Traveling to an international country requires you to apply for a visa. A similar situation is the case when you travel to Poland from India. A Poland visa from India is the first requirement you must fulfill, as it is a universally acknowledged document allowing you to enter the target country.
If you are curious about the visa process, do not worry. Let’s delve into the following blog post to learn the basic information on how to get a permit for Poland.
What is a Poland Visa for Indian Citizens?
A Poland visa is an endorsement allowing the holder, i.e., the Indian citizen, to travel to the target Schengen country. Without a visa, you cannot cross Poland’s territory.
Poland is also a member state of the Schengen Area. Therefore, a Schengen visa is the most common visa type used by travelers. This type allows a stay for up to 90 days in the host country with the advantage of visiting other Schengen countries within the visa’s validity.
Remember: Note that the nationals of India cannot get a visa on arrival in Poland as they are not eligible to do so. However, they can apply for an e-visa through the Polish e-visa portal but only for specific visa types. For more queries, you can visit the nearest Polish embassy.
Why Are Indians Required to Get a Poland Visa?
Indian citizens are required to get a visa to travel to Poland because it is not a visa-free country. The nationals of the visa-free country can enter the target state without a visa.
Only citizens of the EU, EEA, and Swiss can visit Poland and other neighboring Schengen states without a visa for almost three months. For a longer stay for work or other purposes, they must apply for a specific visa.
Poland Visa Types for Indian Citizens
Before selecting your visa, you have to analyze why you are traveling to Poland. This could be based on the duration of your stay or the purpose of your trip such as business or study, etc.
Below are mentioned some of the popular Polish visa types that Indians can choose from.
Airport transit visa
An airport transit or Type A visa can be used when passing through the international transit area of Poland during your trip to a third destination. Surprisingly, Indians are not required to get a transit visa and they can stay at the Polish airport while waiting for their connecting flight without a permit.
Citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka must have a Type A visa.
Schengen visa
The second broader category of a visa is a short-term or Schengen visa. It allows you to stay in Poland for almost three months with a validity of one hundred and eighty days.
You can use this Type C visa for the following purposes.
| Schengen visa types | Purpose | Validity |
| Business visa | A business visa permits private entrepreneurs, journalists, and businessmen to visit Poland to attend: Business-meetings, Conferences, Trade affairs, etc | Similar to a short-term visa, it is valid for up to 180 days and you can stay for at least 90 days. |
| Tourist visa | If you are traveling to Poland for holidays, sightseeing, entertainment, and to visit friends and family, you will need a tourist visa for Poland from India. | The duration of stay is three months, while the validity period is six months. |
National visa
Thirdly, in case of a longer stay than three months, you must apply for a National or long-term visa. Usually, it is valid for up to one year, however, you can extend it considering the reason for traveling to Poland.
A Type D visa is used in the following cases.
| National visa types | Purpose | Duration of stay |
| Study visa | As the name implies, a study visa permits Indian students to start an educational course or program in any of the Polish institutes. This requires them to have a residence permit as well. | Depends on the duration of the course or program. |
| Employment/work visa | A Poland work visa from India allows you to enter the country for long-term work purposes. It grants you land in the target country multiple times. However, to start a job, you must have a work and residence permit. | The validity of a work visa depends on the length of your work contract, e.g., six months, one year, or more. |
What Are the Requirements for a Poland Visa from India?
When you apply for a Poland visa from India, there are a few supporting documents that you have to submit to start the process.
Visa application form
Completing and submitting a visa application form is one of the important steps of this process. You can download it online or get it through the embassy. The form may have questions related to your details, flight information, accommodation plans, etc.
Travel document/passport
Furthermore, you must submit your passport to the embassy with a validity of at least three months. It should be free from any damage and contains two blank pages to put a visa sticker on.
Pictures
In addition, your Poland visa application requires you to submit two recent passport-size pictures with a dimension of 35*45mm. Besides, the photographs must fulfill the Schengen photo guidelines.
Proof of accommodation
Your trip to Poland will be incomplete if you do not show the place where you will stay during your journey. For this purpose, submit proof of accommodation such as a hotel reservation, a rental contract, or an invitation letter in case your trip is sponsored.
Return ticket
Another requirement is to submit a return or round-trip ticket showing that you will come back before your visa expires. In addition, this document discloses your flight number, destination country, airport terminals, IATA codes, etc.
Cover letter
Writing a cover letter will help you narrate your travel plans from a personal point of view. You can include information such as the duration of the trip, the planned set of activities, when you will return, etc.
You can get such a document from coverletterforvisa.com at the best price.
Travel health insurance
Purchasing a travel health insurance policy is mandatory for a Schengen visa. This will assist you in managing the expenses related to travel and medical emergencies. For instance, this includes hospitalization, repatriation, surgery, evacuation, passport loss, etc.
Proof of financial resources
Furthermore, you must have sufficient funds to support yourself during the entire duration of your trip to Poland. This requires you to submit financial documents including a bank statement, salary slip, or an income tax return.
Proof of status
Documents showing your civil status such as a marriage certificate, a birth certificate of your child, and a death certificate of your spouse (if applicable) should also be submitted.
Purpose-specific documents
Lastly, considering your purpose, you need to submit additional documents such as,
- Employment contract, salary slip, and bank statement if applied for a work visa.
- Proof of enrolment, transcript, and no objection certificate if you are a student.
- If you are visiting a friend or a family member, make sure to submit a letter of invitation or a letter of sponsorship written by the host.
Where Can I Apply for a Polish Visa in India?
The nationals of India can submit their Polish visa application at the nearest embassy or consulate. Besides, they can visit the visa application centers located in different cities of India to proceed ahead with the process.
The following details will help you locate the Embassy of Poland in India.
Location: 50-M Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021
Phone No: +91 11 414 96 900, +911141496901
Fax: +91 11 268 71 914
E-mail: newdelhi.polemb.info@msz.gov.pl
Visa application centers in India
Usually, there is only one diplomatic mission of the destination country in the home state. However, numerous visa application centers are available for the ease of the applicants. Similar is the case with the Polish embassy. They have established several visa application centers of VFS Global in different cities of India to facilitate the visa application process and provide guidance to the applicants.
The following are the notable Indian cities in this regard.
Step-by-Step Application Process for Poland Visa from India
To apply for a Poland visa from India, you have to complete the following simple steps.
Step 1: Visit the website
The first step of the process is to visit the website of VFS Global. On the main page, you need to select the home and target country to proceed ahead.
Step 2: Select a visa type
Then, select a suitable visa type considering the purpose of your visit. This could be a Schengen visa or a long-stay visa. Then, ensure to collect the required documents and compile them in a logical sequence.
Step 3: Complete the application form
In the same tab, you will be able to get separate application forms according to your visa type. You can download and print them. After that, make sure to fill it out by providing the requested details. For a Schengen visa, click on this link. If you want to get an application form for a National visa, download it from this link.
Step 4: Schedule an appointment
Once done, you can either book a Poland Embassy in India visa appointment or schedule it through the same center. This will allow you to provide biometric information such as fingerprints and photos.
Step 5: Visit the application center
Visit the application center on the day of the appointment to submit your documents along with the application form.
Step 6: Pay your fees
After that, deposit your visa fees either in cash or bank transfer. Attach the payment receipt as well.
Step 7: Track the application
Meanwhile, the embassy is processing your application, you can track its status by entering the reference number and your date of birth.
Step 8: Pick up your passport
Lastly, once your visa is approved, you can collect your passport on the given date and time.
What is the Processing Fee for a Poland Visa from India?
The processing fee for a Poland visa from India depends on the following factors.
- The type of visa you applied for
- Your age group
- The country of origin
Therefore, the following fee structure will help you in this regard.
| Visa type | Fee in Euros | Fee in Indian Rupees |
| Schengen visa | 90 euros for adults | 8,014 INR |
| 45 euros for children between 6 and 12 | 4,008 INR | |
| National visa | 135 euros | 12,023 INR |
| Transit visa | 80 euros | 7,124 INR |
You can pay the fee either in cash or through a debit or credit card. Note that it is non-refundable which means that you cannot get it back if your visa is rejected.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Polish Visa from India?
Typically, your visa application for Poland may take up to 14 days (two weeks) as it is a standard Poland visa processing time. After that, the embassy will notify you about the status of your application.
However, prepare yourself as the processing time gets extended to up to 45 days in rare cases such as holidays or application backlogs.
What Are the Possible Reasons for a Poland Visa Rejection?
The embassy may reject your visa application considering several factors. If your application is denied, you can appeal the decision within 8 weeks. To start the appeal process, read the rejection letter carefully. Additionally, you need to pay another 80 euros for this process.
The following are some of the typical reasons for a visa rejection.
- Fake or false documents
- Expired or damaged passport
- Insufficient explanation to prove your visit purpose
- Invalid birth or marriage certificate
- Inadequate financial funds
Can I Extend My Polish Visa?
A Type D visa can be easily extended. For instance, if you have been in Poland on a student visa and are still enrolled in the university, you can apply for an extension.
However, you need a valid and genuine reason to extend a Schengen visa. For instance,
- You cannot travel to your home country due to political instability
- Medical reasons make it impossible for you to continue your trip
- Other force majeure
Details About Poland
As a country in Central Europe, the Republic of Poland is famous for its ecosystem, landscape, and temperate transitional climate. Moreover, it expands from the Baltic Sea to the Sudetes and the Carpathian Mountains, bordered by the following countries.
- Russia and Lithuania in the northeast
- Belarus and Ukraine in the east
- Slovakia and the Czech Republic to the south
- Germany to the west
Furthermore, it is the fifth most populous EU country with almost 38 million people. In addition, the largest Polish cities include Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Łódź, Poznań, Gdańsk, and Szczecin.
FAQs
- Is a Poland visa from India easy to get?
The opportunity to get a Polish visa depends on various factors. For example, this includes the number of documents you have submitted, the adherence to the rules and regulations of the visa process, etc. The process can be manageable if you have fulfilled the requirements.
- Can I get an appointment in India for a Poland visa?
Yes. You can schedule an appointment in India for a Poland visa through the designated centers of VFS Global available in different Indian cities.
- What can I do if I lose my visa in Poland?
In case you lose your visa in Poland, contact the nearest embassy or consulate. However, it is advised to keep all the documents in a digital format as well on your mobiles or laptops.
Read also: Finland Visa from India