Poland in Ethiopia

You can apply at the consular office: 

Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Addis Ababa
Dej. Belay Zeleke Road, Gulele Sub-City, Kebele 08, House No. 583
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: (+251 11) 157 41 89 or (+251 11) 157 41 90

The visa applications are accepted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays upon prior registration online. 

Visa application form must be submitted in person. Diplomatic mission does not accept application forms sent via fax, regular mail or e-mail.

IMPORTANT NOTICE! The Embassy does not collaborate with any agents or commercial visa agencies. These entities are unable to secure visa appointments. The only cost involved is the visa fee charged by the Consulate.

You can book your appointment online via the e-konsulat system. Interview dates are made available on a regular basis.

1. A visa application form filled in registration form available on the website www.e-konsulat.gov.pl, printed and signed in the two corresponding blanks on page 3.

2. A 3.5 x 4.5 cm colour photo. The photo must be: sharp, taken against white background and printed on a quality paper, newer than 6 months, taken en face, clearly showing the eyes and face from both sides from the top of the head to the top of the shoulders with the face covering 70-80% of the photo. The photo must be taken without any headwear.

3. Passport issued within last ten years, valid for at least three months from the expected return date, with at least two blank pages for visas. If you have another valid passport, you should attach it to the visa application form.

4. A copy of the passport page with personal data and a photo. 

5. Travel Medical Insurance. All persons applying for a single- or double-entry Schengen visa shall demonstrate that they have adequate and valid medical travel insurance covering any expenses that they make incur during their stay(s) within the territory of the Member States, including the need for return travel for medical reasons, the need for urgent medical care, emergency inpatient treatment or death. Multiple-entry visa applicants shall demonstrate that they have adequate and valid travel medical insurance for the period of their first intended visit. The insurance must be valid in every Schengen Zone Member State and must cover the entire period of the planned stay. The minimum insured amount is EUR 30,000.

6. Proof that you have enough means of subsistence – recent bank statement covering the minimum last three months and/or personal bank saving book).

7. Preliminary ticket booking or travel itinerary (it is not necessary to buy a flight ticket at this stage).

8. A proof of accommodation (according to the information presented below).

9. A document to confirm the purpose and the conditions of your planned stay in Poland (according to the information presented below).

10. Any other documents relating to the applicant's financial status and personal ties in Ethiopia, such as title deeds or lease agreements for property, vehicle registration card, etc., marriage certificate, birth certificate/s of children.

Additionally, each applicant applying for a short-term visa in Ethiopia must submit documents from the list below, according to the purpose of the trip.

List of supporting documents to be presented by applicants for short stay visas in Ethiopia:

Employed persons:

a) a dated and signed letter from the current employer containing the following information:

(i) the applicant's personal data, function/profession;

(ii) terms of employment (temporary or permanent);

(iii) starting date of employment;

(iv) monthly net salary;

(v) granted leave days;

(vi) date and contact details of the employer.

Self-employed persons:

b) original

(i) trade/business license;

(ii) tax registration;

(iii) business registration (city administration);

(iv) bank statement for business account (for the last three months, as a minimum).

Retired persons:

Documents proving the pension or other financial support.

Additional requirements for applicants travelling for purpose of business and conference:

a) signed letter of invitation from the inviting organization abroad. The invitation must contain the following information:

(i) the applicant's personal data;

(ii) the reason for the visit to the Member State of destination;

(iii) period of intended stay in the Member State;

(iv) who will be responsible for supporting the applicant financially during the stay in the Member States;

(v) date and contact details from the inviting organization abroad.Some Member States may require that proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation is provided by means of a specific form.

b) signed letter from current employer or organization containing the following information:

(i) the applicant's personal data;

(ii) the applicant's function/profession;

(iii) terms of employment (temporary or permanent);

(iv) number of years with employer/organization;

(v) purpose of the visit;

(vi) who will be responsible for supporting the applicant financially during the stay in the Member States.

c) if the applicant is to attends a conference which requires prior registration, proof of registration and receipt for registration fee.

Official visits:

a) invitation;

b) Note Verbale from Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Embassy or International Organisation, including personal data, function in the administration, purpose of the visit, dates of the visit;

c) if available, a letter from the relevant ministry/organization.

Additional requirements for applicants travelling for the purpose of tourism:

a) detailed travel itinerary;

b) hotel / Accommodation reservation.

Additional requirements for applicants travelling for purpose of visiting family and friends:

Invitation, including a free text invitation letter. Some Member States may require that proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation is provided by means of a specific form. Minimum requirements:

(i) name and address of both host and applicant;

(ii) relation between host and applicant;

(iii) purpose and duration of stay (date of arrival and departure);

(iv) indication of person covering the costs;

(v) if host is paying for the trip, documentation on occupational / financial situation of the host.

Additional requirements for applicants travelling for purpose of short-term study and research:

a) Letter of acceptance from the Member State´s educational institution. The letter must contain the following information:

(i) the applicant's personal data;

(ii) indications of the course that the applicant has been admitted to/what research work to be done;

(iii) course/research duration;

(iv) information about the language in which the study program /courses will be held/taught;

(v) who will be responsible for supporting the applicant financially during the stay in the Member State;

(vi) date and contact details from the Member State´s educational institution.

b) signed letter from your educational institution in Ethiopia containing your personal data, name of institution, contact details, course enrollment and number of years at institution.

c) final qualification achieved: either High School Education Certificate entitling to access to University OR Post-secondary education, Diploma or Bachelor which has to be: Certified “true copy” from the relevant Institution, College or University duly legalized by the competent authority. Accompanied by the transcript and student academic record.

Additional requirements for applicants travelling for purpose of sport events:

a) signed letter of invitation. The invitation must contain the following information:

(i) the applicant's personal data;

(ii) the name and date(s) of the event in the Member State;

(iii) if the event organizers will cover any expenses and/or insurance of participants;

(iv) date and contact details of the organizer

b) if the applicant is part of a group or representing an organization, a dated and signed letter from the group leader or organization is required, which needs to state the following:

(i) the applicant's personal data;

(ii) information on specific function held within the group/organization;

(iii) the applicant's previous sport results (national and/or international);

(iv) the applicant's level of competition;

(v) the name of the responsible person or organization for the financial support during the period of stay in the Member States.

c) sponsorship agreement (in case the sponsor covers the costs).

d) confirmation of participation in the sports event from the relevant Ethiopian sports federation.

Additional requirements for applicants travelling for the purpose of medical treatment:

a) a letter from the medical institution or doctor in the Member State of destination indicating the following:

(i) the contact with the local doctor;

(ii) nature of the treatment;

(iii) estimated time for recovery;

(iv) the need for return visits;

(v) the cost of treatment;

(vi) the mention that the patient is accepted;

(vii) the indication that the treatment can be performed;

(viii) the indication that the medical institution or doctor agrees with the intended method of payment.

b) a letter drafted and signed within the last 3 months by the applicant's local doctor in Ethiopia providing background information about the medical treatment andconfirming the need of specific medical treatment to be provided abroad or examination report by the cooperation doctor of the Embassy.

c) proof of pre-payment of the treatment or other proof of sufficient financial means to cover the medical treatment (and related expenses).

d) proof from the medical institution showing that it agrees with your intended method of payment.

e) in some cases, additional medical consultations may be required to confirm the diagnosis prior to finalizing the visa process.

Additional requirements for minors (under the age of 18 years):

• original of birth certificate;
• copy of both parents' ID-cards and passports, if applicable (all pages containing any type of information);
• legalized written consent letter from both parents if the minor travels alone, or from the parent that is not accompanying the child when travelling;
• if either one of the parent is absent or deceased this must be supported by a court decision or a death certificate when applicable;
• if the legal guardian is someone else apart from the parent as stated in the birth certificate a custody order must be submitted proving the legal guardianship;
• a letter from school containing the minor’s name, name of parents, grade, number of years at school, school holidays, contact details, date and name of school representative;
• if the minor travels with a group: a complete list of names of all group members travelling and name of person in charge of the group.

Additional requirements for non-Ethiopian applicants residing in Ethiopia:

Copy of the applicant's Ethiopian residence permit. If the applicant intents to return to Ethiopia, the residence permit should be valid for at least 3 months after the planned stay in the territory of the Member States. In case the applicant does not intend to return to Ethiopia: proof that the entry to country of origin or any other third country is guaranteed.

Documents in Amharic must be delivered with a translation into English or Polish.

Please be informed that all certificates and official papers must be provided in original (for perusal) and copy.

Please note: 

• You must apply for a visa in a consular office or the embassy’s consular department in the consular district of your place of residence.
• Usually, the above documents are enough to receive a visa, however, the consul may require additional documents.
• Apply for a visa not earlier than three months before your planned journey.
• The consul may, but does not have to, invite the applicant for an interview.
• You may be banned from entering any of the Schengen States if you present forged documents or provide false information.
• Receiving the visa does not guarantee that you will enter the Schengen area - the final decision is always made by the authorities of the country where you intend to cross the Schengen area border.

Visa application fee is 100 USD.

Please see updated fees here. 

 Schengen visa fee exemptions:

• Children under the age of 6,
• Researchers traveling to Poland for the purpose of carrying out scientific research, under the age of 25,
• Spouses of European Union citizens (when requested documents are submitted),
• Dependent children, under the age of 21, of European Union citizens,
• Dependent parents of European Union citizens,
• Representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organized by registered non-profit organizations.

The visa application fee is non-returnable, whatever the consul's decision. 

The consul will make the decision on the visa within 15 calendar days. Exceptionally, the time to make the decision can be extended up to 30 or 60 days.  

For the citizens of Ethiopia the standard visa-processing period is 45 days. 

Your passport with visa decision can be collected in the afternoon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, between 14:00 - 15:00. When applying, you will be assigned a collection date and time.

If you disagree with the consul's decision, you have the right to submit an application for reconsideration of your visa application. You have to submit it to the office that issued the visa decision within 14 days of receiving it.

Application for reconsideration can be lodged on Mondays between 10:00-12:00.

Appealing does not require the prior registration online or filling in application form anew. However you should present a letter explaining the reason why you disagree with the consul’s decision. The second decision is final, appeal against it is not possible.

The fee is 89 USD. ​​​​​​

Revocation or annulment of Schengen visa

If you have received a decision to revoke or annul your Schengen visa that you do not agree with, you have the right to ask for a reconsideration. However, if you have applied yourself for your Schengen visa to be revoked and the consul has agreed, you are not entitled to appeal. You should apply for reconsideration within 14 days of receiving the decision to annul or revoke your Schengen visa at the consular post that issued the decision. If you apply for reconsideration after your Schengen visa was revoked or annulled, you do not have to pay the consular fee.

Complaint about refusal to issue Schengen visa, decision to revoke or annul Schengen visa and the consul's activities in this respect

If the consul who examines your reconsideration request, issues a new decision to refuse, annul or revoke your visa, which you do not agree with, you have the right to submit a complaint to the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw. The complaint should be forwarded through the consul who made the decision, within 30 days of receiving the decision taken as a result of the re-examination.

You do not pay a consular fee for submitting a complaint to the consul, but you have to pay fees for proceedings before administrative courts. Therefore, you have to note that the court will ask you to pay the court fee. More information on the amount of court fees when appealing with the administrative court, possibility to apply for an exemption from the costs and the language of the procedure, is available at: http://bip.warszawa.wsa.gov.pl/133/wpis-sadowy-zasady-dokonywania-wpisu.html