EU citizens (including the new EU-countries) and citizens from the EFTA countries (Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland), do not need a visa to enter Poland. If they plan to stay in Poland up to 3 months, they need only an ID document (a valid passport, or another document certifying their identity and citizenship), with the exception of Swiss citizens, who must present their valid passport.
If, however, your stay in Poland is for more than 3 months, you should register with the Silesian Voivodeship Office in Katowice (Śląski Urząd Wojewódzki).
The following documents are required:
- Four copies of the application for registering the residence, completed in Polish;
- Copy of a valid traveling document or other document confirming identity and citizenship; the original should be available for inspection (you can take a copy of your passport - all pages - and the passport itself to show to the clerk);
- A letter from the Karol Adamiecki University of Economics confirming that you are a student (the letter can be obtained at the Admissions and Promotion Section);
- The European Health Insurance Card (+ copy). If you have private health insurance valid in Poland during the whole period of stay you must submit an official Polish translation;
- A letter from your home university stating the amount of your grant or other document confirming that you have enough money to support yourself during the whole stay (it may also be a statement of bank account).
Charges: registration confirmation – PLN1, paid at the Voivodeship Office in Katowice or directly to the Office bank account: 67 1010 1212 0053 4022 3100 0000, NBP Oddział Okręgowy Katowice
The application for registering the residence must be submitted in person, not later than on the day following the period of three months from entering the Republic of Poland.
The documents must be submitted to:
Śląski Urząd Wojewódzki w Katowicach (Silesian Voivodeship Office in Katowice)
Wydział Spraw Obywatelskich i Cudzoziemców (Civil Department)
Oddział Migracji i Kontroli Legalności Pobytu Cudzoziemców ( Room 119) – Visa Unit
ul. Jagiellońska 25
tel. +48 32 20 77 921
fax +48 32 20 77 273
Office hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8.00 – 15.30
Tuesday 8.00 – 17.00
Citizens from non-EU/EFTA countries require a visa to enter the territory of Poland (with the exception of the citizens of the countries listed here who can stay in Poland without a visa for up to 90 days). The visas are issued by the Polish Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence. You should apply for a long-term visa for the whole planned period of stay in Poland.
To obtain a visa you need the following documents:
- A valid passport;
- Visa application form that can be downloaded from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland website;
- Recent passport photographs;
- A letter of acceptance from the Karol Adamiecki University of Economics, stating the period of your studies in Katowice;
- An official statement from your home institution confirming the amount of grant.
Detailed information on entry regulations applying specifically to your country can be obtained from the Polish Consulate or Embassy in your home country.
Addresses of Polish embassies and consulates are listed here.
If you have a visa for the duration of your studies in Poland, you are not obliged to apply for a residence permit.
Citizens of the countries listed here who can stay in Poland without a visa for up to 90 days, still need to registering and obtain a Temporary Residency Permit (Zezwolenie na zamieszkanie na czas oznaczony), as well as temporary stay card (karta pobytu), if their stay exceeds 90 days. They should register at least 45 days before the legal stay ending date.
The documents required for residence registration are:
- Three copies of the residence registration application form, completed in Polish (download);
- 4 recent, undamaged, clear colour photographs sized 4.5 x 3.5 cm, taken without a hat or dark glasses and showing an evenly lit three-quarter profile with the left ear visible;
- Copy of a valid traveling document or other document confirming identity and citizenship; the original should be available for inspection (you can take a copy of your passport - all pages - and the passport itself to show to the clerk);
- Birth certificate and its official Polish translation;
- A letter from the Karol Adamiecki University of Economics confirming that you are a student (the letter can be obtained at the Admissions and Promotion Section);
- Documents certifying that the student is covered by health insurance in the Republic of Poland;
- Documents confirming steady and regular income sufficient to support one's stay; for example: a letter from your home university stating the amount of your grant or a statement of bank account;
- Confirmation of fulfilling one’s tax obligations, issued by a relevant tax office;
- Confirmation of temporary residency registration or a copy of residence card provided by the Head of the Student Dormitory if you live in one or from the Office for Civil Affairs (Wydział Spraw Obywatelskich, ul. Młyńska 4) of Katowice;
- Documents confirming accommodation costs.
The procedure takes up to 6 weeks.
Charges:
temporary stay card – PLN50, paid at the Silesian Voivodeship Office or directly into the Office bank account: 67 1010 1212 0053 4022 3100 0000, NBP Oddział Okręgowy Katowice
temporary residency permit - PLN340 paid at the Katowice Municipal Council or directly into the Council bank account: 27 1050 1214 1000 0007 0000 5457, ING Bank Śląski Oddział Katowice (the receipt must be attached to the application form).
The application for the temporary residency permit must be submitted not later than 45 days before the legal stay ending date.
The documents must be submitted to:
Śląski Urząd Wojewódzki w Katowicach (Silesian Voivodeship Office in Katowice)
Civil Department
Oddział Migracji i Kontroli Legalności Pobytu Cudzoziemców (Room 119) – Visa Unit
ul. Jagiellońska 25
tel. +48 32 20 77 921
fax +48 32 20 77 273
Office hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8.00 – 15.30
Tuesday 8.00 – 17.00
