British Students do not require visas or residence permits for study or research visits exceeding 90 days within the 180 period. Furthermore UK student can enter and complete the following activities:

• Tourism
• Visiting family or friends
• Attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• Short-term studies or training

EU/EEA Students do not need a Visa/Residence permit to study, work or reside in Poland. However, you should keep your passport or National ID card with you at all times.

Students from a non-visa waiver country will need to apply for a Schengen Visa for a duration of 90 days.

Depending on your length of stay and nationality students from non-EU countries which need a Visa will be required to apply for a Schengen Visa.

For a duration of less than 90 days, students from non-EU will need to apply for a Short Stay Schengen Visa for Italy (Visa type C).

You can use the Eligibility tool to find out.

Gather Your Documents

• A visa application form filled via the e-consulate system, printed and signed.
• A 3.5 x 4.5 cm colour photo.
• 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. If you have another valid passport, you should attach it to the visa application form.
• UK residence permit valid for at least one month after the expiry date of your Schengen visa.
• 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.
• A proof of accommodation (for example, an official invitation or a hotel booking or reservation) or of sufficient means to cover the costs of accommodation. If relevant, such proof may be given through a proof of sponsorship by means of an official form (certificate of board and lodging).
• Nominative United Kingdom bank account statements covering at least the last three months and showing the balance.
• Recent, official and signed letter from school, college or university in the United Kingdom stating date of issue, name of the applicant, type of studies, number of lessons (hours) per week and attendance record.
• a certificate of enrolment at an educational establishment (school, university, college, etc.)

For a full list of documentation, click here.

How to Apply

Students are encouraged to contact the Polish Consulate to check if they need a Visa for less than 90 days. You can book your appointment to apply for a visa via the e-konsulat system. The visa application form must be submitted in person.

Non-EU/No EEA including UK Students studying for a duration over 90 days are required to apply for a National Visa type D.  

Gather Your Documents

• A visa application form filled via the e-konsulat system, printed and signed
• A 3.5 x 4.5 cm colour photo.
• 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.
• UK residence permit. If your residence permit is in your expired passport, please bring your old passport together with the current one.
• Healthcare insurance valid across the European Union for the amount not lower than  EUR 30,000.
• Proof that you have enough means of subsistence in the form decided by the mission – banks statement (last month), pre-paid travel card.
• A proof of accommodation (for example, an official invitation or a hotel booking or reservation).
• Documents confirming the purpose of your stay Poland.
• Recent letter from your school or university. The letter should be addressed to the Visa Section of the Polish Embassy.
• Students should ensure that letter includes information about the type of the course, school attendance and intended period of leave/holidays taken from school for the journey.
• Confirmation letter from a school in Poland. This letter should include information about the type of study, duration etc. with confirmation of the fee payment
• Proof of accommodation (for intended stay in Poland)

For a full list of documentation click here.

How to Apply

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.

Upon Arrival

EU Students enrolling in degree programmes who will be staying in Poland for more than 3 months do not need any Visas/Residence Permit however have to obtain a certificate of temporary residence for an EU citizen. This involves EU citizenship are required to register their residence. The obligation to register residence does not apply to EU citizens who exercise their right of residence to seek employment, as referred to above.

For further information on Right of Permanent Residence can be found here.

EU citizens do not need any further documentation to work in Poland for stays under 90 days.

Non-EU/Non-EEA Students wishing to work in Poland for no more than 3 months can complete the following activities without the need for a Visa under a Schengen Waiver.

You do not need a Visa for the following activities:

• running or attending job interviews
• going to court as witness
• attending trade fairs
• attending board meetings
• meeting clients or customers (including entertainment like eating at a restaurant)
• meeting colleagues, contractors or sellers
• internal auditing
• post-meeting productive work
• providing legal advice to a client
• fact-finding visits
• negotiating, signing and executing deals or contracts
• attending, speaking or presenting at a conference
• supervising the work of a vendor or contractor
• supervising and managing a team
• team building activities
• receiving classroom-based or on-the-job training
• shadowing someone’s job

Non-EU/non-EEA who wish to work for a duration of over 30 days within a 180 day period will need to apply for a Type C Visa.

It may be possible to enter Poland without the need for a Visa and work for up to 30 days, however students are encouraged to contact their local consulate for the most up to day and accurate information.

Gather Your Documents

1. Your employer submits a Type C work permit application to the provincial office (local authority).
2. Once approved you apply for a D visa at the Polish consulate in the UK.
3. You register your address at your local town hall in Poland.
4. You apply for a temporary residence permit at the immigration office in Poland if you need to stay longer than the duration of your D visa.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-poland-for-work#entry-requirements

Source: Work permit type C - Mazovian Voivodship Office in Warsaw - Portal Gov.pl (www.gov.pl)

Further information regarding Work Permit Type C can be found here.

How to Apply

Students should book an Appointment at the Polish Consulate in the UK.

EU/EEA Students do not need a Visa to enter Poland.

UK Students can enter Poland and work for a duration of up to 90 days to complete some work related activities such as business meetings. Click here to find out more about the Schengen Visa-waiver. However to work in employment outside of the allowed activities NON-UK/EU students will need to apply for a  Schengen Visa C.

Gather Your Documents

Even though your employer applies for the work permit on your behalf, you will need to gather the following documents to apply for a Schengen Visa C.

• Completed visa application form
• One biometric photograph
• An invitation from your host in Poland with a copy of the passport/ ID card of the inviting person.
• Proof of travel medical
• The insurance should be valid throughout the territory of Member States and cover the entire period of the person's intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage should be EUR 30 000.
•  Recent letter from your employer or from your school or university. The letter should be addressed to the Visa Section of the Polish Embassy.
• Students should ensure that letter should include information about the type of your course, school attendance and intended period of leave/holidays taken from school for your journey.
• Evidence of possession of sufficient financial means e.g. recent bank statements or traveler’s cheque or prepaid travel card. We do not accept cash and/or credit card/saver account statements as a proof of your financial means.
• Please note that the Embassy does not bear any responsibility for the travel tickets bought before the issuance of visa.
• Additional documents may be requested at any stage of the procedure.

Click here for a full list of documentation.

UK Students will need to apply for a Visa D to work in Poland for over a duration of 90 days.

Gather your documents

• Students should gather the following documents:
• A visa application form filled via the e-konsulat system, printed and signed;A 3.5 x 4.5 cm colour photo.
• 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.
• UK residence permit. If your residence permit is in your expired passport, please bring your old passport together with the current one.
• Healthcare insurance valid across the European Union for the amount not lower than  EUR 30,000. Information of the Minister of Foreign Affairs about the insurers and the insurances that they offer, which meet the necessary conditions referred to in Article 25 (1) (2) (a) and Article 25 (1b) of the Act of 12 December 2013 on Foreigners is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Proof that you have enough means of subsistence in the form decided by the mission – banks statement (last month), pre-paid travel card.
• A proof of accommodation (for example, an official invitation or a hotel booking or reservation).
• Documents confirming the purpose of your stay Poland.
• National visa to work in Poland - The original form of the work permit issued by the local Municipal Office in Poland
• Proof of accommodation during stay in Poland

Click here for a full list of documentation

Upon Arrival

You must register your address with the local town hall if you’re staying in Poland for more than 30 days.