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Get your Poland visa

Find the right Poland visa for your trip.

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Our Poland visa application process

How to apply for your Poland visa with iVisa

Complete your online application

Answer a few simple questions, see when you’ll get your Schengen Visa, upload the required documents, and pay using secure methods. You can save your progress and return at any time.

The Poland Schengen Visa is our most popular travel document for this destination. We’ll guide you through any unclear questions during the application process.

We review your application

The Polish visa system is known for being tricky – your photo must be the right size, and your passport scan must be clear.

Don’t worry; we will review your application to see if anything might cause delays. One of our experts checks everything for errors or missing information to make sure it’s ready to go. This review is quick but thorough.

We submit it for government processing

We’re not the Polish government, but we submit your application to them and are here to support you along the way if any issues arise.

Get your Poland Schengen Visa

We’ll email your approved Schengen Visa and let you know how to use it for your trip.

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Visa types needed for Poland

Poland Schengen Visa (Type C)
ETIAS for Poland (coming soon)*

Poland Schengen Visa (Type C)

The Poland Schengen Visa is a short-stay visa for non-EU nationals planning to visit Poland and the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This is the primary choice for tourism, business meetings, or short family visits.

Applicants must submit the following documents:

🛂 Passport: Issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after the planned departure from the Schengen Area, with at least 2 blank pages

📄 Photocopies of previous visas: Clear copies of any previous Schengen visas and your current passport's bio-data page

📸 Photos: Two recent biometric passport photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm) against a white background

✉️ Personal cover letter: A signed letter introducing yourself, explaining the exact purpose of your visit, the duration, and a detailed day-to-day itinerary

🗺️ Travel itinerary: Confirmed flight reservations (round-trip) and proof of intra-Schengen transport (train/flight) if visiting multiple countries

🏨 Proof of accommodation: Hotel bookings, rental agreements, or invitaton letter if staying with a host

💰 Proof of financial means: Bank statements from the last 3–6 months. Poland requires a minimum of €75 per entry plus €40 per day of stay

🏠 Proof of ties to country of residence: Employment contract, leave approval letter, student enrollment certificate, marriage certificate, birth certificate, business registration and tax returns, etc.

🩺 Travel medical insurance: Minimum coverage of €30,000 for the entire Schengen territory, covering emergency medical, hospitalization, and repatriation

ETIAS for Poland (coming soon)*

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is not a visa. It is a mandatory electronic pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers entering Poland and the broader Schengen Area. It is designed to enhance security by pre-screening travelers before they arrive at the border.

Who needs it: Travelers from over 60 visa-free countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
Purpose: Tourism, business, transit, or short-term medical/study stays
Stay limit: Up to 90 days within any 180-day period
Validity: 3 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first

*Please note: ETIAS is not yet in force. Until its official launch, visa-exempt travelers can continue to enter Poland using only a valid passport. Once implemented, a 6-month transitional period will occur where the authorization is encouraged but not strictly mandatory for entry.

Poland visa policy

Poland is part of the Schengen Area, so its short-stay rules follow the Schengen visa policy. If you’re from a visa-exempt country (like the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.), you can usually enter Poland without a visa for tourism or business for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (the “90/180 rule”).

If your nationality is not visa-exempt, you generally need a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) to enter Poland for visits of up to 90 days. For longer stays (work, study, family reunification, living in Poland), you typically need a national long-stay visa (Type D) or a residence permit, depending on your situation.

Poland (like other Schengen countries) is also moving toward requiring ETIAS travel authorization for visa-free travelers (it’s not a visa, but a pre-travel approval). ETIAS will apply to eligible visa-exempt travelers visiting for up to 90 days within a 180-day period once fully implemented.

Poland visa prices

Poland Schengen Visa (Type C)

Prices starting from $399.99

Valid for 3 months after issued

Single entry

Stay up to 90 days per entry

Fast facts

Appointment needed?

Yes, for the Schengen Visa

Main reason for denials?

Lack of strong ties to the home country

Average time to approval?

15-45 days for the Schengen Visa

Why choose iVisa?

Applying for a visa on your own can be confusing and time-consuming. iVisa simplifies the process, reduces errors, and gives you peace of mind

Applying by yourself

Simple, easy forms

24x7 support from visa experts

Error detection to prevent rejections

World's easiest passport scan

Multiple payment methods

1.4M happy customers

24/7support

67,000+ reviews

10 years of experience

98% visa approval rate

Certified customer reviews

Travelers to Poland rated this product a 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 reviews.

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Mariana T.

December 22, 2024

"The step by step instructions made the application process effortless."

FAQs

Do I need to carry physical cash to prove my financial means at the Polish border?

You must demonstrate at least 300 PLN for stays up to four days or 75 PLN per day for longer visits. If you do not have a return ticket, you must also provide proof of an additional 2,500 PLN (for non-EU/neighboring country citizens) to cover the return travel costs.

Are there active border checks between Poland and Germany or Slovakia?

Although Poland is in the Schengen Area, temporary internal border controls are frequently reinstated for security reasons. Travelers should expect potential ID checks when crossing land borders from Germany, Slovakia, or Lithuania. Always carry your physical passport or national ID card, as a digital copy is not sufficient for these spot checks.

Can I enter Poland with a passport that expires in less than six months?

Yes. Your passport must be valid for at least three months after your intended date of departure from the Schengen Area and must have been issued within the last 10 years. While some airlines suggest a six-month rule for safety, the legal Polish requirement is three months beyond your exit date.

Does Poland allow dual citizens to enter on a foreign passport and exit on a Polish one?

If you hold Polish citizenship, you are legally required to enter and exit Poland using your Polish passport or ID card. Border officials may allow entry on a foreign passport (like a US or UK one), but they can legally refuse to let you depart the country if you do not present a valid Polish travel document upon exit.

What are the requirements for entering Poland by car from a non-EU country?

Travelers driving into Poland must present a valid driving license, the vehicle’s technical passport (registration), and a "green card" or valid frontier insurance. If the vehicle is not registered in the driver’s name, a notarized letter of authorization from the owner (translated into Polish) is mandatory to prevent suspicion of vehicle theft at the border.

What happens after I apply through iVisa?

Our team works with a legal partner specializing in Schengen Visas. They will review your application to ensure its accuracy and completeness. Once the authorities approve it, you’ll receive an email with the next steps.

What is meant by 90 days in a 180-day period?

The “90/180-rule” means you can stay in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days total within any continuous 180-day window. The 180-day period is not fixed, it is counted backward from each day you are in the Schengen Area.

Example:

You enter the Schengen Area on January 1
You stay for 30 days and leave on January 30
In the last 180 days, you’ve used 30 days
You still have 60 days left to use If you later return:
You stay 40 more days
Now you’ve used 70 days total
You only have 20 days left until older days “drop off” the 180-day window
Leaving the Schengen Area “resets” nothing - only time does

Can I switch from a visa-free tourist stay to a residence permit without leaving Poland?

Unlike many Schengen countries, Poland allows foreigners to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit (Karta Pobytu) while they are legally present in the country on a visa-free stay. However, the application must be submitted to the local Voivodeship Office no later than the final day of your legal 90-day window. Once submitted, your stay remains legal even if your 90 days expire while waiting for the decision.