Citizens of non-EU/EFTA countries which are not listed as visa free countries may enter Poland and stay within its territory on a basis of Schengen or national visa.
Schengen Visa (visa type C) – is issued when the planned stay on the territory of the Schengen area does not exceed 90 days within each 180-day period.
National visa (visa type D) – entitles to entry and a continuous stay in the territory of Poland or to several consecutive stays which jointly last longer than 90 days, the period of validity of a national visa cannot exceed 1 year.
Conditions of entry and stay in Poland of foreigners holding a national visa (D symbol) or a residence document (e.g. residence card) issued by another Member State of Schengen area are available here.
List of countries, citizens of which are exempted from a visa and the rules of visa-free regime.
Visa requirements and application forms as well as the complete list of Polish diplomatic missions abroad are available at the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Holders of dual citizenship (Polish and foreign) are required to enter Poland using their Polish passport or Polish national ID.
Residence Permit
Students and academics staying at the University of Warsaw for more than three months are obliged to obtain a temporary residence permit. In case of students, this document is issued for one year.
The residence permit is issued by the Department of Citizens Affairs of the Mazovian Voivodship Office.
The application for a permanent residence permit is submitted in person, no later than on the last day of legal residence in Poland to a voivode having jurisdiction over place of residence (in case of Warsaw it is Wojewoda Mazowiecki).
