Getting ready
to enter Poland
Once you receive a letter of intent from SWPS University (USWPS), confirming that we are willing to employ you, you should check if you require a visa to enter Poland.
We will gladly answer your questions and assist you before and after you arrive in Poland. We will guide you throughout the visa application process, acquiring a residence permit, and help you navigate all the formal procedures.
Do you need a visa
to enter Poland?
EU, EEA, and EFTA citizens
Citizens of some countries, such as those belonging to the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and European Free Trade Association (EFTA), typically enjoy a visa-free entry to Poland. To ensure whether your citizenship allows you to enter Poland without a visa, please review the following list.
The most reliable and official source of information concerning the rules and regulations pertaining to entering Poland by foreign nationals can be found on the web page of an Embassy or a Consulate of the Republic of Poland, which is located in your home country. Follow this link to find the local embassy in your area. Please note, the visa rules and requirements may differ from country to country.
If you are planning to bring your family with you to Poland, you might want to apply for all visas at the same time, even if other family members intend to join you in Poland at a later date.
Find out more on the following websites of the Polish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Office for Foreigners:
Citizens of the co-called third countries
You will need a visa to enter Poland if:
- you are from the so-called third country, i.e., a country that is not a member of the European Union or a country or territory whose citizens do not enjoy the European Union right to free movement, as defined in Art. 2(5) of the Regulation (EU) 2016/399 (Schengen Borders Code)
- you do not have a residence permit from another Schengen country
- you do not qualify for a visa-free travel in the Schengen area.
Types of Visa
to enter Poland
Depending on the duration and purpose of your stay in Poland, you will need one of the following:
- Schengen Visa (Type C) — a short-stay visa that allows holders to visit and stay within the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. There are three forms of this visa, including single-entry visa, multiple entry, and airport transit visa. Read more about this type of visa
- National Visa (Type D), also known as long-term stay visa — it is issued by an individual EU member state (e.g., Poland) and allows non-EU nationals to stay for more than 90 days within that specific country. Read more about this type of visa
How to apply
for a Polish visa
You should apply for a visa at a Polish Embassy or Consulate in your own country or your current country of residence, at the earliest possible opportunity.
Application step-by-step
- Register online on the website of the Polish embassy or consulate in your home country to apply for a visa.
- Gather required documents — you might need different documents depending on the type of visa you are applying for. Commonly required documents include:
- Confirmation of the purpose of stay (e.g., invitation, a letter of intent, confirmation of university admission)
- Evidence of sufficient funds to travel and stay in Poland
- Medical insurance valid in Poland
- Address of your place of residence in Poland
- Passport
- Recent passport photo
- Funds to cover the visa processing fee (approx. EUR 80)
- Proof of family ties for family members who will join you in Poland (e.g., marriage or birth certificates).
For a complete list of documents, contact your local Polish Embassy or Consulate.
Visa Processing Time: up to 15 days.
How long can you stay in Poland? Your legal stay in Poland ends on the last day your visa is valid.
Work permits
Academic staff
Citizens of EU countries as well as citizens of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, do not require a permit to work anywhere in the EU, in any capacity. This applies to both, permanent and temporary employment.
Third-country nationals employed as researchers or academic teachers at public research institutions like universities or research institutes do not need a work permit, either. Only a work visa is required, for example National Visa (Type D), or a visa for researchers issued based on the so-called “hosting agreement”.
Administrative Staff
If you are a citizen of a non-EU country looking to be employed in the non-academic (i.e., administrative) capacity at a university in Poland, you will require a work permit, in addition to your entry visa. This applies to all types of employment — permanent and temporary contracts.
Legalization of stay
If you are a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland and plan to stay in Poland for more than three months, you must register your stay at the local District Authority Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) no later than the day after your initial three-month stay in Poland ends. You must rember to fulfill this requirement, the Office will not notify you.
If you are a citizen of a non-EU country who entered Poland thanks to a work visa and you know that your stay will exceed the validity of your visa, you are required to apply for a temporary residence permit (karta pobytu) at your local District Authority Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) to legalise your stay. Review the list of District Authority Offices across Poland .