Department of Nationals' and Foreigners' Affairs
of the Małopolska Provincial Office in Krakow
ENTRANCE TO POLAND AND FOREIGNERS' STAY IN POLAND
IN CONNECTION WITH THE WORLD YOUTH DAYS
1. I WANT TO COME TO POLAND. WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED?
 I am a citizen of a country belonging to the Schengen area1:
 a valid travel document (passport) or a valid identity card.
 I am a citizen of the European Union country, outside the Schengen Area2;
 a valid travel document (passport) or a valid identity card.
 I am a citizen of a country outside the Schengen area, with the possibility of entry into Poland under the
visa-free regime3:
 a valid travel document (passport).
 I am a citizen of a country outside the Schengen area, with the possibility of entry into Poland under the
visa-free regime based on a biometric passport4:
 a valid biometric passport.5
 I am a citizen of a country outside the Schengen area, without the possibility of entry into Poland under the
visa-free regime:
 a valid travel document (passport) with a valid national visa (D) or a Schengen visa (C).
 I am a citizen of a country outside the Schengen area and have a residence permit issued by the country of
the Schengen area.
 a valid travel document (passport) and a valid residence permit issued by the country of the Schengen area.
NOTE!
A foreigner entering Poland is required to have health insurance valid for the period of their intended stay!
2. HOW DO I GET A VISA?
 I wish to get a Polish national visa (D):
 apply to the6 consul of the Polish Republic competent for your place of residence.
 I wish to get a national visa (D) of another country belonging to the Schengen area:
 apply to the competent consul of the Member State.7
1
Schengen Countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Estonia,
Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, and also Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland (the last 4 are
Schengen countries not belonging to the EU).
2
Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania are EU member states that do not belong to the Schengen area.
3
https://www.msz.gov.pl/pl/informacje_konsularne/przyjazd_do_polski/lista_panstw/
4
https://www.msz.gov.pl/pl/informacje_konsularne/przyjazd_do_polski/lista_panstw/
5
- biometrics sign located on the cover of the passport.
http://msz.gov.pl/pl/informacje_konsularne/polskie_placowki/placowki;jsessionid=B09D6A361FA9E1B061CECD01940A4A50.cmsap1p
7
Contact your nearest consulate of the Schengen area country.
6
Department of Nationals' and Foreigners' Affairs
of the Małopolska Provincial Office in Krakow
ENTRANCE TO POLAND AND FOREIGNERS' STAY IN POLAND
IN CONNECTION WITH THE WORLD YOUTH DAYS
 I wish to get a Schengen visa (C):
 apply to the competent consul of the Schengen area country.
3. HOW LONG MAY I STAY IN POLAND?
 I am a citizen of a country outside the Schengen area:
 90 days from the moment of entry into the Schengen area.
 I am a citizen of a country outside the Schengen area, with the possibility of entry into Poland under the
visa-free regime:
 90 days from the moment of entry into the Schengen area.
 I am a citizen of a country outside the Schengen area and have a Polish national visa (D):
 the length of your stay is determined individually for each national visa → note the period of validity and the
permitted number of days available to stay in Poland.
 I am a citizen of a country outside the Schengen area and have a national visa of a Schengen country (D):
 90 days from the moment of entry into the Schengen area, unless the period of validity or the number of days to
stay is shorter → note the period of validity and the permitted number of days to stay.
 I am a citizen of a country outside the Schengen area and have a Schengen visa (C):
 90 days from the moment of entry into the Schengen area.
 I am a citizen of a country outside the Schengen area and have a residence permit issued by the country of
the Schengen area.
 a foreigner is allowed to move on the territory of other Schengen Member States (including Poland) for a period
not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period.
 I am a citizen of the European Union 8;
 EU citizens and their family members who are not EU citizens may stay in Poland for up to 3 months. If your stay
in Poland lasts longer than 3 months, an EU citizen and a member of their family who are nationals of the EU are
required to register their stay; a family member who is not an EU citizen is required to obtain a residence card of a
family member of an EU citizen.
4. I AM IN POLAND AND I HAVE PROBLEM. WHAT DO I DO?
My travel document (passport, identity card) is missing:
 Thoroughly check your luggage and place of accommodation. If you have indeed lost your travel document, report
it immediately to your group attendant or their deputy.
 If you have come alone, contact the nearest information center or mobile information patrol.
8
En EU citizen is a foreigner, who is a national of a Member State of the European Union / European Economic Area (EU countries + Iceland, Norway and
Liechtenstein) and Switzerland.
Department of Nationals' and Foreigners' Affairs
of the Małopolska Provincial Office in Krakow
ENTRANCE TO POLAND AND FOREIGNERS' STAY IN POLAND
IN CONNECTION WITH THE WORLD YOUTH DAYS
 If your travel document has not been found, you have to contact your diplomatic mission (Embassy, Consulate) in
order to obtain a new travel document.9
An emergency has transpired preventing my departure from Poland: 10
 If there has been an extraordinary event that prevents you from leaving Poland (e.g. Illness, emergency, loss of
passport and inability to obtain a new travel document), be sure to make your stay in Poland legal.
 If the validity of your visa is about to expire, or you have concerns regarding the legality of your stay, make
immediate contact with consultants at the Department of Nationals' and Foreigners' Affairs of the Malopolska
Provincial Office in Krakow.
If you cannot make it in person, ask someone (your group attendant, a volunteer) to do it on your behalf. You can
do this through the information center or a mobile information patrol.
Hotline: + 48 12 39 21 855
e-mail: [email protected]
www.malopolska.uw.gov.pl
Information points of the Malopolska Provincial Office:
Krakow: ul. Basztowa 22, ground floor, tel.:
Krakow: ul. Przy Rondzie 6, ground floor, tel.:
+48 883 334 989
+48 833 334 990
+48 12 39 21 804
5. THE WORLD YOUTH DAYS ARE OVER. WHERE CAN I GET INFORMATION AS TO THE
LEGALITY OF MY STAY?
9
www.msz.gov.pl - Foreign diplomatic missions in Poland.
Does not apply to citizens of EU countries, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway, since citizens of these countries benefit from the freedom of movement
of persons.
10
Department of Nationals' and Foreigners' Affairs
of the Małopolska Provincial Office in Krakow
ENTRANCE TO POLAND AND FOREIGNERS' STAY IN POLAND
IN CONNECTION WITH THE WORLD YOUTH DAYS
 Check for information about your stay in Poland on the website:
http://muw.pl/default.aspx?page=cudzoziemcy
 If you have further questions feel free to visit the main branch of the Department of Nationals' and Foreigners'
Affairs: Krakow, ul. Przy Rondzie 6, ground floor, tel.: + 48 12 39 21 804, [email protected].
Don't forget your health insurance (for medical expenses)!!!