• one current color photo, size 3.5 by 4.5 centimeters, without headpiece, eyes open and looking at the camera. In the case of persons wearing headpieces for religious reasons, the chin, forehead and both cheeks should be unobstructed.

• The passport should be signed by the bearer and be valid at least three months longer than the visa.

• A document confirming the possession of sufficient funds to cover travel expenses, e.g. bank account statement, travelers’ checks, credit cards (bank certificate of funds), or invitation (original and copy) issued in accordance with the Law on Aliens of June 13 2003 (certified by the relevant Voivodship Office).

• Health insurance with cover of at least 30000 euro, valid in all the Member States of the European Union. The insurance should cover the period of validity of the visa and all the days of the planned stay.

• Original of employment certificate.

For business travel or trips to attend conferences/exhibitions the following is required:

• Invitation (original and copy) from the Polish organizer, enterprise/institution or organization. The invitation should be printed on the business stationery of the organizer.

The invitation should be dated, signed, and should contain the following information:

• name of the inviting entity

• full name, date of birth, sex and official position of the invited person

• purpose of the visit

• duration of the trip (date, number of days and number of entries)

• information on who will cover the costs of travel and stay

• full name, address and phone number of the inviting person, and full name and phone number of the person responsible for organizing the trip.

For tourist travel:

• certificate of full payment for hotel, or travel bureau certificate of payment for the trip

• originals and copies of return travel tickets, or document entitling the bearer to use a vehicle in his/her possession

The consular office may invite the applicant to an interview.

The submission of forged documents or provision of false information could result in a ban on entry into the Schengen treaty states.

The documents required for the issuance of a visa should not be submitted earlier than three months before the planned trip.

The applicant may authorize another person to submit the visa documents in his/her name. In that event the plenipotentiary bears full responsibility for the submitted documents.

Processing of visa applications

It usually takes 10 to 14 days to process a visa application. This may be extended to 30 days if the appended documents have to be checked in detail.

Information available also in French and Spanish (32 KB).

More information: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa requirements

Political system

Poland is a multi-party republic with a bicameral parliament elected by Polish voters every four years. The legal basis of the Polish political system is stated in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2nd of April 1997.

Climate

The climate in Poland is mostly temperate, the weather is changeable and diversified.
In general, the climate is oceanic in the north and west, characterized by mild, wet winters and cool summers with heavy rainfall. In the east the climate is continental with severe winters and hot, dry summers. Winter in Poland usually starts at the beginning of December and lasts 100 days. Average temperature falls below zero, during severe winters the temperature may fall 20 degrees Celsius below zero. Low temperatures are accompanied by snowfall and hail.

Currency

The official currency of Poland is the złoty (PLN) which is divided into 100 groszy.
1Euro = about 3,36 PLN (NBP rate V.08), 1 Dollar = 2,2 PLN (NBP rate V.08).
There are 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 złoty banknotes and the following coins: 1, 2, 5 złoty and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 groszy. Currency can be exchanged in currency exchange bureaus, banks and hotels. Traveller’s cheques can be exchanged in banks. Most of the banks are open from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Monday till Friday. In the city centre there are many cash machines and credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard/EuroCard, Maestro, American Express, Diners Club are accepted in most shops, restaurants and hotels.

Time zone

Poland uses Central European Time (GMT +1).

Dialling code

Dialling code to Poland: +48
Dialling code to Poznań: 0-61

Language

The official language of Poland is Polish. English is used in most hotels, restaurants and information centres.

Electrical appliances

In Poland, appliances are designed to be used with 220V, 50 Hz and twin plugs. Most hotels have adaptors.

Shopping

Shops in the city centre are open from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m., Monday till Friday and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Large shopping centres, such as Stary Browar, Poznań Plaza, and M1 are open Monday till Sunday, from 9 a.m. till 9 p.m.

Offices

Offices are usually open Monday till Friday from 8 a.m. till 3 p.m. Post offices are open from Monday until Friday, from 8 a.m. till 7 p.m.. There’s an all-night post office next to the railway station.

Medical assistance

There’s a clinic on the premises of the conference centre, where one can get medical assistance and there are hospitals in Poznań that comply with international standards: among the others clinic hospitals of Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpital Wojewódzki, Szpitale Kliniczne, Wielkopolskie Centrum Chorób Płuc i Gruźlicy, Wielkopolskie Centrum Ortopedii i Chirurgii Urazowej. There are also all-night pharmacies in the city centre.

Worship places

Worship places for Catholic and Protestants are available in Poznań.
Visa procedure