How to get a visa to Poland

DISCLAIMER: The following post is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered an authoritative guide on how to get a visa to Poland. Its intent is to give the reader a general overview of the process and what kinds of documents are expected. Consult your the appropriate Polish embassy or consulate for the most current and accurate information. I invite all constructive input you may have on how to make this article more accurate and useful.

Who should get a visa before coming to Poland?

If you are coming to Poland just to visit as a tourist for a period of up to 3 months, there is no need to get a visa. This does not apply to citizens of all countries, however, to check if you may travel in Poland without a visa.

Citizens of other countries need either transit, short or long stay visas. Contact the Polish embassy in your home country to learn more about the requirements for obtaining such a document.

Types of visas

Remember, Poland is in the Schengen zone, an area comprised of mostly EU countries that have completely open borders that allow a person to travel freely between them all. However, it does not allow you to reside or work in all the zones indefinitely.

A Polish consular can issue one of the following types of visas:

  1. UNIFORM VISAS entitle the holder to enter and stay in the Schengen territory (only relevant if you may not travel in Poland without a visa
    1. AIRPORT TRANSIT VISAS (ATV) valid only for airport transit does not entitle the holder to leave the transit zone of the airport.
    2. TRANSIT VISAS valid for transit through the Schengen territory for a period not exceeding 5 days
    3. SHORT-STAY VISAS valid for stays of no more than 90 days per period of 180 days.
  2. NATIONAL VISAS entitle the holder to enter and stay only in the territory of Poland.
    1. LONG-STAY VISAS are valid only for the territory of Poland. These visas are issued for travelers going to Poland for reasons of work, education, carrying out economic or cultural activities, tourism, visit etc. They are given out for a period of up to one year after which they either need to be renewed or the person needs to apply for a residency card.

It is important to remember that the long-stay visa is not entirely synonymous with residency card. The effective difference is that a person with a residency card can freely travel to other Schengen countries for periods of up to 90 days while a visa holder may need to apply for a short-term visa (again, only if your country is not on the list of countries that may travel without a visa in Poland and the Schengen zone)

How to get a long-stay visa?

Where: appropriate Polish embassy or consulate*

pre-requisite: depends on type of visa

Wait time: up to 4 weeks

Cost: around $81 USD or local equivalent

What you’ll need:

  • Visa application form
  • passport (valid for 3 months after departure from Poland or other Schengen country)
  • two passport size photos (check with consul about photo dimensions, may be different than standard in your own home country)
  • Bank statement – 3 last statements (proof of income)
  • proof of travelers insurance
    • valid throughout the Schengen territory
    • have a minimum coverage of EUR 30.000 or equivalent in local currency
    • cover the entire period of the person’s stay
  • in the case of a national visa, one of the following is needed:
    • proof of suffiecient funds (at least 100 zlotys per day)
    • medical insurance
    • official invitation issued in local authorities (voidvodship) stating that the host will cover all expenses.
  • work permit or certificate of employment (when applicable)
  • letter of acceptance of a Polish university/language school/college, evidence of sufficient founds to stay in Poland (when applicable)

If you are interested in getting any of the other kinds of visas described above, turn to the appropriate embassy or consulate for more details.

Submitting or picking up your visa

The consular will require you to physically be present when you either submit your application or pick up your visa. It is not necessary for you to be there physically for both, so it’s best to ask if you may submit it in person and have them mail you your passport with visa to your home address.

* In large countries where there are many diplomatic missions, each embassy and consulate is assigned a specific jurisdiction and you may apply for a visa only at the appropriate one for you.

Sources & Useful Links:

July 2nd, 2009 - Posted in Blog | | 1 Comments

How to get a work permit in Poland

DISCLAIMER: The following post is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered an authoritative guide on how to get a work permit in Poland. Its intent is to give the reader a general overview of the process and what kinds of documents are expected. Beginning the process, get a current, Polish version of this form and go over it with a Polish speaker who is willing to help you. Procedures and requirements may have changed since the writing of this article or may have been inaccurately characterized in it. I invite all constructive input you may have on how to make this article more accurate and useful.

What’s a work permit?

Technically, there is no document called a “work permit”. Instead a company wanting to employ a foreigner must obtain a “pledge for work permission”, which is described how to do below. The foreigner then submits this document along with their visa or residency card application, allowing them to receive a work visa or a residency card with an annotation entitles them to work legally. For the purpose of simplicity, the “pledge for work permission” will be referred to as a work permit.

In Poland, the work permit is very restrictive to the foreigner and employer alike. It is linked to one employee and one employer, it cannot be shared. This means that if a foreigner gets a work permit in Poland, he or she can only work for the company that the work permit specifies. If the foreigner wants to change employers or work at more than one job, a work permit must be obtained for each employer interested in hiring the foreigner.

Who gets the work permit?

There is some bureaucracy involved in obtaining a work permit, although the process has been simplified in recent years. The work permit requests specific information from the employer, so the employer must apply for the work permit, not the employee. As a result, very often companies avoid hiring foreigners legally simply because they don’t want to be bothered with all the paperwork.

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June 11th, 2009 - Posted in Blog | | 1 Comments

How to get a residency card in Poland

DISCLAIMER: The following post is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered an authoritative guide on how to get a residency card in Poland. Its intent is to give the reader a general overview of the process and what kinds of documents are expected. Beginning the process, get a current, Polish version of this form and go over it with a Polish speaker who is willing to help you. Procedures and requirements may have changed since the writing of this article or may have been inaccurately characterized in it. I invite all constructive input you may have on how to make this article more accurate and useful.

What’s a residency card?

This card allows a foreigner to retain in Poland for an extended but defined period of time. A typical tourist visa expires after three months whereby the foreigner has to leave the Schengen Area, get their passport stamped and then may return on a new Polish tourist visa. Although this solution may make sense as a short term solution, people planning on staying in Poland for an extended period of time ought to take the steps to obtain a residency card as soon as possible.

Physically, the card is very similar in appearance to a Polish ID card and functions in much the same way. You are required to have it with you as a form of identification and proof of legal status if you are stopped by the authorities.

How do I get a residency card?

Where: Urząd Wojewódzki (Voivoidship Office)

pre-requisite: varies

Wait time: up to 45 days (you MUST submit the paperwork at least 45 days before your current visa/residency card expires)

Cost: 340 zł + 50 zł

What you’ll need:

  • filled out application form (this form is in Polish, English and French)
  • 4 current ID photos
  • passport + 2 photocopies
  • original birth certificate + certified translation*
  • certificate from appropriate tax office**
  • confirmation of temporary “zameldowanie” or photocopy of residency card
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June 3rd, 2009 - Posted in Blog | | 1 Comments

How to get a NIP tax number in Poland

What’s a NIP?

The Polish government’s tax offices use a NIP (Numeru Identyfikacji Podatkowej; in English “tax identification number”) to recognize you within their system. The NIP number is issued by each region tax office or “urząd skarbowy”, of which there are literally hundreds. The number is not completely random, being as the first several digits identify the tax office that originally issued it. However, it is not nearly as elaborate a number as the PESEL, which contains date of birth, gender, etc.

A NIP is needed if you want to file for a tax return in Poland. It is not necessary to get a NIP if you want to work in Poland. You may opt for tax residency in your home country, however, in most cases this may be used for only up to two years. However, if you decide to make Poland your home for an indefinite period of time, you ought to obtain and file taxes in Poland.

The instructions below are aimed towards people who do not plan on starting their own company at this time. If you need a NIP to get a job working for someone else, then continue reading below.

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May 29th, 2009 - Posted in Blog | | 2 Comments

How to legally stay in Poland (for non-EU citizens)

Although Poland seems to be a country of bureaucracy, do not be completely discouraged: it is possible to get through it all and receive secure legal status. In fact, it is only more complicated than the process for EU citizens in that you must obtain a “permission to work”. This guide is designed to help you achieve legal status without the need to bang your head against the wall too much. Below you see an outline of the process, click on each phase to learn more about it.

May 19th, 2009 - Posted in Blog | | 1 Comments

How to legally stay in Poland (for EU citizens)

If you’re a citizen of the European Union, then you have a relatively simpler path than non-EU citizens in order to obtain legal status in Poland. Click below to learn more about each phase of the process.

May 19th, 2009 - Posted in Blog | | 1 Comments

How to get a PESEL in Poland

If you plan on staying in Poland for an extended period of time, get a PESEL is a useful thing to have and a relatively simple thing to acquire. In fact, you can acquire it at the same time you get your registration or “zameldowanie“.

What’s a PESEL?

PESEL stands for “Powszechny Elektroniczny System Ewidencji Ludności”, which translates roughly to “common electronic citizen records system”. Ultimately, this is the principle number by which a private individual is identified in most government offices.

A PESEL is linked with personal information about the given individual including the following:

  • PESEL number
  • current first and last names
  • maiden name (if any)
  • former first and last names
  • parents’ first and last names
  • place and date of birth
  • gender
  • citizenship
  • birth certificate number
  • marital status
  • spouse’s first and last names
  • date of marriage, marriage certificate number
  • current permanent registration (zameldowanie)
  • previous registrations (permanent and temporary)
  • military rank and number (if any)
  • serial number of current ID card (dowód osobisty)
  • death certificate (if applicable)

for foreigners:

  • serial number of residency card
  • information on permits and certificates allowing
  • the foreigner to stay in Poland

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May 9th, 2009 - Posted in Blog | | 1 Comments

How to get a zameldowanie in Poland

A zameldowanie is local registration in your city or town. Keep in mind there are two types of registration: permanent (stałe) and temporary up to 5 years (czasowy). There’s also a temporary for less than three months.

Permanent or Temporary registration (zameldowanie)

Documents needed:

  • filled out application (available at the city hall)
  • permission from the owner
  • proof of residence at given location (e.g. rental agreement)
  • proof of de-registration from pervious flat (if any)
  • passport

Where to go: city hall
Cost: none

Temporary registration (zameldowanie) for under 3 months

Documents needed:

  • filled out application with standard information
  • form of ID (e.g. passport)
  • owner of the locale (with proof of ownership)

The owner of the flat or house goes with you to the city hall and orally declares that you are registered there. You’ll have to repeat this every 3 months… or not. Depends if you need a residency card or not

Links and resources:

April 27th, 2009 - Posted in Blog | | 2 Comments