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A-Type airport transit visa

Where to apply?

If you are traveling to one Schengen country, you should apply for a Schengen visa at the Embassy/Consulate of that country.

If you are going to visit more than one Schengen country, you should apply at the Embassy/Consulate of the Schengen country which is the main destination of your travel.

If the schedule of your journey does not indicate the main destination of your travel, you should apply for a visa at the Embassy/Consulate of the Schengen country which you will enter as first during your trip.

In case of transit by only one Schengen country, you should apply at the Embassy/Consulate of that country. If you travel in transit through several Schengen countries you have to apply at the Embassy/Consulate of country you will enter as first during the transit.

Applications should be made in person at:

The Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London: 10 Bouverie Street, EC4Y 8AX London, nearest tube station: Blackfriars or Temple.

Monday   12:30pm-3:50pm
Tuesday-Friday  9:00am-12:20pm

According to the Decision no 99 of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 27th August 2012 on establishing in certain countries consular offices issuing visas, from 27th August the only consular office issuing visas in the United Kingdom is the Consular Section of Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London. In order to submit a visa application it is necessary to make an appointment at the Consular Section in London by registering the application on the www.e-konsulat.gov.pl website.

If you need more information, please contact: london.visa@msz.gov.pl.

Do I have to apply in person?

The visa application form must be submitted in person. The 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-Consulate system. Remember to apply for a visa not earlier than 3 months before a planned departure.

What documents do I need to submit?

IMPORTANT! 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, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka.

IMPORTANT! 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 a quality paper, be 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 healthcare insurance valid throughout the territory of the Member States and covering the entire period of the person's intended stay for the amount not lower than EUR 30,000,
  • UK residence permit valid for at least three months after the expiry date of your Schengen visa. If you don not hold a residence permit in the UK, you need to make an application in the country of your origin. Please note, the applications from holders of UK tourist/visit visas (type C) will not be accepted,
  • a document to confirm that you will continue your journey after leaving the transit area (for example, a plane ticket 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:

  • minors shall submit an application form signed by a person exercising permanent or temporary parental authority or legal guardianship,
  • 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.

IMPORTANT! 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?

Airport transit visa: 79 GBP

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 should collect document in person. The documents may be returned to you by post - you are requested to submit a prepaid envelope in this case.

Visa decisions collection in person:

Monday 1:00pm-3:00pm
Tuesday-Friday 9:00am-11:00am
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 70 GBP.

You have to book your appointment to apply for a visa via the e-Consulate system.

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