Visa

Method of calculating the period of stay

Schengen Visa

The period of authorised stay on a Schengen visa shall be calculated considering the number of days of authorised stay, the period of validity of the visa and the number of authorised entries into the Schengen area.

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Example:

A foreigner has been issued a single-entry visa with a period of 30 days of permitted stay and a validity period from March 1 to May 29. In that case, a foreigner may enter the Schengen area once and should leave it before the end of 30 days (including the day of entry and exit), but no later than May 29.

Example:

A foreigner was issued a visa entitling them to enter twice, with a period of allowed stay of 60 days and a validity period from March 1 to July 15. The foreigner stayed in the Schengen area from March 12 to April 20. They would like to come to Polish on holiday and wonder how many days and when they can come. The foreigner used 40 days of the period of allowed stay. They can arrive for a maximum of 20 days including the date of entry and leave no later than July 15.

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In the case of a visa allowing multiple entry, the foreigner may enter the Schengen area repeatedly, and the total period of stay may not exceed the number of days indicated in the visa sticker during the period of validity of the visa.

Schengen visas with a validity period of more than 180 days shall only be issued as multiple-entry visas with a period of stay marked as 90 days in any 180-day period during the validity of the visa.

Example:

The above Schengen visa (Type: C) is a visa entitling to enter the Schengen multiple times (MULT) in the period from 28 August 2020 to 28 August 2022, entitling to stay in the Schengen area for 90 days in any 180-day period.

National Visa

The period of authorised stay on a national visa shall be calculated considering the number of days of authorised stay, the period of validity of the visa and the number of authorised entries.

The total period of stay may not exceed the number of days of stay indicated in the national visa during the indicated period of validity of the visa. A foreigner holding a national visa may stay in a Schengen State other than the One that issued the national visa for no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.

The number of entries means, in the case of national visas issued by the Republic of Poland, the total number of authorised crossings of the external border of the Member States.

Example:

The above visa is a national visa (D) entitling to single entry (01) to Polish for a period of 120 days from 25 October 2020 to 21 February 2021.

Combining the period of authorised stay on a Schengen visa with a long-term stay

A short-term stay (on a Schengen visa) can be combined with a long-term stay (on a national visa or other residence title). Periods of permitted stay are counted separately in this case.

In the case where a short stay takes place after the expiry of the period of validity of the residence title, it should be borne in mind that the maximum authorised period of stay is 90 days, after which the foreigner must leave the territory of the Member States, unless in the meantime they have obtained a new residence title or a national visa.