A Guide to Poland Long Stay Visas

Poland is an incredible country with a rich history and culture. If you're planning to spend a few months there, there are quite a few things you need to do to prepare for the upcoming journey.

There's learning about the city you'll be living in and the surrounding area, researching what life is like there, and figuring out where you're going to stay.

Those aren't the only things you need to do to prepare though, and since you found this article, you seem to already know that!

Many foreigners who want to spend time in Poland have to apply for the appropriate visa in order to do so... but who exactly needs to?

Do you need a long stay visa for Poland? If so, which one? Are there requirements? And how do you apply?

You've come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we're going to take a look at Polish long stay visas: who might need one, which ones are available, and how to apply.

Who needs a long stay visa for Poland?

Many travelers who want to stay in Poland will need a visa to do so. Long stay visas, also referred to as D-Type national visas, allow their holders to stay in Poland for more than 90 days and up to 1 year.

If you are a NON EU/Schengen country citizen AND plan to stay in Poland for more than 90 days, you likely need to apply for this type of visa.

With that being said, there isn't just "one type" of national visa for Poland. There are several different types, and the one that you should apply for depends on why you're going to be spending time in Poland. Let's take a deeper look at that.

Types of long stay visas for Poland

There are a few types of long stay visas for Poland - within those overarching types, there are subtypes that are more specific to the reason you're staying in Poland. There are long stay visas available for:

• Working
• Studying
• Family reunification (to join a spouse, parent, etc.)
• And more.

Each of these "themes" of visas has several types within them. For example, there's a specific visa for highly qualified professionals working in Poland.

An important note for our readers: You should always get information about visas and immigration straight from the source, as information can and does change. Always check the Polish Embassy's official website for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding immigration requirements and policies.

How to apply for a long stay visa for Poland

The application process happens over several steps that start with knowing which visa you should apply for and end with a final decision.

Typically, the process goes as follows:

• Figure out which long stay visa you need to apply for. If you're a student, it'll be a type of student visa. If you're moving for work, you'll need to apply for one of the work visas offered that most accurately reflects your situation. Etc., etc.
• Check the visa requirements and ensure you can meet them. There are qualifications you will need to meet in order to obtain a Polish long stay visa.
• Prepare your application for submission. Your application will consist of a completed long stay visa application form as well as a series of documents and papers that you will need to collect.
• Book an in-person appointment in your country of residence. This appointment is mandatory and takes place in the Polish Embassy/consulate.
• Attend your appointment and bring your application form and all of the documents required with you. At this appointment, an attendant will go through your documents to make sure that you have all of the requested items in their requested formats. If the application is complete, it will be submitted for a final decision!
• Await a decision.

Even if you meet all of the requirements for obtaining a long stay visa, it doesn't mean approval is guaranteed.

Polish long stay visa requirements

To qualify for a long stay visa, you'll need to meet specific requirements that pertain to the visa you are applying for. These qualifications come in the form of documents.

When anyone applies for a Polish long stay visa, there are several documents that they must provide - regardless of the specific visa type.

Then, on top of these "basic documents", there are additional ones that you'll need to supply that depend on the visa type.

All long stay visa applicants for Poland will need to provide:

• A national visa application form that has been registered online, filled in, printed out, and signed.
• A valid passport.
• Two recent passport-sized photographs.
• Travel medical insurance. This insurance must have a minimum of €30,000 in emergency medical costs, be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Poland, cover you in Poland, and cover repatriation (including of mortal remains) and emergency hospitalization.
• Proof of sufficient financial means. This means that you must submit documents that prove you can provide for yourself (financially) during your entire stay in Poland.
• An onward flight (out of Poland).
• Proof of accommodation.
• Proof that you have paid the visa fee(s).

Note: If you are a minor, you will have additional required documents.

Also, there will be additional documents required depending on which visa you're applying for, as noted above.

Other documents that can be required are things like:

• An acceptance letter from a Polish university (for students).
• A work contract or letter of employment (for workers).
• A marriage license or birth certificate (for family reunification).
• Etc.

FAQs about Polish long stay visas