A-Type airport transit visa
Where to apply?
You can submit your visa application in person directly at the Visa Application Centers (VAC):
- in Metro Manila: Unit 1902, 19th floor, Philippine AXA Life Centre, 1286 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue corner Tindalo Street, Makati, Metro Manila
- in Cebu City: Unit 1200B, 12th floor AppleOne Equicom Tower, Mindanao Avenue corner Biliran Street Cebu Business Park, Cebu City 6000
VACs operate as follows:
Operation Hours: 8am-5pm (Monday-Friday)
Submission Timing: 8am-4pm
Passport Collection: 4pm-5pm
For information:
Call +63 2 85400001
E-mail: info.poland@blshelpline.com
Consult the website: https://blspolandvisa.com/
Do I have to apply in person?
Depending on the method you choose, you can submit the application personally in the consular office or at the VAC. Diplomatic mission does not accept application forms sent via fax, regular mail or e-mail.
How to book an appointment?
You can book your appointment to apply for a visa via the e-Konsulat system.
To apply at a VAC, book an appointment via a website: https://blspolandvisa.com/book_appointment.phpt
Appointments for visa registrations for the Consular Section are made available systematically in the "Schengen Visa - Register Form" Section of the e-Konsulat system every first Wednesday of the month at 9.30 am (local time). For details please visit the E-Konsulat Section.
In the event that the said dates fall on a holiday, the visa slots will be released on the next working day at the same time.
Opening of new slots is subjected to general availability/limits per day.
The Consular Section of the Polish Embassy in Manilia does not collaborate with any commercial visa agencies. These entities are unable to secure visa appointments. The only cost involved is the visa fee charged by the Consulate.
What documents do I need to submit?
Please note!
You can apply for an A-Type visa only if:
- You are planning to stay only in the airport's transit area and are not planning to leave it. The A-Type visa does not authorise you to stay in the Schengen area.
- You are a citizen of one of the countries below: Afghanistan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka.
You do not need to apply for an A-Type visa if you:
- hold a diplomatic passport,
- are a member of an EU citizen's closest family,
- hold a C-Type or D-Type visa or a residence permit issued by one of the EU Member States
- hold any of the residence permits listed in Annex V of the Community Code on Visas, issued by Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino or the United States of America,
- hold a valid visa of a European Economic Area country or Canada, Japan or the United States of America, or you are returning from these countries after using such visa.
Required documents:
- A visa application form filled via the e-konsulat system, printed and signed;
- A 3.5 x 4.5 cm colour photo. The photo must be:
- sharp, taken against white background and printed on high 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.
- 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.
- A copy of the passport page with personal data and the photo.
- A healthcare insurance valid across the Schengen area for the amount not lower than EUR 30,000. Please click here for the list of recommended Schengen insurance companies.
- A copy of an ID document to confirm residence within the consular district of your application.
- A document to confirm that you will continue your journey after leaving the transit area (for example, a plane ticket with booking number or a visa of the country of destination).
- Any information to prove that you do not intend to make your way into the territory of any of the Schengen area countries.
Additionally, when applying for a visa for a child 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.
- An original and a copy of a birth certificate.
If the child is entered in the parent's or legal guardian’s passport, 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.
- The consul may, but does not have to, invite the applicant for an interview.
- A-Type visa does not allow you to leave the airport transit area.
How much does it cost?
The visa fee is the equivalent of 80 EURO in Philippine peso only. For details see the full list of consular fees at the General Information Section.
The fees must be paid at the office counter when submitting the application.
Accepted forms of payment: cash.
In case of submitting visa application in VAC, please visit website: https://blspolandvisa.com/
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 45 days.
How to collect the documents?
1. At the consulate office: the passports can be collected (only personally or by a duly authorized person) on the date indicated by the consular officer upon submitting your visa application every Friday between 12.00-1.00 pm, except for Polish and Philippine holidays. In the event that the said dates fall on a holiday, the visa decisions will be released on the next working day at the same time. There is no need for online appointment.
2. In case of submitting visa application in VAC, please visit website.
With regards to applying for a visa directly at the consular office, please kindly note that :
- Applicants are informed during their visa application the date of their passport collection on the issued receipt. Applicants are then advised to keep this receipt as proof of their entry to the Embassy and for further easy reference on the date of release.
- Applicants may authorize a representative to claim the passport and visa decision on their behalf. The Embassy will then be requiring for a signed and handwritten authorization letter of the applicant together with the receipt and government-issued IDs of both the applicant and the representative (these must also be done in an A4 size paper).
- Applicants are informed to regularly check their emails for any advisories from the Consular Section
How to appeal?
In case of submitting visa application in VAC, please visit website. No need to take a new appointment.
The requests for reconsideration of visa applications should be forwarded (personally or by an authorized person) at the Embassy of Poland in Manila. To set up an appointment for reconsideration of negative visa decision please call: +63 2 53182711. The number of appointment slots is limited. Registration of appointments for lodging an appeal is available by telephone Monday through Friday 2.00-4.00 pm (local time) or till the limit of places is completed. Releasing of slots is closed during Philippine and Polish public holidays. The Consular Section reserves the right to discontinue receiving requests for reconsideration of negative visa decisions on a particular date if the limit of places is exhausted and the applicant may file an appeal the next working day in a timely manner.
The fee for an appeal is the same as for the original application.
The original of written appeals to be lodged within 14 days of receipt of the negative visa decision.
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 (Dz. U. z dnia 30 grudnia 2013 r. poz. 1650 z późn. zm.)
Ustawa z dnia 25 czerwca 2015 r. Prawo konsularne (Dz. U. z dnia 31 sierpnia 2015 r. poz. 1274)