To travel to Poland in 2021, you need to issue a number of permits. This country has been part of the Schengen zone since 2021, so Russians will not be able to get to Poland without a visa. Special organizations are involved in the preparation of the necessary documents: visa centers, the Polish Embassy in the Russian Federation and the Consulate General in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. In the presence of all the required documents, a visa to Poland is issued quickly.
When do you need a visa
Travelers who have a visa stamp from one of the 26 states of the Schengen zone in their foreign passports may not have a separate visa for Poland.
This country has a fairly loyal visa policy, but there are several rules:
- documents must be issued in the country that issues the visa;
- you need to spend more time in the country where the visa is issued, and come to Poland after that.
Some categories of citizens are exempt from the mandatory visa application, namely:
- holders of diplomatic passports;
- crews of ships and rescue aircraft;
- foreigners who have received a residence permit in Poland;
- transit tourists who have a transfer in Poland (provided that they will not leave the airport).
A visa is issued if you are traveling for tourist purposes, to visit relatives, to work and study. Compared to other Schengen countries, it is not difficult to obtain a Polish visa.
Ukrainian citizens with biometric passports do not need to apply for a Schengen visa. However, you can travel to Poland with an old valid passport with a visa.
The procedure for obtaining a visa by Belarusians does not differ from the conditions of other states - it is necessary to collect and submit the necessary documents to the embassy.
Which visa is easier to apply for
Before you start applying for a visa, you need to decide on the purpose of the trip. Poland issues two types of visas to citizens of other countries - C (Schengen) and D (national). The first type of visa is shorter, issued for up to 90 days of stay in the country.
The second type of visa is long-term and allows you to work in the country on a permanent basis, be married to a Pole and, in the long term, get a residence permit.
Category C includes the following types of visas:
- Tourist visa. It can be single or multiple. It is issued if the purpose of the trip is to get acquainted with the sights of the country, visit historical places, resort towns, buy souvenirs, visit festivals, concerts, etc.
- Work Visa. You can work with this visa in Poland. A work visa allows you to cross the border multiple times without additional documents. It is issued for a certain period - the period of validity of the labor contract.
- Student visa. Suitable for people wishing to get higher education in Poland. Issued for a period of six months to one year. The student must be enrolled in the full-time form of study with a five-day visit to the university. The procedure for obtaining this visa is simplified: students just need to present a certificate from the dean's office, student ID, insurance and pay a consular fee of 27 euros.
- Business visa. Issued to people who visit Poland on business visits - to meet with business partners, meetings, professional development, exchange of experience and other types of professional cooperation. If the trip is single, a single visa is issued, if multiple entries are expected, a multivisa is issued.
- Transit visa. Issued to those who plan to travel by car through Poland to another country outside the Schengen area. Also, a transit visa will be required for foreigners who fly by plane with a transfer in Poland, if they plan to leave the airport and will be in the country for more than 24 hours.
Rare types of visas include a visitor visa (travel to relatives), a sports visa for people who participate in sports tournaments, and a cultural visa for representatives of creative professions.
Visa processing procedure
You can apply for a visa after submitting a certain package of documents - a standard set that is suitable for all Schengen countries:
- passport (validity not less than three months from the date of the end of the trip) and copies of its pages;
- passport of the Russian Federation and copies of its pages;
- two photographs (requirements for the photo - white background, color version, size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, 70% of the face);
- completed application form in printed form;
- medical insurance in the amount of at least 30,000 euros, which applies to the territory of the entire Schengen area;
- confirmation of financial solvency (bank account statement, certificate of employment, certificate of individual entrepreneur, etc.).
This is a basic list of documents, but for different types of visas, vouchers and additional papers may be required, such as transport tickets and hotel booking confirmation for a tourist visa, an invitation to work for a labor visa, a certificate from a university for a study visa, and others.
List of documents for a visa to Poland for a child:
- visa application in duplicate with the signature of the parents;
- photo of the established sample;
- copies of the parents' internal passport;
- the child's travel document or a copy of the passport of one of the parents with information about the child;
- birth certificate (for children of 16 years of age, internal passport and identification number) and a copy;
- a certificate from the school (for students);
- certificate from parents' work;
- child's health insurance policy.
You can apply for a visa yourself or use the help of intermediary firms, but in any case, you will need a personal presence at the consulate.
Step-by-step instructions for self-registration of a visa:
- choosing an embassy and making an appointment (choose the one that is closer or the one where you have already applied);
- hotel reservation via the Internet;
- buying air tickets by phone or on the Internet;
- registration of an insurance policy (for this, contact any insurance company, where it will be issued in 20 minutes);
- preparation of other documents (copies, certificates, etc.);
- filling out a questionnaire at the embassy and paying the consular fee.
After completing these simple steps, you will quickly apply for a visa and will be able to travel to Poland and other countries without worrying about crossing the border.
Where can I get a visa
You can apply for a visa at the visa center, the Polish embassy or get it through the consulate in your city.
- Poland Visa Application Center in Moscow is located at 127018, Moscow, Suschevsky Val 31, building 2. Phones: +7 (499) 703 49 54, +7 (499) 704 3683 from 9.00 to 18.00, (Monday-Friday) ... Working hours: reception of documents: 9.00-17.30 (Monday-Friday), issuance of passports: 9.00-18.00 (Monday-Friday).
- You can find the Poland Visa Application Center in St. Petersburg at the address: 197110, St. Petersburg, st. Bolshaya Raznochinnaya, 16A (entrance from Chkalovsky prospect 7), 2nd floor. Contact by phone: +7 (812) 3094179, +7 (812) 4263948 from 9.00 to 18.00 (Monday-Friday). Time for documents acceptance: 9.00-16.00 (Monday-Friday). Passport collection time: 9.00-16.00 (Monday-Friday).
- The Consulate General of Poland in St. Petersburg is located at the address: 191036, St. Petersburg, Sovetskaya 5th, 12. Phone: +78123363140 (autoinformer). Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 8.30 to 16.30.
- The Consulate General of Poland in Kaliningrad is located at: 236000, Kaliningrad, Kashtanovaya Alleya, 51. Contact phone: (+7 4012) 976 450. Working hours: Monday-Friday from 8.30 to 16.30.
Cost and timing of obtaining a visa
The cost of the visa depends on the type and urgency. Price includes consular fee and visa application center fee. Consular fees:
- Schengen visa type C for all purposes of the visit - 35 euros;
- urgent consideration of a Schengen type C visa for all purposes of the visit - 70 euros;
- issuance of a national visa type D for any purpose of the trip - 60 euros.
The service center visa fee is € 19.5.
The time for obtaining a visa is up to 10 days in the usual way and up to three days in an accelerated mode.
However, the deadlines vary depending on factors such as holidays, vacations of the visa center staff, incorrect filling out of the questionnaire or the need for additional documentation.
In such circumstances, the visa processing time can take from 30 to 60 days, so we recommend that you contact the embassy in advance to avoid delays.
If you use the help of intermediary firms, the cost of obtaining a Schengen visa will be an order of magnitude higher, since intermediary services are additionally paid. As a rule, the amount varies between 100-120 euros per visa.
Valid term of a visa
The duration of the visa differs depending on the type. According to European Union standards, a type C visa is issued for no more than 6 months, and a type D visa is issued for 12 months.
With a type C visa, it is allowed to stay in the country without leaving for 3 months, with a type D visa - 6 months.
In fact, documents are issued with different terms. If this is the first visit to the country, the visa will be limited to the travel dates. If this is not your first visit to the country, you can count on a long-term multiple-entry visa.
If the passport contains at least two Schengens of one or several states, it is possible to get a multivisa for up to 2 years. Moreover, the stay in the country should not exceed 3 months every six months. Having a Polish multiple entry visa allows you to move freely around Europe.
How to check the readiness of the visa
From the moment of submission of documents, you can control and track the readiness of the visa in the following main ways:
- tracking via the official VFS Global website - www.vfsglobal.com/russian/index.asp;
- by calling the hotline.
The site is easy to use: go to the "Check the status of documents" section, after opening a new window, click on the link that appears. Then indicate the date of birth and registration number of the application, enter the captcha, send a request - and you will immediately receive an answer.
Reasons for refusing a visa
Refusal of a visa to Poland is quite common. At risk are violators or citizens who travel to this country for the first time. The reasons for refusal can be the following situations:
- forged or incorrectly executed documents have been submitted;
- the citizen's data is on the SIS list, so he is prohibited from entering the Schengen area;
- the purpose of the trip did not inspire confidence.
If the consular officers check the information about the employer and it turns out that the invitation to work is fake, they will not be allowed to cross the border.
Also, it is not welcome to apply for a visa to Poland, when plans for employment in another country. And the most flagrant violation is to order a visa for changed personal data, when the old person was deported.
FAQ
Can I cancel my visa application form if I change my mind about going to Poland?
Yes, you can cancel it. This is done on the website where the visa application was made online and the form was filled out. There it is enough to indicate the application number and the code from the SMS - and the questionnaire will be canceled.
Is it possible to apply for a multiple entry visa if this is the first trip to Poland?
No, a multivisa is issued if the passport contains at least two Schengens. Obtaining a multiple entry visa requires a compelling reason, such as having relatives in Poland or a business relationship with that country.
Where can you get a cheap visa to Poland?
The visa is issued by special firms and travel agencies. The most economical option is to submit documents yourself. In this case, only the consular fee is paid, there are no intermediaries' surcharges. However, if you have no experience in obtaining a visa, help will not hurt.
Conclusion
Poland is one of those countries that encourages and welcomes both tourists and people who come to work. If the visa regime has not been violated and your documents are authentic, there will be no problems with obtaining a visa.
The Polish visa expands the opportunities for Russians to visit neighboring EU countries: get one and enjoy European tourist routes.
