C-Type Schengen Visa
Where to apply?
- You can apply at the consular office located in Nairobi, Red Hill Road 58 (off Limuru Road). The Consular Section is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, between 9:30am and 12:30am.
- You can contact the Consular Section either via e-mail: nairobi.amb.wk@msz.gov.pl
- Please note that the citizens of Mauritius and Seychelles can enter Schengen area for 90 days of any 180-day period without a visa, however if they wish to stay in Poland for more than 90 days (study or employment) they should apply for a Polish national visa.
- Citizens and residents of Madagascar should lodge their Schengen visa applications at the Embassy of Switzerland in Antananarivo, which represents Poland in Schengen visa matters.
Do I have to apply in person?
Visa application form must be submitted in person. Diplomatic mission does not accept application forms sent via fax, regular mail or e-mail.
How to book an appointment?
- In order to apply for a visa, please book your appointment via the e-konsulat system.
- Remember that the visa application should be submitted at least one month before the planned departure.
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New appointments will be available on https://secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl/ on 18th of November 2024, starting at 12 pm (Kenyan time). The appointments usually are booked very quickly.
In case of any urgent matter (e.g. family visits) please write an e-mail to nairobi.amb.wk@msz.gov.pl to request an additional visit. Please don’t send multiple requests.
Additional visits will not be provided for work visas.
Please do not book appointments that are after your planned visit. Additional visits will not be given for applicant who book appointments they do not need.
What documents do I need to submit?
1. A visa application form filled via the e-konsulat system, printed and signed.
2. A 3.5 x 4.5 cm colour photo. The photo must be:
a. sharp, taken against white background and printed on a quality paper,
b. newer than 6 months,
c. taken facing forward, 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. Applicants for a Schengen (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 multiple-entry visa shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance covering the period of their first intended visit.
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.
Download the list of accredited insurance companies agreed under the local Schengen cooperation both in Kenya and in Uganda.
6. Copy of an ID document to confirm residence within the consular district of your application.
7. Proof that you have enough means of subsistence in the form decided by the mission:
a. A valid bank account statement issued by your bank,
b. A valid credit card with a certificate of means available,
c. A valid income certificate from your employer for the last three months,
d. Traveller's checques issued to the visa applicant – an original and a copy.
8. A proof of accommodation (for example, an official invitation or a hotel booking or reservation).
9. A document to confirm the purpose and the conditions of your planned stay in Poland
10. A copy of the flight ticket reservation for the planned journey to the Schengen area and return to the place of departure.
ADDITIONALLY TO BASIC DOCUMENTS YOU NEED TO PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF VISIT:
Visiting family and friends:
1. Official invitation from the Voivodeship and its photocopy.
2. Documents confirming occupation, availability of funds and financial ties with your home country:
a) For employees: a signed letter from your current employer containing:
- your personal data, your function/profession;
- terms of employment (temporary or permanent);
- number of years with employer/organization;
- granted leave days;
- date and contact details.
b) For private entrepreneurs: an original and copy of the license, or certificate of registration, or the latest tax declaration and/or bank statement for business account (last three months).
c) For retired and disabled applicants: documents proving your pension or other financial support.
d) For students and pupils: statement from the university/school confirming the period of allowed leave or written consent that university/school have no offence that the student will be on leave.
3. Any other documents relating to your personal establishment such as marriage certificate, title deeds or lease agreements.
4. Photocopy of inviting person’s Polish/EU passport/national ID and – in case the inviting person is not a Polish/EU citizen – photocopy of the inviting person’s visa or residence permit in Poland/EU;
Tourism
1. Detailed travel itinerary
2. Documents confirming occupation, availability of funds and financial ties with your home country:
a) For employees: a signed letter from your current employer containing:
- our personal data, your function/profession;
- terms of employment (temporary or permanent);
- number of years with employer/organization;
- granted leave days;
- date and contact details.
b) For private entrepreneurs: an original and copy of the following: the license, or certificate of registration, or the latest tax declaration and/or bank statement for business account (last three months).
c) For retired and disabled applicants: documents proving your pension or other financial support.
d) For students and pupils: statement from the university/school confirming the period of allowed leave or written consent that university/school have no offence that the student will be on leave.
3. Any other documents relating to your personal establishment such as marriage certificate, title deeds or lease agreements.
4. Recent personal bank statement covering the last three months.
Sport events
1. Signed letter of invitation. The invitation must contain:
- your personal data
- the name and date(s) of the event
- if the event organizers will cover any expenses and/or insurance of participants
- date and contact details
2. If you are 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:
- your personal data;
- if you have a specific function within the group/organization;
- your previous sport results (national and/or international);
- your level of competition;
- purpose of the visit;
- the name of the person or organization responsible for the financial support during the period in the Schengen Area;
3. Confirmation of your participation in the sports event from your country’s sports federation and the required documentation proving the level if applicable.
Professional reasons e.g. business or conference
1. Signed letter of invitation from the host company in Poland. The invitation must contain the following information:
- related to person invited: name, surname, date of birth, number of valid passport, nationality, purpose and exact dates of the visit, information regarding costs for travelling and accommodation;
- related to inviting company: date of issue of the invitation, name, surname and signature of a contact person in the company, contact phone number, companies stamp and registration numbers of the inviting company according to Polish law requirements (REGON, NIP, KRS).
2. Signed letter from your current employer or organization containing the following information:
- your personal data
- your function/profession
- terms of employment (temporary or permanent)
- number of years with employer/organization
- purpose of the visit
- who will be responsible for supporting you financially during the time you are in the Schengen Area
3. Proof of commercial activities in country of residence, recent business contacts with inviting company (contracts, bills, commercial correspondence, etc.); (if applicable)
4. Proof of salary: pay slips or bank statements from the last three months;
If you are self-employed, a copy of company registration certificate, and if available, bank statement for business account (last three months).
5. For business conferences, fairs, seminars, a proof of registration and registration fee receipt.
6. Any other documents relating to your personal establishment , such as marriage certificate, title deeds or lease agreements.
Study and research
Please note that for any course or stay exceeding 90 days, it is compulsory to apply for a national visa. The below are documents required for study and research stays of less than 90 days.
1. Letter of acceptance from educational institution in Poland. The letter must contain the following information:
- your personal data
- what course you have been admitted to/what research work to be done
- course/research duration
- date and contact details
2. Letter from the person who will support you during your studies in Poland with a copy of their ID and bank statements for the last 3 months.
3. Diploma of your highest education level legalized by the respective Foreign Ministry.
Medical treatment
1. A letter from the medical institution or doctor in Poland indicating the following:
- doctors contact details;
- nature of treatment;
- estimated time for recovery;
- need for return visits;
- cost of treatment;
- mention that the patient is accepted for the treatment;
- indication that the medical institution or doctor agrees with the intended method of payment.
2. A letter drafted and signed within the last 3 months by the applicant's treating doctor providing background information about the medical treatment and confirming the need of specific medical treatment to be provided abroad.
- Proof of pre-payment of the treatment.
3. Documents confirming occupation, availability of funds, and financial ties with your home country:
a) For employees: a signed letter from your current employer containing:
- your personal data, your function/profession;
- terms of employment (temporary or permanent);
- number of years with employer/organization;
- granted leave days;
- date and contact details.
b) For private entrepreneurs: an original and copy of the license, or certificate of registration, or the latest tax declaration and/or bank statement for business account (last three months).
c) For retired and disabled applicants: documents proving your pension or other financial support.
d) For students and pupils: statement from the university/school confirming the period of allowed leave or written consent that university/school have no offence that the student will be on leave.
4. Any other documents relating to your personal establishment , such as marriage certificate, title deeds or lease agreements.
5. Recent personal bank statement covering the last three months.
Additionally, when applying for a visa for a minor you should present:
- Written consent of the child’s parent(s) to apply for a visa, confirmed by a notary. If there is only one guardian, it should be proved by a birth certificate, a court decision on exclusive parental custody or a death certificate of the other parent.
- Originals and copies of parents' passports.
- Original and a copy of a birth certificate.
If a child is entered in their parent's or a legal guardian’s passport, please submit a separate visa application. The visa will be pasted into the parent's or the legal guardian's passport.
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.
How much does it cost?
- The visa fee is 90 euro.
- The visa fee for a child aged from 6 to 12 is 45 euro.
- The visa application for a child aged 6 or less is exempted from visa fee.
- The fees must be paid at the office counter when submitting the application.
- Accepted forms of payment: cash.
- The visa application fee is non-returnable, whatever the consul's decision.
What is the waiting time?
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.
How to collect the documents?
- you can collect your passport with the visa decision personnally or through an authorized person (in this case, this person must bring a written authorization and ID card / passport).
- The collection is possible during office days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 13.00 to 14.00 without prior appointment.
How to appeal?
- If you do not agree with the consul's decision, you may ask to have your visa application re-considered. You must apply for the reconsideration in the office that issued the decision within 14 days of its delivery.
- The application fee in this case is 80 euros.
- You can submit the application during the consulate's opening days and hours, without prior appointment.
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
Frequently asked questions
My fiancee was denied a visa. Can I know the reasons for this decision?
Only the consul and the visa applicant are part of the visa process. No information is shared with third parties.
I have lodged an appeal against a negative visa decision. When it will be considered?
The consul issues a new visa decision within 14 days.
Materials
List of insurance companies recognised in Schengen areaInsurance_Companies_29032023_-_Schengen.pdf 0.19MB
Legal basis
Rozporządzenie Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady (WE) nr 810/2009 z dnia 13 lipca 2009 r. ustanawiające Wspólnotowy Kodeks Wizowy (kodeks wizowy)
Ustawa z dnia 12 grudnia 2013 r. o cudzoziemcach
Ustawa z dnia 25 czerwca 2015 r. Prawo konsularne