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6 ways to enter

Poland visas

Poland tourist visa

A short-stay Schengen visa lets you visit Poland and usually other Schengen countries. Some travellers can visit without a visa.

Ways to get a Poland tourist visa

  1. Short-stay Schengen visa

    Visa needed

    Travellers who need a visa for a short visit and meet the visa requirements.

    Stay
    Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area.
    Valid for
    Usually the intended trip for new applicants; up to five years for some multiple-entry visas.
    Entries
    One, two or multiple entries.
    Fee
    EUR 90 standard fee; EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12; free for children under 6. Other exemptions apply. An external provider may charge up to EUR 120 extra.
    Processing
    15 calendar days for an admissible application with no issues; delays can occur.
    1. Choose the embassy or consulate for your main destination, or your first Schengen entry if there is no main destination.
    2. Submit the application no more than six months before entry.
    3. Attend in person for a first application and provide fingerprints and a digital photograph if required.
    4. Pay the applicable fee and wait for the decision.

  2. Visa-free short visit

    No visa needed

    Ordinary passport holders from the listed visa-free countries and territories.

    Stay
    Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area.

  4. Travel with an existing visa or residence permit

    No visa needed

    Holders of a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by another Schengen country, Gibraltar or Monaco, and holders of a Schengen short-stay visa valid for Poland.

    Stay
    Up to 90 days in any 180-day period when visiting other Schengen countries.

  6. Visa exemption for refugees living in Ireland

    No visa needed

    Refugees who reside in Ireland.

Who needs it

Travellers whose nationality requires a visa must get one unless they qualify for an exemption.

Who doesn't

Citizens of EU single market countries, listed visa-free nationalities and some holders of visas or residence documents can enter without a new visa.

How to apply

  1. Apply to Poland's embassy or consulate if Poland is your only or main destination. If there is no main destination, apply to the first Schengen country you will enter.
  2. Submit your application no more than six months before your planned entry. Some missions use an external application provider.
  3. Attend in person for your first application and an interview. Provide fingerprints and a digital photograph if required.
  4. Pay the applicable fee and wait for a decision.

What to bring

  • A travel document accepted for Schengen visa applications.
  • Ten fingerprints and a digital photograph, if required. Children under 12 do not provide fingerprints.

Good to know

  • Count short stays across the whole Schengen Area together.
  • A visa valid for several years does not allow you to stay for that whole period.
  • Check whether the visa limits which countries you can visit.
  • Poland's funds requirement is PLN 300 for a stay of up to 4 days, or PLN 75 per day for a stay longer than 4 days.
  • Fingerprints already provided within the past 59 months may not need to be given again.
  • A visa or residence permit issued by Cyprus does not give permission to enter Poland. Irish and Schengen visas are not interchangeable.
  • A shared online visa application platform is planned, with a transition scheduled to last until 2031.

Questions

Do I need a tourist visa for Poland?

Travellers whose nationality requires a visa must get one unless they qualify for an exemption. Citizens of EU single market countries, listed visa-free nationalities and some holders of visas or residence documents can enter without a new visa.

What are the ways to get a tourist visa for Poland?

There are 6 options: Short-stay Schengen visa (a visa from an embassy); Visa-free short visit (no visa at all); Freedom of movement (no visa at all); Travel with an existing visa or residence permit (no visa at all); Extra visa-free time under older agreements (no visa at all); Visa exemption for refugees living in Ireland (no visa at all).

Who can go to Poland without a tourist visa?

Ordinary passport holders from the listed visa-free countries and territories. Citizens of European Union countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Holders of a long-stay visa or residence permit issued by another Schengen country, Gibraltar or Monaco, and holders of a Schengen short-stay visa valid for Poland. Citizens of the listed countries who have used their normal Schengen visa-free allowance and qualify under Poland's older visa waiver agreements. Refugees who reside in Ireland.

How long can I stay on a Poland tourist visa?

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area.

How much does a Poland tourist visa cost?

EUR 90 standard fee; EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12; free for children under 6. Other reductions and exemptions apply. An external application provider may charge up to EUR 120 extra.

How long does a Poland tourist visa take?

15 calendar days for an admissible application with no issues. Appointments and processing can take longer.

How long is a Poland tourist visa valid?

Usually the intended trip for new applicants; up to five years for some multiple-entry visas. Entries: One, two or multiple entries..

What documents do I need for a Poland tourist visa?

A travel document accepted for Schengen visa applications.; Ten fingerprints and a digital photograph, if required. Children under 12 do not provide fingerprints..

How do I apply for a Poland tourist visa?

1. 1. Apply to Poland's embassy or consulate if Poland is your only or main destination. If there is no main destination, apply to the first Schengen country you will enter. 2. 2. Submit your application no more than six months before your planned entry. Some missions use an external application provider. 3. 3. Attend in person for your first application and an interview. Provide fingerprints and a digital photograph if required. 4. 4. Pay the applicable fee and wait for a decision.

What rules do I have to follow on a Poland tourist visa?

Count short stays across the whole Schengen Area together. A visa valid for several years does not allow you to stay for that whole period. Check whether the visa limits which countries you can visit. Poland's funds requirement is PLN 300 for a stay of up to 4 days, or PLN 75 per day for a stay longer than 4 days.

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