Poland in the UK

You need to apply for an A-type airport transit visa if:

• You are a citizen of:
  • Afghanistan
  • Armenia
  • Bangladesh
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Ghana
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Somalia
  • Sri Lanka
• You intend to remain within the airport transit area and do not plan to leave it.

ATTENTION! An A-type airport transit visa does not permit entry into the Schengen area.

You do not need to apply for an A-type airport transit visa if you:

• hold and are travelling with a diplomatic passport,
• are a family member of an EU citizen,
• already hold a C-type or D-type visa issued by a Schengen area member state,
• hold a residence permit listed in Annex V of the Community Code on Visas (Visa Code), which was issued by Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino, or the United States of America,
• hold a valid visa for a country within the EEA, or for Canada, Japan, or the United States of America, or you are returning from these countries after using such a visa.

• Applications must be submitted in person at the Consular and Polish Diaspora Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London, located at 10 Bouverie Street, EC4Y 8AX, London.
• The nearest tube stations are Blackfriars and Temple.
• To submit a visa application, you must schedule an appointment through the e-Consulate system.
  ATTENTION! Visa applications submitted by fax, regular mail, courier services, or email will not be accepted.
• Please attend at the pre-scheduled appointment date and time displayed on the final page of your visa application. 

As per Decision No. 99 of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated 27th August 2012, regarding the establishment of consular offices issuing visas in certain countries, the only consular office authorized to issue visas in the United Kingdom is the Consular and Polish Diaspora Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London.

For further information, please contact: london.visa@msz.gov.pl.

• The visa application form must be submitted in person.
• Applications sent by fax, regular mail, courier services, or email will not be accepted.

To book an appointment to submit your visa application, use the e-Consulat system. Follow these steps:

1. Accept General Rules: Agree to the general rules for submitting an application.
2. Select the Service:
   1. Choose the appropriate type of visa: Schengen Visa C – Others.
   2. Enter and save your preliminary application.
   3. Ensure all data matches your supporting documents.
3. Confirm the Application: A confirmation request will be sent to your provided email. Confirm it within 48 hours.
4. Complete the Application:
   1. Finish your full visa application within 48 hours of confirmation.
   2. If not completed on time, your booking will be cancelled, and your data deleted.
5. Appointment Selection: If applications exceed available slots, appointments are assigned randomly twice a week (on Sundays and Wednesdays).
6. Appointment Confirmation:
   1. Once booked, you’ll receive an email with your appointment date.
   2. Unselected applications remain in the system for future draws – no need to re-register.

Important Notes

• Ensure your application data matches the details in your documents.
• Consular staff cannot intervene in the appointment selection process.
• Submit your visa application no earlier than six months and no later than 15 days before your planned trip. Applications outside these timelines may be rejected.

Visa registration is free!

1. New Document Submission

• ​​​Every visa application requires a new set of documents.
• Previous visa documents are not retained or reused.

2. Printed Documents Only

• All documents must be printed.
• Digital versions are not accepted.

3. Required Documents for an A-Type Airport Transit Visa

• Application Form: Completed via e-Consulat, printed, and signed.
• Photo:
  • one recent (max. 6 months old) color photo,
  • size 3.5 x 4.5 cm,
  • should be taken against a white background,
  • sharp and printed on quality paper,
  • the photo must show your face en face, with no headwear, and occupy 70-80% of the image.
• Passport:
  • valid for at least three months beyond your planned return,
  • issued in the last ten years, with two blank visa pages,
  • provide any other valid passports you have.
• UK Residence Permit:
  • valid for at least one month after your visa expires,
  • provide additional Home Office documentation if your immigration status exceeds your BRP card validity.
• Health Insurance:
  • coverage of at least 30 000 EUR, valid across the Schengen area for your entire stay,
  • must include your name,
  • valid in all EU countries.
• Onward Travel Proof:
  • documents confirming that you will continue your journey after leaving the transit area, such as a plane ticket or a visa for your destination country,
  • any documentation that proves you do not intend to enter or stay in any Schengen area country.

4. For Minors

• original birth certificate,
• passports of both parents/legal guardian,
• signed visa application form by parents/legal guardian.

5. Important Notes

• An A-type airport transit visa does not permit you to leave the airport transit area.
• Additional documents may always be requested by the consul.
• For further details or specific queries, consult the relevant sections.
• Visa Information System (VIS): The Visa Information System (VIS) facilitates the exchange of visa application data and decisions between Member States. As VIS is now fully operational, foreign travel documents submitted for Schengen visa applications are no longer stamped to confirm application admissibility, as per Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Visa Code).

• The visa application fee is 75 GBP, payable on the day of your appointment, preferably by card.
• This fee is non-refundable regardless of the consul's decision.

Schengen Visa Fee Exemptions

The following groups are exempt from paying the visa fee:

• children under 6 years old,
• researchers under 25 traveling to Poland for scientific research,
• spouses of EU citizens (with required documents),
• dependent children of EU citizens under 21,
• dependent parents of EU citizens,
• representatives of non-profit organizations under 25 attending events (e.g., seminars, sports, cultural, or educational events) organized by registered non-profit organizations.

Schengen Visa Fee Reductions

Children aged 6 to 12 years: 38 GBP.

• The consul will decide on the visa within 15 calendar days.
• In exceptional cases, this period may be extended to 30 or 45 days.

• You must collect your passport in person, and no appointment is necessary.
• Alternatively, your documents can be returned by post if you provide a self-addressed, prepaid Special Delivery envelope.

The collection times are as follows:

Refusal of Visa

• If your visa application is refused, you have the right to be informed of the reasons for the decision.
• If you disagree, you can request a reconsideration of your application.

Steps to Appeal

1. Apply in person: Submit your appeal at the office that issued the decision.
2. Timeline: You must apply within 14 days of receiving the decision.
3. Fee: The reconsideration application fee is 70 GBP.
4. No registration required: Submit your appeal during the following hours: