VISAS FOR VISITING POLAND

British Citizens do NOT need a visa to enter Poland for visits of up to 6 months duration. They do of course require a valid passport

However, people arriving in Poland from outside Europe and some European countries must have both a valid passport and Polish entry visa. Visas are issued by Polish consular missions around the world.

Non-British citizens resident in Britain, or visiting Britain, and seeking a visa in order to visit Poland should contact the appropriate Consulate General:-

In England & Wales at...
73, New Cavendish Street, London W1N 8LS.
Tel: 0171 580 0476
Fax: 0171 323 2320

In Scotland at...
2 Kinnear Road, Edinburgh, EH3 5PE.
Tel: 0131 552 0301
Fax: 0131 552 1086

Visitor's visas are issued to persons who travel for pleasure, business, cultural, scientific, or personal reasons. Visas are granted for a specified number of days (a maximum of ninety), but may be extended at the Voivodship Offices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Foreign Visitors Dept.). Its address in Warsaw: ul. Krucza 5/11 (tel. 48-22 625 5904). These visas are valid for up to six months from their date of issue.

The following nationals may stay in Poland without a visa for periods of time specified below:

• Up to 14 days: Hong Kong;

• Up to 30 days: Bulgaria, Cuba, Estonia, Hungary, Macedonia, Mongolia, Romania;

• Up to 90 days: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Honduras, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Moldavia, Monaco, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA.

• Up to six months: Great Britain.*

• Former Soviet Republics (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan) a letter of invitation or vouchers are required.

* Please note the reference to Great Britain applies only to Great Britain. Citizens from British Commonwealth countries do require visas for all visits to Poland.

All applicants for Visas must provide the following documents to facilitate the processing of their cases:

• Completed application form.
  
• Two passport size photographs.
  
• Valid passport or travel document.
  
• Evidence of your immigration status in your country of residence. This proof of status should be endorsed in your current or previous passport.
  
• Please indicate whether you require a single entry or a multiple entry visa.
  
• For multiple entry tourist visa you can supply details of your travel plans (it could be a copy of your booked tickets from Travel Agent) or invitation from friend / relative in Poland. Invitation should be entered into the register of invitations in a Regional Office.
  
• Persons traveling on business should produce a letter issued by the company or organization they represent. For multiple entry visa you have to supply a letter of invitation from your Polish partners. Self employed person should produce an invitation from the business partner from Poland.
  
• Transit visas are issued to passengers who enter and leave Poland en route to another destination in less than 48 hours and should have a visa of the country of destination in the passport.