In some consular locations, it is required to register the visa application or make an appointment with the consul through e-Konsulat system:

https://secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl

Some Polish consulates also use the possibility of submitting an application through an external service provider. Detailed information can be found on the websites of individual Polish consulates.

When applying for a Schengen visa, in some consular locations, Poland is represented by another Member State. 

In such a case, the Schengen visa application is generally submitted at the consulate of the represented state, which regulates the procedural details of submitting the application (personal appearance, the possibility/necessity of submitting the application to an external service provider), and its law governs any issues regarding appeal against the visa decision.

Purposes for issuing visas

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When completing the visa application, the main purpose of the trip should be indicated. On the form, selection from among general purposes applying for a visa. 

Specific objectives(both Schengen and national) and the rights arising from them are defined by national law - in the case of Poland, these are the provisions of Art. 60 of the Aliens Act. 

Type of visas (Schengen vs. national)

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The type of visa a foreigner should apply for depends primarily on the length of the planned stay in Poland. If the foreigner plans a stay longer than 90 days within a year, they should apply for a national visa, and if shorter — for a Schengen visa.

From the above rule, Art. 60 para. 2 of the Foreigners Act introduces exceptions.

	Visas issued exclusively as Schengen visas
	visa for the purpose of transit; visa for the purpose of air transit;

 

Visas issued exclusively as national visas

visa for the purpose of completing first-cycle studies, second-cycle studies or long-cycle master's degree studies, or studying in a toctoral school; visa for the purpose of conducting scientific research or development work; visa for the purpose of completing an internship; visa for the purpose of participation in a European volunteering programme; visa for the purpose of repatriation,  visa for the purpose of arriving at the territory of the Republic of Poland as a close family member of a repatriate,  visa for the purpose of exercising rights arising from holding a Karta Afterlaka,  visa for the purpose of arriving at the territory of the Republic of Poland as a close family member of a person residing in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit obtained on the basis of a Karta Afterlaka;

 

The consul, on the basis of the information provided (in the application and accompanying documents) while examining the application, indicates on the visa sticker the appropriate purpose for issuing the visa, in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 2 In the case of Schengen visa applications submitted under visa representation, the provisions of the representing states apply.

 

Schengen visa applicant:

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• fills in an application for a Schengen visaAnnex I to the Visa Code;
• present a travel document, which:

shall be valid at least three months after the intended date of last exit from the Member States, contain at least two free pages and  has been issued in the last ten years.

 

• submits a photograph, complying with the technical requirements set out in ICAO document 9303, Part 1, 6th edition, or such photograph is taken of it at the time of application;
• allows fingerprinting -as long as:

the fingerprints were not taken on a previous Schengen visa application within the last 59 months; is not a child under the age of 12; fingerprinting is physically possible; is not a head of state or government, a member of a national government or their accompanying spouse, a member of an official delegation, monarchs or an important member of the royal family who has been invited by Member State governments or international organisations for official purposes

 

• pays the visa fee;
• provides supporting documents indicated in Article 14 and Annex II of the Visa Code or designated as their equivalent in the framework of local Schengen cooperation;
• provides proof of travel medical insurancewhich is relevant and up-to-date - where applicable.

A person applying for a national visa:

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• fills in the national visa application on the form according to the template specified in Annex 2 to the Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 22 March 2022 on visas for foreigners;
  
  
• submits a photograph meeting the specified requirements;

undamaged, in colour, of good sharpness, with dimensions 35mm x 45mm, taken no earlier than 6 months before the submission of the application; showing the image of the applicant's face from the top of the head to the upper part of the shoulders, so that the face occupies 70-80% of the photograph, on a uniform light background, in frontal position, looking straight ahead with open eyes not obscured by hair, with a natural facial expression and closed mouth, and also reproduces their natural skin colour, clearly showing the foreigner's eyes, especially their pupils, where the eye line should be parallel to the upper edge of the photograph

 

• submits the required tocuments: 
  • confirming the purpose and conditions of the planned stay;
  • confirming the possession of sufficient financial means to cover the costs of living throughout the entire period of the planned stay and for travel to the country of origin or residence, or for transit to a third country that will allow their entry, or the possibility of obtaining such means lawfully;
  • confirming possession of health insurance or travel medical insurance
  • confirming the credibility of the declaration of intent to leave the territory of Poland before the expiry of the visa's validity period, and other circumstances stated in the application;
    
    
• presents a travel tocument which:

is valid for at least three months after the planned date of the last departure from the member states, contains at least two blank pages and  was issued within the last ten years.

• Standard fee - 90 euros.
• Reduced fee (for children aged from 6 to under 12) - 45 Euro.
• The exemption from the visa fee covers, among other things, children under 6 years of age and scientists travelling for the purpose of participating in a scientific seminar or scientific conference.

• Standard fee - 135 euros.
• The exemption from the visa fee covers Ukrainian citizens.
• The indicated visa fee toes not include the fee for using the services of an external service provider.