Citizens of non-EU countries willing to travel to Poland need to have a visa.
Obtaining a visa is also possible upon presentation of an employer’s statement on intention to employ, work permit or in other justified cases.
Foreigners may also apply for a visa upon presentation of an invitation issued by a Polish citizen or a qualified alien who ensures that he or she has the funds for the maintenance of a foreigner, a possible return to the country from which he or she comes and provides maintenance for him or her. The registration of invitations for foreigners to Poland is performed at the request of the person inviting, through the entry to the invitation registry.
INVITATION
For people from outside the European Union, who are citizens of Ukraine, Russia, Vietnam or China, it is necessary to have a visa. An invitation may make it easier to obtain one. Without an invitation, a person applying for a visa has to prove the necessary means that are sufficient to cover the costs of the stay in Poland, e.g. board and lodging and possible return journey to his or her country of origin or residence.
If a foreigner has an invitation from an entitled person, he or she is exempt from the certificates above. When an invitation for a foreigner is registered and delivered, the inviting person is the one who guarantees his or her stay in Poland.
An invitation for a foreigner can be issued by:
– a Polish citizen residing in the Republic of Poland;
– a foreigner staying legally, immediately and continuously for at least 5 years in the territory of the Republic of Poland or having a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU resident permit;
– a legal person or an organizational unit without corporate existence established in the territory of the Republic of Poland.
SHENGEN VISA
A Schengen visa is issued to the foreigners who intend to stay in Poland or in other Schengen countries (during one or several entries) for the period of 90 days within half a year.
The visa is also issued to the foreigners intending to use the Schengen territory for transit purposes (by train or car).
NATIONAL VISA
There are two types of visa that foreigners may obtain to cross the Polish border and stay legally in Poland – national visa is one of them.
A national visa entitles you to enter and constantly stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland or to several subsequent stays, which in total last longer than 3 months. The period of validity of such a document may not exceed one year.
The stay on a basis of a national visa is set individually due to the reason provided by a foreigner. If a foreigner intends to stay in Poland for more than 1 year, he or she must apply for a new visa by a Polish consul abroad or apply for a residence card.
A national visa can be issued in order to participate in the proceedings on asylum, repatriation, the use of rights arising from the possession of the Card of the Pole.
Visa for the purpose of employment
A foreigner who is applying for a visa for the purpose of employment must provide the following documents:
– work permit in Poland or
– written declaration of an employer stating his or her intention to employ a foreigner
Visa for the purpose of employment is issued for the period of a stay that corresponds to the period indicated in a permit or statement, but no longer than it is provided for the specific type of a visa.
In case of a visa issued with the purpose of employment on the basis of a written declaration of an employer stating his intention to employ a foreigner, the period of a stay for which the visa is issued shall not be longer than 6 months.
Visa on the basis of a declaration
Citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine may take up employment in every sector without the obligation to obtain a work permit for up to 6 months within 12 consecutive months. The employment takes place on the basis of a written declaration of an employer stating his or her intention to employ a foreigner that is submitted by the Polish employer and registered in the District Employment Agency.
Establishment of a written employment contract or a civil-law contract (contract job or contract of specific work) is required to work legally in such a case.
Visa on the basis of an invitation
For people from outside the European Union, who are citizens of Ukraine, Russia, Vietnam or China, it is necessary to have a visa. An invitation may make it easier to obtain one. Without an invitation, a person applying for a visa has to prove the necessary means that are sufficient to cover the costs of the stay in Poland, e.g. board and lodging and possible return journey to his or her country of origin or residence.
If a foreigner has a registered invitation from an entitled person, he or she is exempt from the certificates above. When an invitation for a foreigner is registered and delivered, the inviting person is the one who guarantees his or her stay in Poland.
An invitation for a foreigner can be issued by:
– a Polish citizen residing in the Republic of Poland;
– a foreigner staying legally, immediately and continuously for at least 5 years in the territory of the Republic of Poland or having a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU resident permit;
– a legal person or an organizational unit without corporate existence established in the territory of the Republic of Poland.
