Applying
The visa application can be lodged no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before the date of planned entry. In the case of seafarers, it is possible to lodge an application 9 months before the date of planned entry.
When the main purpose of the trip is to stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland or such a member state cannot be indicated, but the crossing of the external border of the Schengen area takes place across the border of the Republic of Poland, the authority competent to consider the application is the consul of the Republic of Poland.
The application, as a rule, should be lodged to the consulate competent for the place of residence of the foreigner. The authority examining the application (consul) may (but does not have to) consider the application from a person legally staying in a given consular location.
In special and urgent situations (e.g. death of a relative, accidents, humanitarian reasons), when it is impossible to submit a visa application at the consulate, it is possible to submit a visa application at the border.
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Remark!
In some cases, the application may be considered by the minister competent for foreign affairs – also in this case the application is submitted through the consul.
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E-consulate, applying to an external service provider
In some consular locations, it is required to register a visa application or make an appointment for a consul through the e-Consulate system (https://secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl).
Some consulates of the Republic of Poland also use the possibility of lodging an application through an external service provider. Detailed information can be found on the websites of individual consulates of the Republic of Poland.
In addition, Article 79a of the Law on Foreigners created a legal basis for accepting applications for a national visa on the territory of the Republic of Poland for specific categories of foreigners listed in the Regulation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of August 18, 2022 on the issuance of national visas to foreigners residing on the territory of the Republic of Poland (Journal of Laws of 2022, item 1809).
Visa representation
When applying for a Schengen visa, the Republic of Poland is represented by other Member States in certain consular locations. In this case, as a rule, the application for a Schengen visa is lodged at the consulate of the represented State, which regulates the procedural details of the application (issues of personal appearance, the possibility/necessity of submitting an application to an external service provider), and its law regulates possible appeal process against the visa decision.
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Purpose of the application
When completing the visa application, the general purpose of applying for the type of visa should be indicated, however, the specific purposes of issuing visas (both Schengen and national) and the rights resulting from them are indicated by national law, in the case of the Republic of Poland these are the provisions of Article 60 of the Act on Foreigners:
tourism;
visiting family or friends;
participation in sporting events;
conducting business activity;
performing work on the basis of a statement on entrusting paid activity to a foreigner entered in the register;
performing work on the basis of a seasonal work permit;
performing work other than that specified in the previous paragraphs (applies to the performance of work under a work permit or a case in which a foreigner is exempt from such an obligation);
carrying out cultural activities or participating in conferences;
the performance of official tasks by representatives of an authority of a foreign state or an international organization (it may be issued as a diplomatic or service visa);
complete first-cycle, second-cycle or long-cycle studies or doctoral school education (including a preparatory course for studies);
vocational training;
education or training in a form other than that specified in the previous points (applies to education in secondary schools, post-secondary schools, postgraduate studies, MBA courses, etc.);
didactic (applies to academic lecturers, teachers, foreign language teachers);
conduct scientific research or development work;
complete a traineeship;
participation in the European Voluntary Service programme;
transit;
air transit;
treatment;
joining or staying with a citizen of another Member State of the European Union, an EFTA Member State – a party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation (concerns the exercise of rights under Directive 2004/38/EC);
participation in a cultural or educational exchange programme, a humanitarian aid programme or a holiday work programme;
arrive on the territory of the Republic of Poland as a member of the immediate family of the repatriate;
arrival on the territory of the Republic of Poland as a member of the immediate family of a person staying in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit obtained on the basis of the Pole's Card;
use the rights resulting from the possession of the Pole's Card;
repatriation;
application of the temporary protection;
arrival for humanitarian reasons, due to the interest of the state or international obligations;
application of a temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of family reunification;
application of a temporary residence permit issued for the purpose of performing work as part of an intra-corporate transfer;
other than those mentioned above.
As a rule, the type of visa that a foreigner should apply for depends on the length of the planned stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland – if the foreigner plans to stay longer than 90 days during the year, they should apply for a national visa; if shorter – for a Schengen visa.
Article 60(2) of the Act on Foreigners introduces the following exceptions to the above rule:
visas for transit or air transit shall be issued only as Schengen visas;
visas for the purpose of conducting scientific research or development works, completing an internship, participating in the European Voluntary Service program, repatriation, coming to the territory of the Republic of Poland as a member of the repatriate's immediate family, exercising the rights resulting from the possession of the Pole's Card, arriving on the territory of the Republic of Poland as a member of the immediate family of a person staying in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit obtained on the basis of the Pole's Card, and the application of temporary protection shall be issued only as national visas.
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Important!
The purpose of the application indicated in the application for a Schengen visa or in the application for a national visa shall indicate only the general purposes for issuing the visas. The consul, on the basis of the information provided (in the application and accompanying documents) during the examination of the application, indicates on the visa sticker the appropriate purpose of issuing the visa, in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 22 March 2022 on visas for foreigners (Journal of Laws of 2022, item 827)
In the case of applications for a Schengen visa lodged as part of the visa representation, the regulations of the states representing the Republic of Poland shall apply regarding the indication of the purpose of issuing the visa.
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Formal requirements
Articles 10 to 15 of the Visa Code regulate the formal requirements for lodging application for a Schengen visa; Article 77 of the Act on Foreigners regulates the formal requirements for lodging an application for a national visa. In addition, in the case of issues not specified in the Act on Foreigners, the provisions of the Visa Code apply in the alternative.
a. Schengen Visa
In the case of an application for a Schengen visa, the applicant shall:
complete the application for a Schengen visa (Annex I to the Visa Code) common to all Member States;
present a travel document which is valid for at least three months after the planned date of the last departure from the Member States, contains at least two free pages and has been issued within the last ten years;
submit a photograph in accordance with the technical requirements set out in ICAO Document 9303, Part 1, Edition VI (or an appropriate facial image is taken from it at the time of application;
allows fingerprints to be taken (unless the fingerprints were taken on a previous Schengen visa application within the last 59 months, is not a child under the age of 12, a person from whom it is physically impossible to take fingerprints, or is not a head of State or government, a member of a national government or a spouse accompanying them, a member of an official delegation, monarchs or a valid ranking member of the royal family invited by the governments of the Member States, or international organisations for official purposes);
pay the visa fee;
provide the supporting documents indicated in Article 14 and Annex II to the Visa Code or indicated as equivalents in the framework of local Schengen cooperation;
provide, where applicable, proof of possession of adequate, valid travel medical insurance.
b. National Visa
In the case of an application for a national visa, the applicant shall:
fills in the application for a national visa indicated in Annex 2 to the Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 22 March 2022 on visas for foreigners (Journal of Laws of 2022, item 827)
a photograph meeting the following requirements:
undamaged, colourful, with good sharpness, 35mm x 45mm,
made no earlier than 6 months before the date of submission of the application,
depicting 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 a frontal position, looking straight ahead with open eyes, unobstructed hair with a natural facial expression and closed mouth, as well as reflecting the natural colour of their skin, clearly depicting the eyes of the foreigner, especially their pupils, where the eye line should be parallel to the upper edge of the photograph.
supporting documents establishing:
the purpose and conditions of the intended stay;
possession of sufficient financial means to cover the costs of living throughout the period of the planned stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland and for travel to the country of origin or residence or transit to a third country that will allow its entry, or the possibility of obtaining such lawful means;
having health insurance or travel medical insurance;
credibility of the foreigner's declaration of intention to leave the territory of the Republic of Poland before the expiry of the visa;
other circumstances given in the application.
present a travel document which is valid for at least three months after the planned date of the last departure from the Member States, contains at least two free pages and has been issued within the last ten years.
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Visa Fees
a. Schengen Visa
The standard visa fee - 80 €
The reduced visa fee for children aged 6 to under 12 years - 40 €
The categories of persons are exempt from visa fees for Schengen visas: children under 6 years of age and the scientists travelling to attend a scientific seminar or conference.
b. National Visa
The standard visa fee - 80 €
Citizens of Belarus and Ukraine are exempt from the visa fee.
The indicated visa fee does not include the fee for using the services of a third-party service provider.
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