VISA INFORMATION

I. General Information

Since December 21^st 2007, Poland has been a part of the Schengen, the territory with no checks at internal borders, formed by 24 states. Aliens from outside of the Schengen area may cross the border of the Republic of Poland if they hold a valid passport (or another travel document recognized by the Polish authorities) and an appropriate visa. The passport validity must exceed the required date of departure from Poland by at least 3 months.

Entering and departing Poland or any other EU country, an alien who carries the amount of money (cash, shares, bonds, traveller's checks, etc.) exceeding 10,000 EURO has to declare it to the custom authorities.

In accordance with the provisions of law, the Polish border guard has the sole authority to admit an alien into the territory of the Republic of Poland at the port of entry. This rule pertains to both aliens travelling on passports only, when no visa is required on the basis of bilateral agreements and to those to whom a visa had been issued at a Polish consular post abroad.

U.S. citizens can travel to Poland for tourism purposes for up to 90 days without a visa. Visa for U.S. citizens are free of charge.

II. Visas issued by Polish Consulates:

AIRPORT TRANSIT VISAS (A) An airport transit visa shall be valid for transiting through the international transit areas of the airports situated on the territory of Member States. It does not entitle the holder to leave the transit zone of the airport. Airport transit visas are issued to citizens of: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (Democratic Republic), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Sudan.

The following categories of persons are exempt from the obligation to hold an airport transit visa:

• holders of a valid uniform visa, national long stay visa or residence permit issued by a Member State;
• holders of a valid visa issued by Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, Liechtenstein, the Ireland or United Kingdom, Canada, Japan or the United States of America or when they return from those countries after having used the visa;
• The exemption of holders of valid visas issued by Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan or the United States of America applies irrespective of whether the person concerned travels to the country that issued the visa or to another third country.
• holders of a valid residence permit issued by Ireland or the United Kingdom, Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino or the United States of America guaranteeing the holder's unconditional readmission
• family members of citizens of the Union covered by Directive 2004/38, irrespective of whether they travel alone, to accompany or join the EU citizen,
• holders of diplomatic passports;
• flight crew members who are nationals of a contracting Party to theChicagoConventiononInternationalCivilAviation.

SHORT-STAY VISAS (C) valid for stays of no more than 90 days within the period of 180 days. Short-stay visas are issued for travellers going to Poland (and other Schengen countries) for purposes such as tourism, visit family or friends, business trips, economic or cultural activities, international conferences, sport events and TRANSIT.

NATIONAL (Polish) LONG-STAY VISAS (D) allows the holder to stay in Poland for a continuous or an aggregate (adding multiple entries together) stay on the territory of Poland for up to a year. Polish national long-stay visas entitle their holders to enter other Schengen countries and stay there for a period not exceeding 3 months within 6 months period.

Caution: According to European Parliament's regulation 265/2010, Foreigners who intend to stay in Poland longer than for a year are supposed to apply for a temporary residence permit in the Voievodship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) in Poland.  Holders of residence permits are allowed to enter the Schengen territory and stay there for a period not exceeding 3 months within 6 months period.

A and C visas application form

III. Consular territorial competence:

An application shall be examined and decided on by the consulate of the competent Member State in whose jurisdiction the applicant legally resides.

The Member State competent for examining and deciding on an application for a uniform visa shall be:

• the Member State whose territory constitutes the sole destination of the visit(s);
• if the visit includes more than one destination, the Member State whose territory constitutes the main destination of the visit(s) in terms of the length or purpose of stay; or
• if no main destination can be determined, the Member State whose external border the applicant intends to cross in order to enter the territory of the Member States.

The Member State competent for examining and deciding on an application for a uniform visa for the purpose of transit shall be:

• in the case of transit through only one Member State, the Member State concerned; or
• in the case of transit through several Member States, the Member State whose external border the applicant intends to cross to start the transit.

The Member Statecompetent for examining and deciding on an application for an airport transit visa shall be:

• in the case of a single airport transit, the Member State on whose territory the transit airport is situated; or
• in the case of double or multiple airport transit, the Member State on whose territory the first transit airport is situated.

IV. Lodging an application:

• applicants shall appear in person when lodging an application;
• applications shall be lodged no more than three months before the start of the intended visit. Holders of a multiple-entry visa may lodge the application before the expiry of the visa valid for a period of at least six months;
• applicants may be required to obtain an appointment for the lodging of an application. The appointment shall, as a rule, take place within a period of two weeks from the date when the appointment was requested;
• in justified cases of urgency, the consulate may allow applicants to lodge their applications either without appointment, or an appointment shall be given immediately;
• applications may be lodged at the consulate by the applicant or by accredited commercial intermediaries.

V. Formal requirements:

IMPORTANT: Applicant must submit all required documents. Visa application will not be processed if the applicant fails to comply with the instruction below. The Consulate General of Poland in Los Angeles will return incomplete documentation at applicant's own risk and expense.

• Each applicant shall submit a completed and signed application form. Persons included in the applicant's travel document shall submit a separate application form. Minors shall submit an application form signed by a person exercising permanent or temporary parental authority or legal guardianship.
• The applicant shall present a valid travel document satisfying the following criteria:

• its validity shall extend at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States or, in the case of several visits, after the last intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States. However, in a justified case of emergency, this obligation may be waived;
• it shall contain at least 2 blank pages;
• it shall have been issued within the previous 10 years.

• Evidence of immigration status in the U.S.;
• 2 passport size biometric photographs (see information below),
• Visa fee (acceptable forms of payment for consular fees are: cash, money order, cashier's check. Personal checks are not accepted)
• Proof of travel health insurance coverage with minimum 30.000 Euro (equivalent in USD) valid for all Schengen territory;
• Proof of sufficient financial means (last 3 bank statements);

Supporting documents:

When applying for a uniform visa, the applicant shall present:

• tourist: travel/hotel reservation, airline reservation;
• visit friends/relatives: invitation from friends/relatives in Poland;
• business trip: business references (letter from US employer, invitation from Polish company or organization, stating that it will bear all accumulating expenses), proof of hotel reservation and airline reservation;
• student visa: letter of acceptance of a Polish university/language school/college;
• work visa: work promise or certificate of employment (when applicable);
• information enabling an assessment of the applicant's intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa applied for.

Caution: people who intend to work in Poland must submit a valid work promise certificate issued by appropriate local executive authorities (Urząd Wojewódzki) in Poland or an employer's written declaration confirming the intention to employ the alien if the work permit is not required. Visas for the purpose of carrying out work are issued only by the Polish Consul at the office appropriate for applicant's legal permanent residence, for the period of stay not exceeding 1 year, relevant to the period indicated in the promise or the employer's written declaration. Employment without prior is strictly prohibited. English language teachers planning to work in Poland at universities (colleges) instead of the work promise must submit Certificate of Employment issued by dean of that university (college).

When applying for an airport transit visa, the applicant shall present:

• documents in relation to the onward journey to the final destination after the intended airport transit;
• information enabling an assessment of the applicant's intention not to enter the territory of the Member States.

Member States may require applicants to present a proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation by completing a form drawn up by each Member State. That form shall indicate in particular:

• whether its purpose is proof of sponsorship and/or of accommodation;
• whether the host is an individual, a company or an organization;
• the host's identity and contact details;
• the invited applicant(s);
• the address of the accommodation;
• the length and purpose of the stay;
• possible family ties with the host.

In case of applying by mail, please provide prepaid envelope (Fedex or UPS only) or check (money order or cashier's check) for amount of 16 USD.

VI. Visa  application photograph:

• 1. Dimensions - 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm.
• 2. Colour, sharp, made on high quality paper against a plain white background.
• 3. Must be taken within last 6 months to enable easy identification of an applicant.
• 4. Applicant's face must cover 70-80% of the photograph.
• 5. Applicant must face camera directly, looking ahead with an open eyes,natural face expression andclosed mouth.
• 6. Applicant cannot wear hat or any other head covering.
• 7. Applicant's hair must not cover any part of his/her face.
• 8. In case an applicant wears glasses:
• o The glasses cannot be sunglasses or dimmed glasses.
• o The frames cannot cover any part of his/her eyes.
• o The glasses cannot produce any light reflexes.
• 9. In case an applicant wears head covering required by his/her religion:
• o The covering cannotcover any part of his/her face.
• o The photo must show the full head and the upper part of the neck, the right and left side of the face must be clearly visible.

VII. Travel medical insurance

• Applicants for a uniform visa for one or two entries shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) on the territory of the Member States.
• Applicants for a uniform visa for more than two entries (multiple entries) shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance covering the period of their first intended visit. In addition, such applicants shall sign the statement, set out in the application form, declaring that they are aware of the need to be in possession of travel medical insurance for subsequent stays.
• The insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of the Member States and cover the entire period of the person's intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30 000.
• Applicants shall, in principle, take out insurance in their country of residence. Where this is not possible, they shall seek to obtain insurance in any other country.
• When assessing whether the insurance cover is adequate, consulates shall ascertain whether claims against the insurance company would be recoverable in a Member State.
• The insurance requirement may be considered to have been met where it is established that an adequate level of insurance may be presumed in the light of the applicant's professional situation. The exemption from presenting proof of travel medical insurance may concern particular professional groups, such as seafarers, who are already covered by travel medical insurance as a result of their professional activities.
• Holders of diplomatic passports shall be exempt from the requirement to hold travel medical insurance.

VISA FEES (in USD)

• Applicants shall pay a visa fee of 74 USD.
• Children from the age of six years and below the age of 12 years shall pay a visa fee of  44 USD.

The visa fee shall be waived for applicants belonging to one of the following categories (SHORT STAY VISAS (A or C) ONLY!):

• children under six years;
• The visa fee is waived for ascendants, descendants and spouses of EU citizens.
• school pupils, students, postgraduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake stays for the purpose of study or educational training;
• researchers from third countries travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research as defined in Recommendation No 2005/761/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005 to facilitate the issue by the Member States of uniform short-stay visas for researchers from third countries travelling within the Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific research;
• representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organized by non-profit organizations.

LONG STAY VISAS (D) ONLY!:

• The visa fee is reduced of 25% for chldren below the age of 18 years and students below the age of 26 years old. The visa fee is 33 USD or 56 USD. Please check price table above!
• The visa fee is waived for ascendants, descendants and spouses of EU citizens.

NOTICE:

Visa processing time take up to 15 days. In some cases procedure may be extended!

Consulate does not bear any responsibility for travel tickets bought before the issuance of visa.

Please apply for visa with the appropriate Polish consulate in accordance with territorial jurisdiction.