Poland in the Philippines

Visa Schengen – Visa C – short -term visa

It allows the holder to stay in one country or travel freely in the Schengen area. The maximum duration of stay is 90 days within a period of 180 days. Schengen visas may be issued for the purpose of tourism, business trips or private visits. Visas for stays of more than 90 days or for the purpose of taking up an employment are not covered by the Schengen Regulation.

• You must lodge the application for a Schengen visa at the Consulate of the country that you intend to visit, or – if you intend to visit more than one Schengen State, the Consulate of the country where you will spend the longest period.
• If you intend to visit several Schengen States and the stays will be of equal length, you must apply at the Consulate of the country whose external borders you will cross first when entering the Schengen area.
• You must apply for a visa at the Consulate with territorial competence for the country in which you legally reside. It means that if you apply for a visa at Polish Consulate in Manila you need to legally reside in: Philippines, Palau, Micronesia, or Marshall Island. The citizens of Micronesia, Palau and Marshall Islands do not require a short-term Schengen visa when travelling to one of the Schengen countries. The stay in the Schengen States, however, may not exceed 90 days within a 6-months period. Please note that the visitors will need to present a valid passport, proof of sufficient funds and a return airline ticket upon arrival at the first point of entry in the Schengen States.
• The application must, in principle, be submitted to the Consulate at least 15 days before the intended journey and cannot be lodged earlier than six months before the start of the intended journey.
• You must book an appointment before lodging the application. You can apply at a VAC by booking an appointment via VAC website: https://blspolandvisa.com/book_appointment.php

Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the Republic of the Philippines

address: 9th Floor, DelRosarioLaw Centre, 21st Drive corner 20th Drive, Bonifacio Global City, City of Taguig 1630, Metro Manila

telephone: +63 2 53182700
fax: +63 2 53182715 

e-mail: manila.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl
e-mail (consular issues): manila.consul@msz.gov.pl

You may be entitled to an accelerated visa procedure free of charge if as you meet the following criteria:

• you are a family member of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) citizen (nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), and
• that EU/EEA citizen is travelling to or is residing in a member state other than that of which he/she is a citizen; and
• you are accompanying the EU/EEA citizen or planning to join him/her in the Schengen State of destination.

• IMPORTANT NOTICE: This procedure applies only to family members of EU nationals who do not have Polish citizenship or do not have a permanent residence in Poland.

A family member of an EU national is:

• a spouse,
• a partner with whom an EU national formed a partnership under the law of a given EU state, provided that this country’s law recognizes a formal partnership as equal to a marriage,
• a child under 21 who is dependent on an EU national, his/her spouse or partner.

If you think you are entitled to an accelerated visa procedure you will need to show proof that you meet these criteria when you submit your visa application.

Under the procedure you are eligible to submit your visa application:

• free of charge,
• without prior appointment.

Required documents:

• A printed and signed visa application (filled in online),
• A recent photo in colour 35 x 45 mm size,
• A valid passport,
• A document confirming marriage or partnership with an EU national,
• A document confirming that you accompany an EU national in his/her journey or join him/her in their place of residence.

► 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;

If you have another valid passport, you should attach it to the visa application form.

► A copy of the passport page with personal data and a photo (one).

► A visa application form filled out in English via the e-konsulat system, printed and signed. The application form is free of charge. The example of a filled-out visa application form and a paper version of it are available at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland or at the Visa Application Centre.

► A colour photograph (one).

A size if a photo:  3.5 x 4.5. 
The photo must be:

1. sharp, taken against white background and printed on high quality paper,
2. newer than 6 months,
3. 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.

• Schengen Visa authorities have made it mandatory for all the applicants to submit biometric data when applying for Schengen Visa. The biometric data includes ten fingerprints and a photo.

Applicants that have already provided fingerprints for Schengen Visa application(s) in the last 59 months (5 years) are exempt from providing their data again.

Children under 12 years of age, those who physically cannot give fingerprints, heads of a state or governments, members of a national government, including their spouse and members of their delegation, who are officially invited by Schengen governments, are exempt from providing this biometric data.

► 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.

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 Area Member State and must cover the entire period of the planned stay.

A list of Schengen Insurance Companies in the Philippines: MALAYAN INSURANCE COMPANY, INC., ASSIST-CARD, STANDARD INSURANCE CO, STARR INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE PHILIPPINES, PIONEER INSURANCE AND SURETY COMPANY, MPIONEER, ORIENTAL ASSURANCE CORPORATION, PACIFIC CROSS INSURANCE, INC., MAPFRE INSULAR INSURANCE CORPORATION, LIBERTY INSURANCE, MERCANTILE INSURANCE COMPANY, COCOGEN INSURANCE, PGA SOMPO INSURANCE CORPORATION, PHILIPPINE BRITISH ASSURANCE COMPANY, MAA GENERAL ASSURANCE PHILS., INC. (PREMIUM COVERAGE PLAN ONLY), PARAMOUNT LIFE & GENERAL INSURANCE, AXA PHILIPPINES, FORTUNE GENERAL INSURANCE CORP., FPG INSURANCE, ETIQA, OONA / Oona Insular Insurance Corporation, ALLIED BANKERS,  PRUDENTIAL GUARANTEE, VISAYAN SRETY.

► Copy of an ID document to confirm residence within the consular district of your application.

►Proof that you have enough means of subsistence in the form decided by the mission.

1. a valid bank account statement issued by your bank,
2. a valid credit card with a certificate of means available,
3. a valid income certificate from your employer for the last six months,
4. traveller's cheques issued to the visa applicant – an original and a copy.

► A proof of accommodation (for example, an official invitation or a hotel booking or reservation).

► A document to confirm the purpose and the conditions of your planned stay in Poland according to list of supporting documents to be presented by visa applicants in the Philippines.

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 remember that the consul may, but does not have to, invite the applicant for an interview.

For an application to be considered admissible, the following must be fulfilled:

• A filled in and signed application form (downloaded from e-konsulat system), a valid travel document and a photograph (in accordance with the standards set out in Council Regulation (WE)1683/95) must be submitted;
• The visa fee must have been paid;
• Where applicable, biometric data must be collected;
• The travel document presented must be valid at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Member States in case in a single visa is applied for. If a multiple-entry visa is applied for, the travel document must be valid 3 months after the last intended date of departure. The travel document should be issued not more than 10 years prior to the visa application;
• The travel document must contain sufficient, at least 2, blank pages.

Supporting documents must be attached to visa application, in accordance with visa requirements.

If you have not submitted the supportive documents, you can do it later, you will received the information what documents and when you need to present.

The visa fee is the equivalent of 80 EUR in Philippine peso (PHP). The visa fee for children between the ages of six and twelve is 40 EUR in Philippine pesos (PHP). For details see the full list of consular fees at the General Information Section. Please check TOK at the Consulate. VISA FEE EXEMPTIONS:

• Children under 6 years of age;
• Foreigners who are spouses of Polish nationals;
• Foreigners who are spouses of EU citizens;
• School pupils, students, postgraduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training;
• Researchers from third countries traveling 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 the September 28, 2005, to facilitate the issue by the Member States of uniform short-stay visas for researchers from third countries traveling 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.

In case of submitting visa application in VAC, please visit website: https://blspolandvisa.com/book_appointment.php

The visa application fee is non-returnable, regardless of 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 45 days. 

The processing time might be extended for citizens of certain countries or specific categories of travellers due to mandatory visa consultation. Third countries whose nationals or specific categories of such third country nationals who are subject to prior consultation is published on the website of the European Commission.

Under Article 22 of the Visa Code, a Member State may require the central authorities of other Member States to consult its central authorities during the examination of visa applications lodged by nationals of specific third countries or specific categories of such nationals.

Such consultation does not apply to applications for airport transit visas.

When a third country is listed it means that at least one Member State requires such prior consultation.

Third countries whose nationals or specific categories of such third country nationals who are subject to prior consultation: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, D.R. Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirgizstan, (North) Korea, Lebanon, Libya. Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine (This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue), Russian Federation (Applies to nationals of the Russian Federation), Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Refugees, Stateless Persons.

Visa refusal refers to the act of denying your entry into to a particular country by rejecting your visa application.  The decision to refuse a Schengen visa and the reasons for the refusal are notified to the applicant using a standard form of a decision. The decision includes the reasons on which the refusal was based.

You can appeal the refusal. You do not need to fill out the visa application form. The appeal must be submitted within 14 days of the receipt of visa refusal to the Consulate that decided to refuse the visa. The appeal must be an original with the original signature of the appellant, i.e. in person or by mail (not email). The appeal must include the name of the applicant and the reasons why the applicant considers the refusal decision to be contrary to the law.

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 learn how to request for reconsideration of negative visa decision please call: +63 2 53182711. 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.

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 because of the re-examination.

You do not pay a consular fee for submitting a complaint to the consul, but you must pay fees for proceedings before administrative courts. Therefore, you must 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 the webpage: http://bip.warszawa.wsa.gov.pl/133/wpis-sadowy-zasady-dokonywania-wpisu.html

All forms of communication by the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland to the applicant for request of the documents or further information on the status of their application will be sent through the provided email address on the form. Therefore, applicants are advised to regularly check their emails for any messages from the Embassy during the whole waiting period of their visa application processing.

Applicants may submit complaints/requests regarding:

1. the conduct of staff at consulates and, where applicable, of the external service providers; or
2. the application processes.

The information on the procedure which allows applicants to submit complaints can be found at https://www.gov.pl/web/filipiny/skargi-i-wnioski

*The Consulate or central authority keep a record of complaints and the follow-up given.

• 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.

(ANNEX to the Commission Implementing Decision amending Annex III to Implementing Decision C(2014) 6146, as regards the list of supporting documents to be submitted by applicants for short stay visas in the Philippines)

1. General requirements for all visa applicants
   1. Proof of the applicant’s financial means:
      1. Bank certification, bank books, personal bank statements showing regular income, credit card statements or balance covering the last six months.
      2. For minors: Proof of parents’ or legal guardian’s economic means (cf. the above).
   2. Proof of travel arrangements
      • Copy of the travel itinerary.
   3. Proof of ties in the Philippines
      1. Proof of social security contributions, if relevant.
      2. Copy of real estate property – title-deed, if relevant.
      3. Proof of family ties in the Philippines (e.g. birth certificate of children or marriage certificate). These certificates should be issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
   4. Proof of occupation
      1. If employed:
         • Certificate of employment.
         • Certificate of leave absence.
         • Latest Income Tax Return.
      2. If self-employed:
         Proof of company registration issued by the Department of Trade Industry (DTI)/Securities Exchange Commission SEC registration of business.
         • Latest Income Tax Return.
         • Business Financial Statement.
      3. If pupil or student:
         • Proof of enrolment.
         • Certificate of leave absence if travelling during school year.
   5. If travelling with spouse and/or children
      1. Marriage contract certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
      2. Birth certificates of children certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
   6. Proof of accommodation
      • Proof of accommodation: confirmation of hotel booking, hotel voucher or letter of promise of accommodation by the host.
   7. For non-Philippine applicants
      • Copy of Alien Certificate Registration (ACR) valid at least three months beyond the date of departure from the territory of the Member States.
   8. Minors
      • If travelling alone or with only one parent: written consent of the non-travelling parent/legal guardian or proof of sole custody of the travelling parent or legal guardian;
      • If the name of the father does not appear in the PSA issued birth certificate, no consent is required;
      • Copy of bio data page of parent(s) or legal guardian’s passport;
      • Birth certificate certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
      • If travelling alone: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) clearance.
2. Documents to be submitted depending on the purpose of travel
   1. Tourism
      • Detailed day-to-day itinerary of the planned trip.
   2. Family or friends visit
      1. Proof of sponsorship and/or proof of accommodation.
      2. Proof of relationship, such as birth certificate, marriage certificate or photocopy of the biodata page of the sponsor’s passport.
   3. Travelling for the purpose of business, cultural or sports event or an official visit
      1. Certificate from the employer:
         • letter of the Philippine company introducing the businessperson, purpose and duration of the visit(s), financial cover of the visit, short company profile, etc.
      2. Invitation from the inviting company or organisation:
         • the letter should contain the following information:
         • relevant personal data of the invited person,
         • the invited person’s function,
         • length of the visit,
         • purpose of the visit and activity to be undertaken during the stay;
         • who is to cover the cost of the stay; and
         • name and position of the counter signing person.
      3. Proof of recent business contacts:
         • Proof of continued business relation between the two companies (e.g. contracts, invoices), if relevant.
   4. Participants in commercial fair, congress, cultural or sports events:
      • A personalised letter containing the relevant personal data of the invited person and his/her function and the name, contact details and position of the counter signing person as well as the length and purpose of the visit or activity.
   5. Study, research or other types of internship:
      • Certificate of admission or registration at an educational establishment for the purpose of attending academic or vocational courses, or
      • Cover letter from the inviting company.
3. Seafarers
   1. Employment contract;
   2. Photocopy of the working contracts of the seafarer in order to board the ship (P.O.E.A. contract);
   3. Seaman’s book, if relevant;
   4. Invitation letter from the maritime agency of the Member State where the sailor will join the vessel. The signed invitation must carry the agency’s seal and include the following data:
      • The seafarer’s full name.
      • Place and date of birth, passport number, seaman’s book number (if relevant), including the date of issue and period of validity.
      • Date of issue and period of validity of the invitation.
      • The seafarer’s position on the vessel (for a group of seafarers this information may be included in a signed list carrying the agency’s seal and attached to the invitation letter).
      • Date and airport of entry in the territory of the Member States
      • Name of the vessel.
      • Port of boarding.
      • Duration of the contract.
      • Itinerary that the seafarer will follow to arrive in the Member State of destination.
      • The name and address of the Philippine agency that will submit the visa application and, upon the seafarer’s arrival, be in charge of transporting him to the vessel.
   5. If a Philippine maritime agency submits the visa application, a letter of invitation of the Philippine agency that in addition to the entries under d) includes the list of the seafarer(s) and carries the stamp or seal of the local Philippine port authority.

Additional documents which are not part of the main checklist may be asked by the Embassy.

For family and group applications, each applicant must have the same set of documents and arranged accordingly on the checklist of the required documents from the website.

Visa A can be issued while traveling by air from a third state to another third state with a stopover at an airport in the Schengen area (in the territory of the Republic of Poland).
The A-Type visa does not authorise you to stay in the Schengen area.

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. 
• 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.

Central Technical Body of National Information System – The Commander in Chief of the Police – Central Technical Body of National Information System is data controller in the meaning of article 4 point 7 of the REGULATION (EU) 2016/679 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation), in aspect of using data through National Information System (NIS), processed in the Schengen Information System (SIS) or Visa Information System (VIS).

The right to information

According to article 15 of RODO each person has the right to obtain from the administrator all information regarding data processing. Detailed information regarding to fulfill this right is available on the website:
http://bip.kgp.policja.gov.pl/kgp/centralny-organ-techni/3943,Centralny-Organ-Techniczny-Krajowego-Systemu-Informatycznego-Komendant-Glowny-Po.html

Information is also available in English on the website:
http://www.policja.pl/pol/sirene/prawo-osob-do-informac/76188,The-right-of-data-subjects-to-information.html

Notice on processing of personal data stored in visa filing system.

Pursuant to Article 13 of the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data repealing Directive 95/46/EC (GDPR), we hereby inform that:

1. The Controller, within the meaning of Article 4(7) of the GDPR, of your personal data is the Minister of Foreign Affairs with their registered office in Poland, in Warsaw (00-580), at Al. J. Ch. Szucha 23.
2. The Consul of the Republic of Poland in Manila, with their registered office in 9th Floor, DelRosarioLaw Centre, 21st Drive corner 20th Drive, Bonifacio Global City, City of Taguig 1630, Metro Manila, Philippines, performs the duties of the controller in relation to the data included in their consular files.
3. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has appointed the Data Protection Officer (DPO), who carries out their duties in relation to data processed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its foreign branches. This function is performed by Mr Daniel Szczęsny. 

Contact details of the DPO: registered office address: Al. J. Ch. Szucha 23, 00-580 Warsaw

      E-mail address: iod@msz.gov.pl

4. Access to the data is granted to persons authorised by the Controller only.
5. The data included in the consular files are processed based on the premises included in Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR to implement the duties resulting from separate legal provisions (indicated in the table hereinbelow) by the consul of the RP.
6. Data are protected under the provisions of the GDPR and cannot be made available to third parties who are not authorised to access these data and will not be transferred to a third country that does not guarantee an adequate level of protection equivalent to that provided by the provisions of the GDPR. Data may be transferred to a third country only if such a requirement is specified in Polish law or European Union law, pursuant to the provisions of Articles 44–46 of the GDPR.
7. Your data may be made available to relevant entities, including public authorities, pursuant to legal provisions. 
8. Providing your personal data by you is a statutory requirement and it is necessary to consider your case.
9. If no specific provisions provide otherwise, you have the right to control the processing of data referred to in Articles 15–19 of the GDPR, in particular the right to access your data and to rectify, erase or restrict their processing (if Articles 17 and 18 of the GDPR apply).
10. Your data will not be processed in an automated way, which will have an impact on making decisions that may have legal effects or may have a significant effect on such
    a decision. Data will not be profiled.
11. You have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority at the following address: Prezes Urzędu Ochrony Danych Osobowych [President of the Office for Personal Data Protection] ul. Stawki 2 00-193 Warszawa.

Detailed information regarding the legal grounds, purpose and period of personal data processing in relation to visa activities performed by the consul of the Republic of Poland