The Uniform Schengen Visa is valid in the Schengen Area and permits its holder to remain in the territory of all of the Schengen Area Member Countries for a maximum of 90 days during a 180-day period.

Schengen Visa with limited territorial validity is valid in the territory of one or more Schengen Area Member States, but not in all the Schengen Area Member States and permits its holder to remain in their territories for a maximum of 90 days during a 180-day period. 

What documents are needed when applying for a C-type visa?

► A travel document (passport document) which:

• is valid for at least three months after the planned date for leaving the Schengen Area or, in the event of multiple visits, after the planned date for the last leave of the Schengen Area,
• contains at least two blank pages,
• was issued during the last ten years;

► A filled out and signed visa application;

► A photograph;

► A proof of visa payment;

► A medical travel insurance whose coverage amounts to not less than EUR 30,000, valid throughout the Schengen Area, and covering all expenses that may arise in connection with the need to return for medical reasons, a medical emergency, urgent hospitalisation or death;

► Supporting documents:

• A document confirming the purpose of travel;
• A document confirming possession of adequate financial resources to cover the costs of living during the planned stay and to cover the costs of return to the country of origin or residence, or to cover the costs of transit to a third country, which will certainly give permission for entry, or documents confirming that the applicant can legally obtain such funds;
• A document concerning accommodation or possession of financial resources to cover the costs of accommodation;
  A document that permits to assess whether the applicant will leave the Schengen Area before the visa expires.

Supporting documents may be different depending on the country where a visa application is submitted.

For more details, please contact the relevant consular post.

A D-type national visa permits to enter the territory of the Republic of Poland and to stay continuously or for several successive times in this territory for a total duration of more than 90 days during the period of validity of the visa, but not longer than one year.

A D-type national visa also permits to travel in the territory of other Schengen Area Member States for up to 90 days during a 180-day period, during the validity period of the visa.

What documents are needed when applying for a D-type visa?

► A travel document (passport document);

► A filled out and signed visa application;

► A photograph;

► A proof of visa payment;

► A medical travel insurance whose coverage amounts to not less than EUR 30,000, and covering all expenses that may arise in connection with the need to return for medical reasons, a medical emergency, urgent hospitalisation or death, or medical insurance within the meaning of Polish regulations on health care benefits financed out of public funds;

► Supporting documents:

• A document confirming the purpose of travel and conditions of stay;
• A document confirming possession of adequate financial resources to cover the costs of living during the planned stay and to cover the costs of return to the country of origin or residence, or to cover the costs of transit to a third country, which will certainly give permission for entry, or documents confirming that the applicant can legally obtain such funds;
• A document that permits to assess that the applicant will leave the territory of the Republic of Poland before the visa expires;
• Other documents that confirm other circumstances referred to in the visa application.

Supporting documents may be different depending on the country where a visa application is submitted.

For more details, please contact the relevant consular post.

Information of the Minister of Foreign Affairs about the insurers and the insurances that they offer, which meet the necessary conditions referred to in Article 25 (1) (2) (a) and Article 25 (1b) of the Act of 12 December 2013 on Foreigners

The length of stay is determined each time in the issued visa.

An airport transit visa is a visa valid for transit through the international transit areas of one or more airports of the Member States.

To check if you need to apply for an airport transit visa, please visit the website of the European Commission. In principle, in case of transit through the international transit areas of airports located in Poland, this will apply to citizens of: Afghanistan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka

Please bear in mind that an airport transit visa only permits you to stay in the international transit area of an airport while awaiting a flight to your destination country. It does not entitle you to enter into or stay in the Schengen Area.

A consul competent to examine a visa application is always the consul of the Schengen Area Member State which is the main travel destination and if such country cannot be identified – it will be the consul from the country where the foreigner plans to stay the longest.

It is not possible to submit a visa application in a Polish consular post, if the planned travel does not cover the territory of the Republic of Poland, unless the Republic of Poland represents another Schengen Area Member State in visa matters.