ForeignerDeck » Visa to Poland

Nationals of non-EU countries who are not eligible for visa-free entry and who do not have any other document entitling them to enter (e.g. a residence card) are required to have a visa. A visa certifies the permission of the country's authorities for a specific person to enter and stay on its territory.

Note: A foreigner in possession of a valid visa may be refused entry to the territory of Poland by the Border Guard (if, for example, they have not presented sufficient documents to confirm the purpose of their stay). The visa may also be cancelled or revoked at the border.

TYPES OF VISA

A foreigner may obtain a Schengen visa or a national visa.

Schengen visa, marked with the symbol "C" - issued to foreigners who intend to stay in Poland or in the Schengen States (during one or more entries) for up to 90 days within 180 days. This period is counted from the date of first entry.

This visa is also issued to those foreigners who plan to move within the Schengen area for the purpose of transit (by train, by car).

A national visa, marked with the "D" symbol - entitling to entry and continuous stay in Poland or several consecutive stays lasting more than 3 months in total. The validity period of a national visa cannot exceed 1 year. The period of stay on the basis of a national visa is determined in accordance with the purpose of stay specified by the foreigner (if the purpose specified by the foreigner indicates that he/she will stay in Poland for a period shorter than one year, the period of stay which the foreigner will be entitled to on the basis of the visa will be shorter).

Visas are issued for a specific purpose. The visa sticker bears the words "purpose of issue:" in the "remarks" field and the following indications of the purpose of issuing Schengen or national visas:

1) "01" - Tourist;

2) "02" - Visiting family or friends;

3) "03" - Participation in sporting events;

4) "04" - Conducting business activities;

5) "05a" - Performing work, for a period not exceeding 6 months in the following 12 months, on the basis of a registered declaration of entrustment of work to a foreigner;

6) "05b" - Performing seasonal work for a period not exceeding 9 months in a calendar year;

7) "06" - Performing work other than that specified in points 5 and 5a (on the basis of a work permit);

8) "07" - Carrying out cultural activities or participation in conferences;

9) "08" - Performing official tasks by representatives of a foreign state body or international organisation;

10) "09" - Undertaking a first degree course, a second degree course or a unified master's course or training at a doctoral school;

11) "10" - Vocational training;

(12) "11" - Education or training in a form other than that specified in (9) or (10) (e.g. to study at a post-secondary school);

(13) "12" - Teaching;

(14) '13' - Carrying out research or development work;

(15) "13a" - To carry out an internship;

16) "13b" - Participation in the European Voluntary Service programme;

17. '14' - Treatment

(18) '15' - Joining or residing with a national of another Member State of the European Union, a Member State of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - a party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation;

19) "16" - Participation in a cultural or educational exchange programme, humanitarian aid programme or holiday work programme;

20) "17" - Arrival in the territory of the Republic of Poland as a member of the repatriate's immediate family;

21) "17a" - Arrival in the territory of the Republic of Poland as a member of the immediate family of a person residing in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit obtained on the basis of the Card of the Pole;

22) "18" - Exercising rights resulting from the Card of the Pole;

23) "19" - Repatriation;

24) "20" - Exercise of temporary protection;

25) "21" - Arrival for humanitarian reasons, due to the interest of the state or international obligations;

26) "22" - Execution of a temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification;

27) "22a" - Realization of a temporary residence permit for the purpose of intra-corporate transfer work;

28) "23" - Other than those specified in points 1-27

N.B. In some of the cases indicated above, visas may be issued only as national visas or only as Schengen visas. In the case of transit, a visa can only be issued as a Schengen visa. A visa may be issued only as a national visa, inter alia, in the case of exercising rights resulting from the possession of the Card of the Pole.

Please note that on the visa sticker, in addition to the indication of the purpose of the visa, other remarks are included, such as: "student", "researcher", "trainee" "volunteer" - according to the purpose of the visa issue.

Note: The foreigner is obliged to leave Poland before the expiry of the period of stay covered by the visa and before the expiry of the period of validity of this visa, unless he/she holds another valid document entitling him/her to stay on this territory.