Traveling by car is the most convenient way to save money on travel, get absolute freedom of choice and see things that are not available to organized tourists. But any business has its own nuances. For example, when crossing the borders of Poland, which is a member of the European Union, Russians often face all sorts of difficulties. For this reason, the rules for entering Poland by car should be of interest to travel enthusiasts intending to visit this European country.
Why is it better to cross the border by car
The choice of a method of travel is largely determined by the distance to the final destination of the trip, the cost of the trip, as well as the availability of transport links. The residents of Kaliningrad and the region do not face this question - it is definitely more profitable and more convenient for them to use private cars. In addition, special border crossing conditions apply for them.
In general, tourists tend to travel abroad driving their own car for the following reasons:
- independence from the schedule of buses, trains and planes;
- the ability to plan and change the route at any time so as not to stand in queues or cross the border along the green corridor;
- if you do not need to travel too far, the trip can be cheaper compared to travel by other means of transport, at least when compared to air travel.
Thus, entering Poland by car you provide yourself with freedom of movement, independence in planning your travel itinerary and some financial savings.
Where are the main car checkpoints to Poland located
Crossing the Polish border is possible only at designated places, indicated on maps and equipped in accordance with international agreements, that is, at special checkpoints. Russia borders the former Rzeczpospolita only in the Kaliningrad region. There are four points here that work around the clock:
- Mamonovo - Gronovo. Break from 13.00 to 14.00. From the "bonuses" - two Duty Free shops (by the way, there are two of them on each side).
- Mamonovo 2 - Grzechotki. This is the largest crossing, which is also closed for a break from one to two in the afternoon.
- Bagrationovsk - Bezledy. Closest to Kaliningrad (47 km). Open daily, break from 13.00 to 14.00.
- Gusev - Goldap. The most remote from Kaliningrad crossing (151 km), but the closest to Russia when entering from Lithuania and Belarus.
Information about the workload of checkpoints can be obtained online at granitsa-online.com or polishops.ru/border.
Few people know, but you can get to Poland by ferry. Therefore, before the trip, be sure to ask what are the options for crossing the Russia-Poland border.
The rest of the Russians will have to choose routes running through the territory of Lithuania, Belarus or Ukraine. This largely depends on where the autotourist is leaving from. If he travels through Ukrainian territory, you can cross the border with Poland at the following checkpoints:
- Yagodin. Located 140 km from Lutsk and 65 km from Kovel. This is the busiest passage - here you can lose from 2 to 10 hours.
- Rava-Russian. Located on the Lvov-Warsaw highway. Here you will need to stand in line from 3 to 12 hours.
- Krakovets. A popular crossing on the directions Lvov-Krakow and Lvov-Wroclaw, the traffic along which is congested.
- Ustilug. Located 90 km from Lutsk. The queue is formed at the entrance to the city.
- The firebox. The best transition in the direction to the resorts of Ustishki Dolne.
- Sheghini. Located 16 km from the Polish Przemysl. Convenient due to good infrastructure and market.
You can find out where the cameras that allow you to monitor the traffic flow are located at dpsu.gov.ua/ua/border.
Find out more about where and how the border between Poland and Ukraine is crossed.
The shortest route from Moscow to Poland runs through Belarus. From there, you can enter Polish territory through the following points:
- Bruzgi - Forge. This is the northernmost road crossing in the republic.
- Domachevo - Slavatyche. The southernmost checkpoint.
- Berestovitsa - Bobrovniki. Located 40 km from Bialystok. This is the shortest route from Minsk to Warsaw.
- Brest - Terespol. The most crowded checkpoint - waiting here can take several hours.
- Sand - Polovets.
The time for passing customs and passport control everywhere takes about 30 minutes to 10 hours, depending on the influx of traffic. The best time to cross the border is 5-6 am.
To keep abreast of queues at checkpoints, you can use the Belarusian portal gpk.gov.by or the Polish granica.gov.pl.
When entering Poland from Lithuania, passing the border by car does not cause any problems, since it is common in the European Union. There are no checkpoints or border posts, only occasionally there are road patrols who can stop and ask a couple of questions. But at the entrance to this Baltic country, you will have to go through customs and cross the border in accordance with the general rules of the EU.
How to book customs through the Internet
Queue reservation at the border of the Republic of Belarus is implemented on the belarusborder.by portal. This requires authorization on the site. The service is available subject to the following rules:
- the order is made 90 days in advance, but no later than 3 hours before the planned time of crossing the border;
- temporary booking window - 1 hour;
- 30 minutes are given to form an order;
- the cost of the service is 24.5 Belarusian rubles (550 Russian rubles) for each car, regardless of the category and date of the order;
- the maximum time for payment for the service by individuals is 60 minutes;
- arriving in the waiting area after the start of the booked time is not allowed.
In the waiting area, the driver receives a registration number. When it is highlighted on the scoreboard, you can follow to the checkpoint.
For reservation issues, you can contact the unitary enterprise "Beltamozhservice" directly. Keep in mind that from September 4, 2021, the contact number +375 (17) 359-25-74 indicated on the website will not work. You can contact by a single number +375 (17) 388-60-88 extension 2.
Find out more about how to book a queue at the border with Poland.
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What are the requirements for the car made by the Polish side?
Requirements for the technical condition of cars in the European Union are the same. At the same time, in Poland, they are especially sensitive to tinting, the use of lighting devices and the state of the glazing.
Films on windshields, front windows and headlights are not allowed in any form. Driving even during the day is permitted only with the dipped headlights on.
Cracks on the windshield should be removed well in advance. The rubber must be suitable for the season and the tread height must be at least 1.6 mm. Studded tires are prohibited.
It is better to leave the antiradar at home, but a child seat (if children are traveling with you) and seat belts on all seats must be mandatory.
The car needs to be equipped with:
- lantern;
- fire extinguisher;
- reflective vest;
- emergency stop sign;
- European first aid kit.
Required documents
In the absence of a valid Schengen visa, the entry into the country is closed for the driver and passengers. To cross the Polish border, everyone, without exception, will need the following documents:
- Passport, before the expiration of which there are at least 3 months left.
- Medical insurance covering the full duration of the trip.
Children may need birth certificates.It is unlikely that you will need to present a driver's license at the checkpoint.
There is no need to specifically obtain international rights - a new Russian driver's license (issued after 2021) is recognized in Poland.
To travel on someone else's car, you need a notarized power of attorney with the right to leave. Fines, if any, are best paid in advance.
Polish customs officials may ask you to prove your solvency and the availability of accommodation for everyone who is in the cabin. You will have to present cash at the rate of PLN 100 (€ 23) per person per day or a bank card with the required amount.
It is recommended that you prepare paper and electronic copies of all documents in advance. As for the machine, you will need the following papers:
- registration certificate;
- insurance "Green card".
PTS on cars at the border are not required.
Passage of the Polish border
It is supposed to pass two passport and customs controls: in the country of departure and in Poland. It all starts with a banal waiting in a traffic jam. When it's your turn, everything will look something like this:
- The border guard in the country of departure will inquire about the number of passengers and issue a control pass. In this document, the employees of the transition note the passage of all stages of control.
- We'll have to defend one more line - this time in order to go through passport and customs control along the green or red corridor. First, the driver, and then all other passengers, take turns presenting their passports. After filling out the declarations, the baggage, the contents of the cabin and the trunk of the car are checked. That's all - a corresponding mark is put on the coupon. In general, the process takes 20-30 minutes.
- Waiting in the neutral zone. The same line, only here you can stand longer, since the Polish services are not so agile.
- Passport control and Polish customs. Here everything is the same as in the country of departure: two corridors, checking documents, filling out declarations, inspecting a car and a mark on the coupon. Only the process will be more thorough, plus some questions may be asked. They may also be asked to be fingerprinted. This takes about an hour.
After all the checks, it is imperative to check the presence of stamps in passports and declarations.
It is very important to know what is allowed and what is strictly prohibited to be brought into the country, as well as how often you can cross the Polish border. It all depends on what kind of visa you have. The one-shot speaks for itself; if you have a multivisa, then the number of border crossings is not limited.
At the same time, Polish customs officials set their own restrictions on transport, caused by the fight against smuggling of fuel, which is significantly more expensive in Poland.
So, according to the current rules, with a full tank without duty, you can enter the country once every 72 hours.
It depends on the amount of gasoline in the tank how many times you can go to Poland, say, a month (it turns out ten). If you have no more than 20 liters filled, there are no restrictions.
Find out more about the cases in which the transportation of goods across the Polish border can be complicated.
Regular questions from customs officials
The work of the customs services of all countries is, in principle, identical. Therefore, the list of the most common questions for arriving citizens of other states is as follows:
- purpose of the trip;
- length of stay;
- itinerary;
- planned place of residence.
Answering them, you do not need to invent anything - say everything as it is. If you do not know for sure, indicate at least an approximate direction where to look for you, if necessary.
The last security question usually concerns what you are carrying. Some restrictions exist, but they only apply to the import of alcohol and cigarettes, which should be known in advance.
The import of currency is not limited, but if the amount exceeds the equivalent of 10 thousand euros, it must be declared.
Conclusions
The rules and requirements for entering Poland by car are the same as in any European country. The absence of a queue at the entrance to the crossing does not mean that it can be passed quickly. If a mass of vehicles has accumulated on neutral territory, until they all cross the border, a new batch will not be launched. Therefore, it is better to ask the border guards about the state of affairs and decide whether to move towards another checkpoint.
