Embassy
Embassy of the United Kingdom, Warsaw
Warsaw
ul. Kawalerii 12, 00-468 Warszawa
Poland visa requirements for British citizens
British citizens do not need a visa for Poland. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
Passport
GBR
United Kingdom
Going to
POL
Poland
No visa needed
People from listed countries can visit without a visa if their passport qualifies.
- Visa
- Not required
- Max stay
- 90 days (3 months)
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in Poland.
Ways into Poland
Visit without a visa if you qualify, or apply before travel.
Visa not required For your passportVisa-free short visitPeople from listed countries can visit without a visa if their passport qualifies.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check whether your country and passport type qualify.
- Bring your passport and proof of your travel plans.
Documents required
- Passport issued within past 10 years
- Passport valid 90 days after departure
- Proof of visit purpose
- Proof of funds
- Proof of return or onward funds
- Fingerprints
- The 90 days in each 180 days cover the whole Schengen area.
- Check passport rules for your country; some passport types do not qualify.
Visa not requiredSchengen document entryVisit with a residence permit or long stay visa from another Schengen country.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your document is valid and qualifies.
- Bring your passport, permit or visa, and visit proof.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Schengen residence permit or visa
- Proof of visit purpose
- Proof of funds
- Count 90 days in each 180 days outside the country that gave your document.
- Your permit or visa must stay valid; work has separate rules.
Visa on arrivalEmergency border visaFor people with urgent, unexpected reasons who could not apply before travel.
- Stay
- 15 days
- Valid for
- 15 days
- Fee
- Fee charged; amount not stated
How to apply
- Explain your urgent, unexpected reason to the Border Guard.
- Show supporting documents and proof you will leave.
- Wait for the Border Guard's decision.
Documents required
- Valid passport or travel document
- Proof of the unexpected event
- Proof supporting your visit
- Return or onward travel proof
- Do not plan a normal trip around getting this visa.
- The Border Guard decides; any stay is only as long as needed.
Visa requiredTourist visaA short visit visa for tourists who need a visa to enter Poland.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- £79
- Processing
- 15–45 days
How to apply
- Check that Poland should handle your visa application.
- Book with the Polish visa office or its centre.
- Fill in and sign the form; gather your documents.
- Attend in person, pay, and give fingerprints if needed.
- Collect your passport; check visa dates and allowed stay.
Documents required
- Passport and copies
- Signed application form
- Recent photo
- Travel health insurance covering 30,000 EUR
- Travel plans and accommodation proof
- Proof of funds
- Proof you plan to leave
- Proof of legal residence
- 2 blank pages
- Return ticket
- Hotel booking
- Fingerprints
- Your visa sets your stay, dates and number of entries.
- Stay within 90 days in each 180 days across the Schengen area.
Sources (26)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa types and general requirements
- Office for Foreigners: visas and work authorisation
- Ministry of the Interior: entry, funds and residence-document rules
- Polish Border Guard: Entry/Exit System
- e-Konsulat: official visa form and appointment system
- Poland in the United States: visa types, family procedure and biometrics
- Poland in the United States: C-type visa
- Poland in the United States: D-type visa
- Poland in the United States: A-type visa
- Poland in the United Kingdom: visa and transit rules
- Poland in the United Kingdom: C-type documents, fees and purposes
- Poland in India: short-stay applications
- Poland in India: study applications
- Poland in India: study checklist, 14 May 2026
- Poland in India: work applications
- Poland in India: work checklist, 18 February 2026
- Poland in India: medical treatment checklist
- Poland in Egypt: airport transit documents and exemptions
- Poland in Egypt: airport transit questions
- Poland in Iran: national visa fee and exemptions
- Poland: national visa fee effective 1 January 2026
- Office for Foreigners: exceptional visas at external borders
- European Union Regulation 2018/1806: nationality lists and passport conditions
- European Commission: Schengen visa applications, fees and processing
- European Commission: Georgian diplomatic, service and official passport suspension
- Official ETIAS portal: operational status and frequently asked questions
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Coming from United Kingdom
- Plugs C EAdapter needed
- MoneyPLN zł
- Time+9h
- DrivingOn the rightLook left first
- LanguagePolish
- Emergency997 or 112 police999 or 112 ambulance
Planning your Poland trip
- ToruńSee its well-preserved Gothic old town.
- GdańskExplore the city's heritage as a historic trading centre.
- ŁódźSee evidence of Poland's industrial growth in the 19th century.
- BiałowieżaDiscover ancient forests that are home to bison.
Scams to watch for in Poland
- Taxi overcharging and misleading taxi signsSome drivers charge tourists far too much. Unaffiliated cars may use fake company phone numbers. Some vehicles look like taxis but are registered as transportation services and set much higher prices. Other drivers use the wrong meter rate, take a longer route or add extra charges. Reports cover Warsaw, Kraków, Katowice and Lublin.
- Airport ride offers with inflated faresA driver approaches arriving travellers and offers a taxi or Uber ride. The fare can be much higher than a properly booked ride. This is described at Kraków Airport and other Polish airports.
- Poor-value currency exchangeSome exchange offices give much worse rates than other offices. Orange Interchange branches are singled out for poor rates. Airport exchange desks can also have large margins.
About Poland
Poland is a republic in Central Europe on the Baltic Sea, bordering Germany, Czechia and Ukraine.
- Capital
- Warsaw
- Money
- Polish złoty (zł)
- Languages
- Polish
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +48
Other Europe passports
Going to Poland
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Poland with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do british citizens need a visa for Poland?
British citizens do not need a visa for Poland. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
How long can british citizens stay in Poland?
Up to 90 days each visit with the no visa needed rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Do polish citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?
Polish citizens need an eTA, a short online form, before flying to the United Kingdom.
Do other Europe passports get easier entry to Poland?
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Poland are easier for british citizens?
Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia Slovenia, and 3 more let british citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Poland?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in Poland?
Polish złoty (zł). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Poland?
Polish.
How strong is the United Kingdom passport?
It ranks #7 and reaches 155 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck