Poland issues several categories of visas. While most of the citizens arriving in this country do not need to have a visa, the nationals of certain categories of jurisdictions will need to be the holders of one of the visas applicable to their situation. Persons moving to Poland or those visiting the country are advised to visit the Office for Foreigners to verify if they may need to apply for a visa.
As a general rule, persons arriving in the country for a period shorter than 90 days do not need to apply for a visa, but exemptions from this rule do apply. This means that certain nationals will have to apply for a visa even for a short-term stay and this is the case of persons who are citizens of countries outside the Schengen area. More information on the formalities that must be met by the nationals of such countries can be provided by our team of immigration lawyers in Poland.
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Choosing an appropriate type of visa when coming to Poland
If you plan on coming to Poland, the first thing to do is to choose an appropriate type of visa. There are several options available that apply equally to foreigners who want to enter the country. What should be noted is that these visas are available only for non-EU citizens. So, here are some pointers on how to choose the type of Polish visa that will enable you to enter the country without any problem:
- check the visa requirements for your country on the Polish embassy’s website your country;
- decide on the reasons and duration of stay in Poland;
- find suitable accommodation, as in some cases, this is mandatory proof when applying for a visa;
- prepare the necessary documents in accordance with the type of visa selected;
- make sure your passport has at least 6 months validity period before traveling.
Of course, you can also rely on our immigration lawyers in Poland for guidance on choosing the type of visa that best serves your purpose.
What are the main types of Polish visas?
The types of visas that can be issued by the Polish authorities vary based on the duration of the stay and the country from which the foreigners arrive. The Poland migration rules stipulate that a person must be the holder of a Type A Visa (visa for transit) if the person wants to travel to another Schengen state.
Please mind that this type of visa only allows a person to enter Poland for transit formalities and not for traveling purposes. It is required in the case of persons arriving from countries such as Sudan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq or Ethiopia; other nationalities can also need this type of visa and this is why we highly recommend you to request for professional assistance from our team of lawyers.
Another type of visa is the Type C Visa (Schengen visa) and this is issued for those who are interested in staying in Poland for a period of maximum of 90 days. It is worth knowing that this document also grants the right of visiting any other Schengen countries during its validity.
A similar visa is the Type D Visa (National visa), which provides the same rights as the Type C visa, with the difference that it can be issued for a longer period of time and it is addressed to those interested in Poland migration for a period of at least 91 days.
EU citizens entering Poland
The good news for EU citizens is that they do not need any type of visas if they enter Poland. However, they are required to register with the local authorities if they want to stay here for more than 90 days. This is possible because Poland is an EU member state and Polish citizens benefit from mutuality in terms of immigration when moving to other countries in the European Union.
If you want to relocate to Poland and need guidance, our immigration law firm is at your service.
Non-EU citizens moving from other EU states to Poland
A particular situation applicable to non-EU citizens is that when moving to Poland from another EU country. These are no longer required to apply for a visa if they enter the state based on an EU residence card.
For those traveling or coming to Poland for longer periods of time, there are several types of visas they can apply for.
Our immigration lawyers in Poland can advise on the type of visas you can apply for as a non-EU citizen with high chances of a successful relocation. Because our consulting services are personalized, you can send us your inquiries via email in the first stage.
The Type C visa for Poland
One of the often applied types of Polish visa, the Type C residence permit is popular because it enables a foreign citizen to enter and stay in Poland for up to 90 days within a period of 6 months. It is important to inform you about this as Type C visa holders can leave and re-enter the country during this period, provided that the total stay does not exceed 3 months. Moreover, this is a visa under which a non-EU citizen can also travel to other EU and Schengen states without completing other formalities.
The Type C visa can also be obtained by foreign students who want to complete their studies in Poland. For this purpose, they must submit evidence (letter of acceptance) of being accepted in a Polish faculty or university.
If you are interested in applying for a Type C visa, do not hesitate to ask for the support of our immigration law firm in Poland.
The Type D visa for Poland
The Type D visa is available for foreign citizens outside the EU who plan on staying in Poland for more than 3 months. This is also known as the national visa and, just like the Type C visa, it allows free travel to all other member states of the European Union and Schengen area.
Compared to other types of visas, the D visa has a validity of a maximum of one year and can be prolonged. It can also be used to ensure a permanent residence permit based on the requirements of the law which imply living in Poland for a specific number of years.
Out of all types of visas for Poland, the D visa can be obtained based on employment or by starting a business in this country.
Different ways of obtaining Polish visas
Employment and business are the main ways through which citizens of non-EU countries seek to relocate to Poland. Type C and Type D visas can successfully be obtained through these methods.
Employment implies securing a job offer and labor contract with a Polish company, a case in which the employer is also required to participate in the immigration process.
For business purposes, however, the entire visa procedure must be completed by the applicant who can start the company incorporation procedure before coming to Poland followed by obtaining a residence permit thanks to the economic connection to this country. Poland encourages foreign citizens who want to make a contribution to the economy, which is why the Type D visa which can lead to permanent residence and even citizenship is preferred by investors.
A long-stay visa for Poland must first be granted by the Polish embassy before you can submit an application for a Poland’s permanent residence permit. Following your arrival in Poland, you must take a few steps to formalize your stay, among which register your stay with the nearest office of the Foreign Affairs Department.
What should a person prepare for the Polish visa application?
The types of documents that a foreigner must prepare in order to receive one of the Polish visas are basically the same for all categories of documents, but there are specific differences that could appear. Below, our team of immigration lawyers in Poland has prepared the basic documents one should present upon the visa application procedure:
• a travel document (the passport) and a visa application form, filled out and signed by the applicant;
• a photograph of the applicant and the proof of visa payment fee;
• a medical travel insurance, which must have a minimum value of EUR 30,000;
• a document stating the purpose for which the person travels in Poland;
• a document stating the fact that the person has sufficient financial means that cover the costs of staying into Poland for the respective period of time;
• other documents that can be requested by the Polish authorities, based on the nationality of the applicant.
We can also assist in obtaining a golden visa for Poland.
How many visas were issued in Poland?
As a member of the Schengen area, Poland is one of the countries with the highest rankings regarding the issuance of visas. For example, at the level of 2017, Poland ranked as the 7th country based on the number of the issued visas, from a total of 25 countries. Poland migration and migration at the level of the Schengen area was represented by the following:
• the European Commission stated that, at the level of 2017, there were a total of 16,1 million applications for short-stay visas, which represented an increase of 6,3% compared to 2016;
• with regards to Poland, there were a total of 823,101 visa applications;
• the country issued a total of 789,342 multiple entry visas at the level of 2017;
• the request for long-term visas was much lower compared to short-term visas, as there were only 1,466 visas;
• from the total of visas issued by Poland in 2017, multiple entry visas accounted for 74,1% of all the visa applications.
Please mind that persons moving to Poland or visiting the country for a short-term period and who are citizens of the European Union (EU) do not need to apply for a visa, as the only criteria to enter this country is to have a valid travel document, which can be the passport or the national identity card.
However, even there aren’t any requirements in this sense, EU citizens must apply for a residence permit if they want to relocate to Poland for work purposes or for other reasons. We invite you to address to our team of immigration lawyers in Poland for more information on residency and citizenship.
If you are married to a citizen of Poland, you may petition for citizenship via marriage in Poland if you have resided in Poland for a minimum of 2 years. Another condition is to be married for at least 3 years and have a residence permit. Only after meeting these criteria, you can apply for Polish citizenship. Our local law firm can help you in this sense.
