in any period of 360 days
The main condition that has to be met before entering Poland is informing the Polish Office for Foreigners about the planned visit. The written notification (in Polish) should be sent to the Office by the Polish research institution that will host the researcher at least 30 days before entering Poland.
- long-term mobility of researchers / their families: more than 180 days - requires researchers to apply for a temporary residence permit in Poland which may take a few months to obtain,
- mobility of students - up to 360 days.
More information on the mobility of researchers and students is available only in Polish - please contact your host institution for assistance.
* European Union (EU)
27 EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
** Schengen area
the Schengen area encompasses 29 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland (the last 4 countries do not belong to the European Union).