How to Apply for a Poland Schengen Visa for UK Residents

Poland is a Schengen country that has survived centuries of conflict to emerge as a proud, independent country, ready to assume her new role in modern history. With its medieval architecture, troubled WWII history, and many villages that seem to be stuck in time, Poland is the perfect destination for history buffs and architecture lovers. Poland's cities are humming with the energy of art and culture and are a great starting point to discover everything the country has to offer.

Whether exploring the nation’s vibrant cities, the lakes and forests of her picturesque countryside or some of the other tourist attractions in Poland, visitors are sure to bring away rich memories.

Entry Restrictions in Response to Coronavirus

In early 2020, Poland joined its Schengen country neighbours in closing its borders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country has since re-opened its borders to allow travel, but with restrictions that depend on your country of origin.

Poland, like other Schengen countries, updates its restrictions regularly depending on the current situation so it's best to check with the restrictions close to your travel date to know the updated measures and requirements before you travel. You should check on the latest news regarding restrictions, quarantine or whether a test will be required either from reliable news sources, the Polish government website, or the UK government website one to two weeks before your trip.

Related articles:

• ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorization System
• EU Settlement Scheme for Non-EU/EEA Family Members
• Brexit Reminder: Things that will change in 2021

Who needs a visa to travel to Poland from the UK?

Travelling to Poland for EU/EEA Citizens

Poland is a Schengen country, which allows for free movement between the 26 EU and EFTA states (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland). A uniform Schengen visa issued by one of the Schengen states is valid for travel within the whole Schengen area.

Travelling to Poland Post-Brexit for UK Citizens

The rules for travelling or working in European countries changed on 1 January 2021:

• you can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training
• if you are travelling to Poland and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days
• for long-stay visits, to work or study, for business or for other reasons, you will need to meet the Polish government’s entry requirements.
• if you stay in Poland with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit

At Polish border control, you may need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. You may also need to:

• show a return or onward ticket
• show you have enough money for your stay

There are separate requirements for those who are residents of Poland. If you are resident in Poland, you should carry proof of residence as well as your valid passport when you travel. You should also check your passport’s validity when you travel and renew it if you don’t have enough time on it. Your passport must be:

• valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave Poland or any other Schengen country
• less than 10 years old

Travelling to Poland Post Brexit for Other Third Country Citizens

Citizens of the following countries residing in the UK and planning to visit Poland are required to get a Polish Schengen visa in order to be able to enter Poland.

The main requirement is that you must have a UK residence permit valid for at least another three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Poland/ the Schengen Area.

Before starting a visa application, or getting a flight to Poland, make sure to check whether you need a visa to Poland or not.

If you have a three-month UK visa you can extend it for three more months in order to be eligible to apply for a Poland Schengen visa from within the UK. You must apply for an extension before your visa expires and while you’re still in the UK.

Note: You can stay in the UK until the decision about the extension is taken, but only if you have applied within the visa period.

You should apply for a Poland visa at the appropriate Poland Embassy/Consulate or Poland visa application centre in the UK if:

• Poland is the only Schengen country you plan on visiting
• Poland is your main destination (the country you will be staying the longest in)
• Poland is the first Schengen country you are visiting (when spending an equal amount of days in Poland and another Schengen country)

In case you plan on staying in Poland for more than 90 days you must apply for a residency permit, not a Poland Schengen visa.

Please, note that if you are not a resident in the United Kingdom you should apply at the Poland Embassy/Consulate/VAC in your home country of residence.

Steps to Applying for a Polish Schengen Visa from the UK

Step 1: Know your visa type and validity

There are 2 types of visa that you can apply for and the one you need will depend on the duration of your trip and your reason for travelling to Poland:

1. Short-stay (Schengen) Visa – valid for up to 90 days (in a 180-day period) for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting family/friends, conference, EEA/EU national family member
2. Residence and work permits (Long stays) – you should apply for this kind of visa if you want to live in Poland for more than 90 days for employment, family reunification, study, research etc.

You will then be issued either a single entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visa for up to 5 years based on the information you provide in your visa application.

It is important to choose the correct Schengen visa type to apply for depending on your trip so that you have the best chance of having your application approved. Find out more about the different types of Schengen visas in our blog post: Schengen Visa Types – All You Should Know When Applying for a Schengen Visa.

Step 2: Identify where to make the application and book an appointment

To apply for a Poland visa, you must book an appointment with the Poland Embassy in London. You can get our service to handle everything for you or do it yourself through VFS Global.

Step 3: Complete your application form

Step 4: Prepare your documents

The following list of documents are required in order to obtain a visa to Poland in the UK:

• A valid passport or Travel document. Please make sure:
  • Your passport has been issued within the previous 10 years,
  • Your passport has 2 full blank pages, one for the visa stamp and an additional spare page,
  • Your passport will be valid for at least three (3) months after the date you exit the Schengen Area.
• A valid UK residence permit or another form of Identity Card.
  • The UK residency permit must be endorsed in the actual passport (or on a new biometric ID card)
  • The UK residence permit must be valid for at least another three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Poland.
• One Poland Schengen Visa application form filled out completely and signed by the applicant.
• One recently taken passport format photo with a blank background and where all your facial features are clear, which must be glued to the application form. Applications with stapled photographs will be rejected.
• A cover letter explaining the purpose of the visit to Poland
• Biometric data (Applies only if you haven’t provided biometric data within the last 59 months):
  • Fingerprints
  • A copy of the passport bio page where the photo is included.
    Note: Children under the age of 12 are exempted from providing fingerprints. This requirement only applies if you haven’t provided biometric data within the last 59 months.
• Proof of travel arrangements:
  • Round trip flight/travel reservations or other proof of intended transport
  • complete itinerary of your visit to Poland (if several Schengen States will be visited or if the trip covers several Schengen States and non-Schengen countries)
• Travel Insurance stating that you are covered in case of a medical emergency and repatriation not just in Poland but in the whole Schengen zone (minimum coverage of € 30,000).
• Holders of diplomatic passports and family members of EU/EEA citizens are exempted from providing proof of travel medical insurance
• Proof of accommodation in Poland:
  • Evidence of a hotel booking or rental agreement, or
  • Invitation from your Poland host (family member, friend) with a copy of their passport
• Proof of financial subsistence. You need to show to the Polish embassy in the UK that you have enough money to maintain yourself during your stay in Poland (according to the information provided by the European Commission, a foreign national who wants to enter the territory of Poland, while applying for a Poland Visa it needs to attest owning 48€/day for the period of stay in Poland). This could be a:
  • Original recent Bank Statement (covering the last three calendar months. The last transaction must be no more than 1 month old)
  • Traveller’s Cheques
    Note: Cash is not considered proof of financial subsistence.
• Certificate of criminal record of the home country– showing that candidate has no open crime case involvement
• Proof of paid Poland visa fee.

Note: Photocopies of the original documents should also be submitted and documents should not be more than one month old.

The documents listed above are documents required in all cases, regardless of the purpose of your visit to Poland.

Depending on your employment status, here is a list of additional documents that are required for your visa application:

For employees:

• Employment contract
• Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Leave permission from the employer
• Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary

For the self-employed:

• A copy of your business license
• Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Income Tax Return (ITR)

For foreign students in the UK:

• Proof of enrollment
• No-objection certificate from school or university

For retirees:

• Pension statement of the latest 6 months

If unemployed and married to an EU citizen:

• A recent (less than three months old) Confirmation of Employment letter from their spouse’s employer stating the position held within the company as well as the starting date,
• Spouse’s valid passport
• An officially translated marriage certificate. The translation must be in English or Poland and must be certified as a true copy by the Embassy of the country where the marriage took place or by the Legalization Bureau of the Foreign Office in UK

List of additional documents required for the most frequent purposes of Poland Visa Application:

Poland Tourist/Visitor Visa:

• Invitation letter from your family or friends in Poland with the address and phone number – if applicable
• Bank statement of the last 6 months
• Passport copies

Poland Visa for Business Purposes:

• Invitation letter from the Poland company you will be visiting and their detailed address accompanied with the dates of your visit
• A certificate from your employer stating/allowing your business travel
• If there were previous trade relations between the two companies, proof of such events must be provided
• Business bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Memorandum and Article of Association in original certified copy (registered with joint-stock companies), Trade License (first issued and present renewal), Proprietorship/Partnership documents
• Regarding the applicant’s expenses during their stay in the Schengen zone, either the employer or the partner company must state coverage of expenses on the letter or invitation.

Poland Visa for Medical Purposes:

• A local medical report
• A medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in Poland, confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation
• Payment receipt of medical fees

Poland Visa for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes:

• Invitation letter from the above-mentioned authorities with details upon the nature of events or activities – purpose of visit, expense coverage
• Names of the applicants (crew members)
• Duration of stay
• Travel itinerary

Poland Visa for Members of Official Delegations:

• The official invitation copy
• Identity of applicant
• Purpose of journey (negotiations, meetings, event by intergovernmental organizations, consultations)
• Duration of stay
• Place of accommodation

Poland Visa for Study, Training, Research, or other type of Internship Purposes:

• An enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses
• Certificate of completion or courses attended
• Financial sustenance

Poland Airport Transit Visa:

• Visa or other types of entry permit in the transit country
• Copy of your valid visa for your final destination

All documents provided should be legalized and be in either English or Polish.

Step 5: Attend your appointment

The visa interview is a meeting between you and the consular officer/interviewer. During this interview, the consular officer will ask you several questions about you and your intended trip. You will also be submitting the required documents throughout the meeting, to the interviewer.

The visa interview might just be the hardest part of the Schengen visa application. The interviewer will scrutinise your documents as well as the consistency of your answers. The decision on whether or not you will be granted a visa will rely very heavily on this interaction.

You need to convince the interviewer that you are a genuine tourist, who will follow the territory’s rules during your visit, and have no questionable ulterior motives while staying in the Schengen Area. The questions asked in the interview will be personal and probing, and you should be able to provide detailed answers that satisfy the interviewer.

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

Visa Fees for UK Residents

The fee must be paid upon submitting the Poland visa application. After you complete this payment, you will receive a receipt, which shows that payment has been made, which must be offered amongst other documents of the application dossier. You will have to pay a Poland visa fee in order for your application to be processed.

Since Poland is a Schengen state, visa fees are the same as any other Schengen visa. These are the costs of a Poland Schengen Visa when applying from UK:

Schengen Visa Category (by age)	Fee in UK Pound	Fee in Euro
Adult	73 £	80 €
Child between 6-12 years of age	36.5 £	40 €
Child younger than 6 years of age	Free	Free

Step 6: Receive your visa

Visa Application Decision

There are two outcomes for your Poland Schengen visa application:

• Approved – Once your visa is approved, it will be stamped in your passport. Make sure to carefully check the visa sticker to make sure everything is correct and exactly how you need it.
• Rejected – if your visa has been rejected, it would have been for a specific reason and you have the right to appeal.

Poland Schengen Visa Extension

The duration you are allowed to stay in Poland is stated in your Schengen visa sticker. It is important not to overstay during your trip to Poland or the rest of the Schengen Zone or you risk facing penalties like a fine, deportation, being banned from travelling back to the Schengen Zone, and having difficulties in your future Schengen applications.

Although, there are also cases when people do not get any penalties for overstaying. For example, a child or a person that cannot travel without a caretaker because of an illness or disability or an unforeseen event that prevents you from leaving the country, like COVID-19.

Short-stay Schengen visa extensions are permitted however, you will have a very low chance to get one, if you do not have a strong reason as the basis of your application.

According to the Schengen visa policy, acceptable reasons to extend a Schengen short-stay visa are only the following:

Late Entry

You can base your visa extension application on this reason, only if you have a single-entry short-stay visa.  However, this is your best case to extend your visa. You can apply for this visa extension if you have entered Schengen after your visa became valid. I.e. if your visa became valid on August 1, but you entered Schengen on August 15, you can apply for a two-week visa extension, and you are very likely to get it.

Humanitarian Reasons

The Schengen visa policy has made it possible to extend a short-stay Schengen visa to prevent or overcome hardship for third-country nationals. You will be granted a short-stay visa extension based on humanitarian reasons if you need to stay in one of the member states to continue receiving medical treatment, to take part in the funeral after the sudden death of a family member, to give support to a person close to you who is going through some kind of hardship, etc.

Force Majeure

If something unexpected has occurred all of the sudden in your home country before your visa expiration, as a conflict or war, or even violent protests across the country, extreme weather conditions, no flight connections because of consecutive earthquakes or other reasons, then you have a good chance to get a Schengen short-stay visa extension. You will be granted an extension of a few weeks, or until the situation in your home country changes. If the situation does not change, you will have to apply once again for a short-stay visa renewal, to remain in Schengen.

Important Personal Reasons

Risky, but you should still give it a try if you have no other chance. If you have some unfinished business in one of the Schengen Member States, an unplanned wedding (of yours of your relative), etc., then you may apply for the extension. The immigration authorities will then decide whether you should be granted a visa extension or not.

First Visa Extension Fee

If this is the first time you are applying for a Schengen short-stay visa extension, then you will not have to pay any fee if your application is based on the following reasons:

• humanitarian reasons
• majeure reasons

Whereas, you will have to pay a fee of 30 euros, if you have based your application in one of the following reasons:

• important personal reasons
• due to late entry

Second Visa Extension Fee

If you have already extended your visa once, but you need to extend it once again, for whatever reasons, then you will have to pay a fee. The cost of the second Schengen visa extension fee depends on the age of the applicant as follows:

• Minors need to pay a fee of 30 euros
• Adults have to pay a fee of 60 euros

Do not forget, that just as when applying for a regular Schengen visa, if your application is rejected, you will not get your money back.

Poland Schengen Visa Frequently Asked Questions

So, are you ready to make your Schengen visa application for Poland? Comment below.

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