How to Apply for a Poland Schengen Visa for UK Residents

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:

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.

A-CD-FG-IJ-LM-OP-RS-UV-Z
Afghanistan Algeria Angola
Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain
Bangladesh Belarus Belize
Benin Bhutan Bolivia
Botswana Burkina Faso Burma/Myanmar
Burundi Cambodia Cameroon
Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad
China Comoros Congo
Cote D'iviore Cuba
Dem. Rep. Of Congo Djibouti Dominican Republic
Ecuador Egypt Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea Ethiopia Fiji
Gabon Gambia Ghana
Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana
Haiti India Indonesia
Iran Iraq
Jamaica Jordan Kazakhstan
Kenya Kosova Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon
Lesotho Liberia Libya
Madagascar Malawi Maldives
Mali Mauritania Mongolia
Morocco Mozambique Namibia
Nepal Niger Nigeria
North Korea Northern Mariana's Oman
Pakistan Papua New Guinea Philippines
Qatar Russia Rwanda
Sao Tome And Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal
Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa
Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname
Swaziland Syria Tajikistan
Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste
Togo Tonga Tunisia
Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda
Uzbekistan
Vietnam Yemen Zambia
Zimbabwe

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.

When to apply for a Schengen Visa to Poland?

The earliest you can file your Schengen visa application is at most six months before your intended trip. Whereas, the latest you can apply for your visa is two weeks prior to your trip to Poland.

However, you are highly recommended to apply for a tourist visa at least three months before your travel date in order to avoid any processing delays.

Step 3: Complete your application form

The Schengen Visa application form contains questions about you including:

  • Name and surname
  • Date and place of birth
  • Nationality
  • Sex and marital status
  • National Identity number
  • Passport number
  • Home address and email
  • Purpose of trip
  • Question regarding previous trips to Schengen, if any
  • Intended date of arrival in Schengen area you are visiting, and the intended period of stay
  • Cost of traveling and remaining in Schengen area you are visiting, who will cover them, etc.

Make sure your answers are correct and that they comply with the information in the rest of the documents. Complete the form, print it twice, and sign both copies at the end.

Find out more about how to complete a Schengen visa application form in this blog post.

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

Requirements for children under the age of 18

Parents or an adult guardian are required to accompany their underage children to the application centre at the Embassy of Poland in London.

Also, minors who are granted a Poland visa are not allowed to travel to Poland by themselves. They should be accompanied by an adult during their stay in Poland.

Apart from the general documentation required, accompanying should be other additional documents depending on the purpose of your Poland Visa application.

Required documents for visa application for underage children

  • Birth certificate
  • Poland Schengen Visa application form should be signed by both parents.
  • Family court order, in cases where only one parent has full custody over the child.
  • Certified copies of ID / passport of both parents
  • A notarized parental authorization to travel to Poland, signed by both parents / guardians, if the minor will be travelling alone with another person.

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 PoundFee in Euro
Adult73 £80 €
Child between 6-12 years of age36.5 £40 €
Child younger than 6 years of ageFreeFree
Note: Keep in mind that these fees may change depending on currency fluctuations and can be paid only in UK Pounds. Payments can be made in cash and by credit or debit card. The visa fees will not be reimbursed in case of visa rejection.

Step 6: Receive your visa

What is the Visa Application Processing Time in UK?

You can apply for a Poland Schengen visa six months before your planned trip. Depending on the nationality of the applicant, the processing time may take at least 15 days from the day of application. In some cases when required documents are missing from the application, this process may take longer.

Therefore, to avoid unwanted complications, the Poland Consulate General in London advises that you provide all required documents and submit your application at least 20 workdays (4 weeks) before the day you leave for Poland.

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.

What are Common Poland Schengen Visa Rejection Reasons?

Common rejection reasons include:

  • Marriage certificate missing – if you are applying for a visa for family reasons, you may have to prove family ties. This is why you must provide a marriage certificate
  • You applied for the wrong visa – it is your responsibility to apply for the correct visa depending on how long you are going to Poland for and your reason for travelling there
  • It is not clear that you plan to return to the UK – it must be clear that you intend to return to the UK before the visa expires. If the visa staff have doubts about this, your visa will be rejected
  • The purpose of your trip cannot be established – the reason why you are planning to go to Poland must be made clear. You can do this by providing specific documents like a full itinerary, work contract or invitation letter, etc.

What if My Poland Schengen Visa is Rejected?

If you receive a negative answer in your Poland Schengen visa application, this does not mean you cannot ever travel to Poland. You have two options:

  • File an appeal for Poland Schengen visa rejection if you believe that the decision to deny you a visa is unjust. You should have a strong basis for your complaint. You can appeal this decision by writing an appeal letter for a Poland Schengen visa rejection.
  • Reapply by correcting the mistakes you did in your previous application. Or improve your situation to comply with the eligibility criteria for a Poland Schengen Visa.

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.

What is the Schengen Visa Extension Application Process?

If you wish to extend your visa and stay longer in the Schengen Zone, then start getting ready for your application which differs from a regular Schengen visa application. The very first thing you have to do is decide under which reason you wish to apply for a Schengen visa renewal. After figuring that out, then you can proceed to the other steps.

When to Apply for a Short-Stay Visa Extension?

It is very important to apply on time, which is before the expiration of your visa. If you apply after your visa expires, even just a day later, then you will be deported for overstaying your visa, despite your reasons. Therefore, take care to apply at least a week before your current Schengen short-stay visa expires.

Where to Apply to Extend a Schengen Visa?

It depends on the Member State you are currently residing in. The main thing you have to know when it comes to the application country is that you will have to remain in that particular country until you get your visa extension if you do. That is why you are strongly advised to apply at the immigration authorities (or their equal) in the country where you need to remain, and not another.

What are the Schengen Visa Extension Requirements?

After you figure out the reasons which will be the basis of your application, where and when to apply, move to the other step, which is gathering the required documents. Unlike when collecting the Schengen visa required documents, for a visa extension, you need to submit quite fewer documents.

The list of documents you need when applying for a Schengen visa extension are as following:

  • Passport, which must have the current visa under which you entered the Schengen
  • Application form, for a short-stay Schengen visa extension
  • One photo, which fulfills all the criteria and visa photo requirements.
  • Proof of Income, which shows you can financially maintain yourself during the period you have applied to get a visa extension for
  • Travel Health Insurance – that covers the whole Schengen Area as well as the whole period which you have applied to extend your visa for
  • Documents, which prove your situation, and the need to get a visa extension

After you collect these documents, schedule an interview appointment online at the immigration authorities (or their equal). In some of the member states, you may not have to schedule an interview, however, try to check out if this applies to the country you are currently residing, or not.

If you need to schedule an interview, do it, and on the day of the interview show there on time with all of the required documents. The interview is crucial to get a visa extension, in the countries that apply it, since during it the interviewer will decide if you need to extend your visa and the reasons you have presented are true, or you are just trying to remain a little longer in the country.

What is the Processing Time for Visa Extension?

Usually, your visa extension application can take a few days, up to a month to be processed by the relevant authorities. During this time, you are permitted to remain in the country where you submitted your application even after your visa expires, but not to travel to the other Schengen countries.

If you are granted a visa you will be able to remain, while if you do not you will have one or two days to leave.

What is the Schengen Short-Stay Visa Extension Fee?

A Schengen visa extension fee is different from a normal Schengen visa fee, which you apply for before your trip towards the Schengen Area. Depending on the reasons for your application to extend your short-stay Schengen visa as well as if it is the first or second extension you are applying for, you may or may not have to pay a fee.

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.

faq

Poland Schengen Visa Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Poland Schengen visa easy to get?

Yes, it is easy to apply for a Poland Schengen visa. As of 2019, the country only has a visa rejection rate of 3%. You can apply for the visa online or use immigration services like IAM to make the process even simpler for you and have a higher chance of your application being accepted.


Can I work in Poland with a Schengen visa?

No, you will need to apply for a work permit in addition to your Schengen visa if you intend to work in Poland.


Can I enter other Schengen countries with a Poland Schengen visa?

Yes! The Schengen visa is valid in all Schengen countries and 18 other countries.


How can I get Poland Schengen visa fast?

You can get a premium Schengen visa to get your Poland Schengen visa within 24 to 48 hours, which includes personalised advice from an expert immigration adviser.


How much bank balance is required for a Poland Schengen visa?

For stays of up to three days, you will need to have €67.76 in your bank account. For trips exceeding three days, the daily amount you will need is €22.60, which lowers to €4.52 per day if you can prove that you have pre-booked accommodations.


Can I use Euros in Poland?

No, although Poland is part of the European Union, the country has an independent monetary policy and uses its own currency called the Złoty (zł).

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

IaM can help with your visa application to the United States, the UK & other countries

If you need help with a US visa, a UK Visa, or visa to Europe, including help with appointment booking obligations, IaM can help. For more information and advice on US immigration, UK immigration law and US visa applications or if you need any help or assistance please, reach out to your Visa Coordinator at IaM.

 

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