An active member of the European Union, Poland attracts a vast number of Indians every year. With varied and exciting cultures, this country offers several opportunities that are often associated with strong economies. A fantastic place for exploration, work, and study, Poland is widely recognized for its top-class services. To have a very promising start to your career, Poland is the place to be at! With several internationally recognized degrees and a challenging, friendly atmosphere, travelling to this place is definitely worth every penny. To indulge in the Polish marvels, a Poland visa is required for Indians. There are flights from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and New Delhi to Poland.
Content Index:
- Types of Poland visa
- Documents required for Poland visa
- Visa application process
- Visa Fees
- Poland visa processing time
- Extension of Poland visa
- Poland Embassy in India
Types of Poland Visa
In accordance with the purpose of your travel to Poland, there are different types of visas that you can apply for. As part of the European Union, a Poland Schengen visa is required. You could be travelling to Poland for tourism, study, work, or permanent residency purposes. Each of these have a different kind of Poland Schengen visa.
Did you know? One can apply for the Poland Schengen visa since 2007. This was when Poland, as a member of the European Union, became a member of the Schengen Area as well.
The validity of these visas and entry limits come under two categories:
- The Schengen visa or ‘C’ visa permits you to stay for a duration of up to 90 days per 180 days in the Schengen area
- The National ‘D’ visa is the long-term visa that permits a stay duration of over 90 days and up to a maximum limit of 365 days in Poland. This national visa permits a stay in other Schengen countries for up to 90 days per every 180 days. Note that this is a multiple – entry visa.
According to the Embassy of Poland, the Schengen visa or ‘C’ visa can be issued as a single, double or even a multiple – entry visa. However, the double or multiple – entry visas will be issued only for frequent travellers or if you have attached relevant documents such as ticket reservations which prove that you will leave the Schengen area as per a fixed plan.
Note: The multiple – entry visa is not needed if you intend to travel within the Schengen area only.
These are the types of Poland visa for Indians:
- Tourist visa – If you intend to travel to Poland on tourism purposes, to explore the country as a tourist destination, a Poland tourist visa is required. It takes about 15 working days to process.
- Business visa – The Poland business visa strictly applies only to those whose travel to Poland is restricted to business purposes. While you are in Poland on business purposes, you cannot engage in any activity that is restricted by the conditions of your visa. The Poland business visa takes around 10 to 15 working days to process.
- Family / Friend visit visa – There is a tendency for people to get confused between a tourist visa and a visit visa. The visit visa applies to those who wish to travel to Poland for the purpose of visiting friends or family members who are in Poland. The tourist visa, on the other hand, is for you explore Poland as a tourist. The Poland visit visa takes around 15 working days to process.
- Employment visa – The employment visa acts as a Poland work permit visa for Indians. In order to be able to work in Poland, the employment visa is mandatory. You cannot work in Poland with a tourist or visit visa.
Did you know? Poland has three India-centric business chambers – Indo-Polish Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IPCCI), Western Pomeranian Indian Chamber of Commerce, and Poland-India Business Council (PIBC).
Documents Required for Poland Visas
Of all the Poland visa requirements, the documentation to obtain any kind of visa can be very daunting. To make the organization of documents easier for you, we have compiled a list of necessary documents that you will require for the different types of visas to Poland from India.
These are the documents required for Poland tourist visa:
- Your original passport has a validity of at least 6 months from the date of travel. This must be submitted along with any old passports that you might possess.
- A filled out Poland visa application form for tourism purposes.
- You must submit two photographs of yourself which have the following dimensions: 35 mm x 44 mm. The face size should occupy 80% of each photograph. Note that the background of the photographs must be white and the photographs must have a matt finish.
- A cover letter from the organization in which you are employed.
- Proof of accommodation in Poland – these can include hotel reservations.
- Proof of return journey from Poland to India – these can include flight tickets.
- The complete itinerary of your travel which explains that you have a specific plan and will return to India before the expiry of your visa. This is one of the most crucial Poland visa requirements for tourists.
- Any document that can serve as proof of travel insurance.
- Documents of your income tax returns from the previous 3 years.
- Your bank statement from the previous 6 months.
- Your salary slips from the previous 3 months.
- If you are employed by a company, you will have to submit a leave letter with your company’s letterhead on it.
- If you are retired, you will need to submit a proof of retirement or a pension order.
- If you are a student, you will need to submit a student ID or a bonafide.
- If you are self-employed, the document stating the business registration of the company is necessary.
- If you are a single woman is traveling to Poland, a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from your father or husband needs to be submitted.
Fun Fact: Poland houses the oldest restaurant in all of Europe called ‘Piwnica Swidnicka’. This restaurant has been operating since 1275.
These are the documents required for a Poland business visa:
- Your original passport which has a validity period of at least 6 months after the expiry date of the visa. If you have any old passports that have not been issued more than 10 years ago, they must be submitted along with your current passport. Ensure that your current passport has at least 2 blank pages.
- The completed Poland business visa application form. Ensure that all the details filled by you are accurate and can be supported with appropriate documents. Re-check all the details for any possible flaws.
- You must submit two photographs of yourself which have the following dimensions: 35 mm x 44 mm. The face size should occupy 80% of each photograph. Note that the background of the photographs must be white and the photographs must have a matt finish.
- A cover letter having the following details must be submitted –
- Your identity
- A clearly stated objective explaining why you must travel to Poland
- The precise duration and place of accommodation in Poland
Fact: The currency of Poland is called a Zloty (PLN). 1 PLN = 18.44 INR
- A document that can act as a proof of your overseas insurance.
- The confirmation of your return ticket to India.
- Your income tax returns or Form 16 from the previous 3 years.
- Your bank statement from the past 6 months which has the respective bank’s seal and authority’s signature. This ensures to the Embassy that you have the financial capacity to sustain yourself in Poland.
- Your salary slips from the past 3 months.
- A document that can act as a proof of registration for the company you work for.
- If you are still a minor and are travelling with one parent only, it mandatory for you to have the written consent of the other parent. If you are traveling alone, ensure that you have the written consent of both your parents. You must also submit copies of their passports or any other valid documents that act as proof of identity.
Read more about Business visas.
These are the documents required for a Poland visit visa –
- Your original passport which has a validity period of at least 6 months after the expiry date of the visa. If you have any old passports that have not been issued more than 10 years ago, they must be submitted along with your current passport as well. Ensure that your current passport has at least 2 blank pages.
- The completed Poland business visa application form. Ensure that all the details filled by you are accurate and can be supported with appropriate documents. Re-check all the details for any possible flaws.
- You must submit two photographs of yourself which have the following dimensions: 35 mm x 44 mm. The face size should occupy 80% of each photograph. Note that the background of the photographs must be white and the photographs must have a matt finish. Read more about visa photo requirements.
- A cover letter from the company or organization with which you are working.
- Documents that act as your proof of accommodation in Poland. These can include hotel reservations and related documents.
- The confirmation of your return ticket to India.
- The complete itinerary of your travel that explains your everyday activities while you are in Poland.
- Your income tax returns from the previous 3 years
- Your bank statement from the past 6 months which has the respective bank’s seal and authority’s signature. This ensures to the Embassy that you have the financial capacity to sustain yourself in Poland.
- Your salary slips from the past 3 months.
- If you are employed, ensure that you submit a leave letter which has your company’s letterhead on it.
- If you are retired, then you will have to submit documents that act as proof of your retirement or pension order.
- If you are self – employed, you will need to submit a document that acts as a proof of registration for your business.
- If you are a student, a student identity card or bonafide must be submitted.
- If you are a single woman who is traveling to Poland, then a document known as the ‘No Objection Certificate‘ from your father or husband is required.
- Along with the above-mentioned documents required to avail a Poland visit visa, you will also have to submit the following documents which are to be given by the family member or friend you are to visit in Poland –
- An original invitation letter from the family member or friend that you will be visiting in Poland. Find out more about Invitation letters for visa.
- A copy of their passport and visa
- A valid document that can act as a proof of accommodation of the person in Poland
- Documents that explain the financial status of the person in Poland
These are the documents required for a Poland work permit visa –
- A proof of application of ‘Work Promise ‘ to the local labor office by the organization or company that will be employing you in Poland. Ensure that you receive the original copy of the ‘Work Promise’ for the processing of your Poland visa application form.
- Your passport that has a validity of at least 3 months from your date of travel. You must also submit any old passports that you might have that are not older than 10 years. Ensure that your current passport has at least 2 blank pages.
- The filled-out Poland visa application form for employment purposes. Ensure that all the details filled by you are accurate and can be supported with appropriate documents. Re-check all the details for any possible flaws.
- Your photograph that has the following dimensions: 35 mm x 44 mm. It must have a white background. Ensure that you get the photograph clicked in such a manner that your face covers 70 – 80% of photograph area. The photograph must not be older than 6 months and must be mandatorily printed on a high-quality paper.
- The confirmation of your return ticket to India.
- A document that acts as a travel insurance of 30,000 Euros must be bought by you. This travel insurance must hold a validity of at least 15 days after your return to India.
- Documents that support your financial capacity to bear expenses in Poland. These can include bank account statements.
- You must also hold an onward visa to another country before your visit to Poland.
Suggested read: Visa Interview – CiQuestions, Answers, Tips
Did you know? The Polish are very warm, positive, and friendly towards Indians. They show a great interest in Indian culture and festivities.
Procedure to apply for Poland Visa – Poland Visa Application Process
- In order to apply for the Poland visa online, log onto the Poland consulate website. Ensure that you find the relevant Poland visa application form and fill up all the details correctly.
- In order to apply for the Poland visa offline, take a print out of the visa application form and fill it with accurate details. Send the completed form to the Consular Office in the Embassy of Poland situated in New Delhi.
Tracking of the Application Status of Poland Visa for Indians: You can track the status of your Poland visa application here
Poland Visa Fees
The Poland visa fees for any type of visa is INR 4900. This is a non-refundable fee which can be paid through the payment modes of either bank transfer or cash.
Receipt of Poland Visa – Visa Processing Time
The processing of your Poland visa can take up to 14 working days. However, in some exceptional cases, this processing duration can even extend up to 30 working days. Therefore, it is advisable to confirm your travel plans and apply for the Poland visa at least a month prior to your travel.
Extension of Poland Visa for Indians
You could be in a situation where you wish to extend the validity of your visa to Poland.
Here is a guide for you on how to extend different types of visas to Poland –
1. Type ‘C’ Schengen Visa
The type ‘C’ Schengen visa can be extended on two grounds – obligatory or optional. On the obligatory ground, you can state that the acts of God or other humanitarian reasons are preventing you from leaving the territory of Poland or any other Schengen state before the expiry of your visa document. If the authorities decide to permit this extension, the process is absolutely free of cost. On the optional ground, you must provide the authorities with compelling personal reasons for an extension of your visa. This process is not free of cost. You will be required to pay 30 Euros for this type of extension.
2. Type ‘D’ National Visa
These four conditions need to be met in order to avail an extension in your Poland visa –
- Unavoidable circumstances of humanitarian, personal, or professional nature that prevent you from leaving Poland before the expiry of your visa
- The above-mentioned circumstances were not expected by you when you applied for your visa
- The purpose of your stay continues to remain the same as mentioned before you availed your visa
- There were no circumstances that led to the refusal of your visa such as :
- Your name being listed in the registry of undesirable individuals
- Possession of insufficient funds to stay in Poland or to return to India
- The lack of a health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 Euros
- You threaten the security or the public interest of Poland
- A lack of required, valid visa documents
- Failure in clearly stating the purpose of your stay
- Filling up of your visa application in an improper or illegal manner
- Caused doubt regarding you leaving Poland before the expiry of the visa
The cost of extending this visa is 95 Euros.
Also read: Guide To Switzerland Visa For Indians
These are the general documents required for the extension in your Poland visa –
- Filled out application form (Schengen visa / National visa)
- Recent photograph with dimensions of 35 mm x 44mm
- A valid passport
- Documents that act as proof of your permanent residence confirmation
- Stamp duty confirmation
- Documents that confirm your purpose of stay and the necessity of extension of your visa
- Health insurance or travel medical insurance
- Will to leave Poland before the expiry of the extension period
The authority which is in – charge of granting you a visa extension is the Voivode’s Office. You will be required to submit all the necessary documents before or on the expiration of your period of legal stay in Poland. If you fail to do so, your application will be considered invalid and your further stay in the country will be illegal. On submission of your form and documents at the right time, the authority will reach a decision within a minimum of 7 days and a maximum of a month’s time. It can extend up to 2 months in rare and unusual cases. If your request for extension is rejected, you have time of about 14 days to appeal to the Head of the Office for Foreigners in Warsaw.
Did you know? An estimated 10,000 Indian origin population forms about 0.25% of the total population of Poland, which is 38 million.
Poland Embassy and Other Visa Application Centres in India
Here is a list of addresses and contact details of the Poland Embassy and other important visa application centres in India –
1. Embassy of Poland – This Embassy is situated in the city of New Delhi, India.
- Address – 50 – M Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110021
- Contact Number – 011 4149 6900
2. Consulate General of the Republic of Poland – This Consulate is situated in the city of Mumbai, India.
- Address – Nirmal Building 11 A, 11th Floor, 241 / 242 Backbay Reclamation Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400021
- Contact Number – 022 2285 2631
3. Honorary Consulate of Poland – This Consulate is situated in the city of Kolkata, India.
- Address – 687, Anandapur, EM Bypass, Kolkata 700107
- Contact Number – 033 6613 6264 / 2248 5027
Did you know? Poland greets almost all of its international tourists at the Warsaw Chopin Airport or the Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport. This airport is known to be the biggest and busiest one in Poland. It is situated at a distance of only around 10 kilometres from the capital’s city centre.
With this comprehensive guide to obtaining a Poland visa for Indians, you can now travel hassle-free!
