Traveling to Poland (European Union, Schengen Area) - Visa/ETIAS¶

• Poland is a member of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen Area
• Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (updated: 2025-12-30) determines who needs a visa for short stays (up to 90 days)
• Regulation divides countries into visa-required and visa-exempt categories
• If your country is visa-required, you will need: Single-Entry Uniform Schengen Visa (USV) (Type C)
• If your country is visa-exempt, you may need to apply for ETIAS travel authorization (not a visa, just an online registration)
• Upon paying the registration fee, you will receive an official invitation letter, which can be used as part of your visa application process.
• We do not issue invitation letters without registration fee payment

About¶

Poland is a member of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen Area. For short visits (up to 90 days within) the EU visa policy Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 determines who needs a visa to enter.

Some countries are exempt from visa requirements, allowing their citizens to enter Poland and the Schengen Area for short stays without a visa. However, if your country is not on the visa-exempt list, you will need to apply for a Single-Entry Uniform Schengen Visa (USV) (Type C) at the Polish consulate or embassy in your home country.

There are some documents that you will need to prepare for your visa application. Please refer to the "Required documents" section below for more details.

Required documents¶

This list if for both visa-required and visa-exempt (non-Schengen) travellers:

• valid passport (issued within last 10 years, valid at least 6 months beyond planned departure)
• proof of purpose (invitation letter - issued by AATC after paying registration fee)
• accommodation and financial means (minimum 67 EUR for first 3 days, then 25 EUR per additional day)
• travel insurance (covering medical emergencies, valid in Schengen Area) (recommended, minimum 30,000 EUR coverage)

Mind that accommodation, food, travel and logistics during the mission are covered by AATC. You need to provide proof of accommodation and financial means for the days before and after the mission (if your flight is few days apart).

Do I need a visa?¶

Below is a list of all internationally recognized countries grouped by continent and divided into:

• Visa-exempt (can enter Poland / Schengen for short stay - up to 90 days)
• Visa-required

Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (updated: 2025-12-30)

How to apply for a visa?¶

If you do require a visa, you will need to apply for a Single-Entry Uniform Schengen Visa (USV) (Type C) at the Polish consulate or embassy in your home country well in advance of your planned travel date. Please ensure you have all the necessary documents ready for your visa application, including an invitation letter from the mission organizers if required.

What if I don't get a visa?¶

We understand that visa processes can be unpredictable, and we want to ensure that you are not financially burdened in such cases.

If you don't get a visa, we will refund paid amount (both registration and participation fees) upon presenting a valid visa rejection document from the Polish consulate or embassy. Mind that there is payment processor fee that is non-refundable, so the refunded amount will be the total paid amount minus the payment processor fee.

Example: if you paid 300 EUR, and the payment processor fee is 10 EUR, you will be refunded 290 EUR.

This exception applies only if you applied for a visa in a timely manner, allowing enough time for processing before the mission date (at least 30 days before mission start).

ETIAS Travel Authorization¶

• If you are citizen of visa-required country - ETIAS does not apply
• It is required only for citizens of visa-exempt countries
• The ETIAS is not a visa

From 2026 the EES (Entry/Exit System) is operational for biometric registration at borders. Because of that most visa-exempt travellers must obtain ETIAS authorisation online before before entering Poland and other Schengen countries. It is not a visa, it is just an online registration. Applying for ETIAS requires small fee (around 20 EUR) and is valid for multiple entries for 3 years or until passport expiration.

The EES does not apply to:

• Nationals of the European countries using the EES, as well as Cyprus and Ireland.
• Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national.
• Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen.
• Non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au-pairing.
• Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas.
• Nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and holders of a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See.
• People exempt from border checks or who have been granted certain privileges with respect to border checks (such as heads of state, accredited diplomats, cross-border workers, etc.). Diplomats travelling on short stay may be exempt from EES registration under certain conditions.
• The exception from registration in the EES apply to members of the armed forces travelling on NATO or Partnership for Peace business, who hold an identification and individual or collective movement order provided for by the Agreement between the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces and may apply to civilian component or dependents referred to in the NATO Status of Forces Agreement.
• The exception applies to NATO International Civilians based in any of the 29 European countries using the EES and their dependents.
• People not required to cross external borders solely at border crossing points and during fixed opening hours.
• People holding a valid local border traffic permit.
• Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys.
• People holding a valid Facilitated Rail Transit Document or valid Facilitated Transit Document, provided they travel by train and do not disembark anywhere within the territory of an EU Member State.

More info on ETIAS:

• Legal base: Article 2(3) of Regulation(EU) 2017/2226
• The official EES site
• Official list of exemptions

Legal Basis¶

Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European parliament and of the council of 14 November 2018. Listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.

Annex I: List of third countries whose nationals are required to be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders of the member states. Full text here

More Information¶

• Entry and residence conditions for foreign nationals in Poland
• Official Polish government website
• European Commission: Applying for a Schengen visa

Important Note¶

Always check the latest official Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Polish Ministry of Interior website because lists and rules may be updated.