What is a C-type visa?
The Uniform Schengen Visa is valid in the Schengen Area and permits its holder to remain in the territory of all of the Schengen Area Member Countries for a maximum of 90 days during a 180-day period.
Schengen Visa with limited territorial validity is valid in the territory of one or more Schengen Area Member States, but not in all the Schengen Area Member States and permits its holder to remain in their territories for a maximum of 90 days during a 180-day period.
What documents are needed when applying for a C-type visa?
► A travel document (passport document) which:
- is valid for at least three months after the planned date for leaving the Schengen Area or, in the event of multiple visits, after the planned date for the last leave of the Schengen Area,
- contains at least two blank pages,
- was issued during the last ten years;
► A filled out and signed visa application;
► A photograph;
► A proof of visa payment;
► A medical travel insurance whose coverage amounts to not less than EUR 30,000, valid throughout the Schengen Area, and covering all expenses that may arise in connection with the need to return for medical reasons, a medical emergency, urgent hospitalisation or death;
► Supporting documents:
- A document confirming the purpose of travel;
- A document confirming possession of adequate financial resources to cover the costs of living during the planned stay and to cover the costs of return to the country of origin or residence, or to cover the costs of transit to a third country, which will certainly give permission for entry, or documents confirming that the applicant can legally obtain such funds;
- A document concerning accommodation or possession of financial resources to cover the costs of accommodation;
A document that permits to assess whether the applicant will leave the Schengen Area before the visa expires.
Supporting documents may be different depending on the country where a visa application is submitted.
For more details, please contact the relevant consular post.
What is a D- type national visa?
A D-type national visa permits to enter the territory of the Republic of Poland and to stay continuously or for several successive times in this territory for a total duration of more than 90 days during the period of validity of the visa, but not longer than one year.
A D-type national visa also permits to travel in the territory of other Schengen Area Member States for up to 90 days during a 180-day period, during the validity period of the visa.
What documents are needed when applying for a D-type visa?
► A travel document (passport document);
► A filled out and signed visa application;
► A photograph;
► A proof of visa payment;
► A medical travel insurance whose coverage amounts to not less than EUR 30,000, and covering all expenses that may arise in connection with the need to return for medical reasons, a medical emergency, urgent hospitalisation or death, or medical insurance within the meaning of Polish regulations on health care benefits financed out of public funds;
► Supporting documents:
- A document confirming the purpose of travel and conditions of stay;
- A document confirming possession of adequate financial resources to cover the costs of living during the planned stay and to cover the costs of return to the country of origin or residence, or to cover the costs of transit to a third country, which will certainly give permission for entry, or documents confirming that the applicant can legally obtain such funds;
- A document that permits to assess that the applicant will leave the territory of the Republic of Poland before the visa expires;
- Other documents that confirm other circumstances referred to in the visa application.
Supporting documents may be different depending on the country where a visa application is submitted.
For more details, please contact the relevant consular post.
What is the permitted length of stay with a C-type and D-type visas?
The length of stay is determined each time in the issued visa.
What is an A-type airport transit visa?
An airport transit visa is a visa valid for transit through the international transit areas of one or more airports of the Member States.
To check if you need to apply for an airport transit visa, please visit the website of the European Commission at https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy/who-must-apply-schengen-visa_en. In principle, in case of transit through the international transit areas of airports located in Poland, this will apply to citizens of: Afghanistan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka.
Please bear in mind that an airport transit visa only permits you to stay in the international transit area of an airport while awaiting a flight to your destination country. It does not entitle you to enter into or stay in the Schengen Area.
The consul of which Schengen Area Member State is competent to examine a visa application?
A consul competent to examine a visa application is always the consul of the Schengen Area Member State which is the main travel destination and if such country cannot be identified – it will be the consul from the country where the foreigner plans to stay the longest.
It is not possible to submit a visa application in a Polish consular post, if the planned travel does not cover the territory of the Republic of Poland, unless the Republic of Poland represents another Schengen Area Member State in visa matters.
If you want to submit a visa application, please register with E-KONSULAT!
Short stays
Citizens of certain countries must hold a short stay visa. The EU has a common list of countries whose citizens must have a visa when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirementEN•••. There are national derogations from the visa requirementsEN••• for certain travellers.
Airport transit
Whether you are required to apply for a Schengen airport transit visa or not depends on your nationality.
Citizens of some countries must hold an airport transit visa when transiting through the international parts of airports situated in any of the Schengen StatesEN•••, while citizens of certain countries must hold an airport transit visa when transiting through the international parts of airports situated in some of the Schengen StatesEN•••.
You may be exempt from the airport transit visa requirement, if you:
- hold a valid visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen state;
- hold a visa valid for a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, Canada, Japan or the United States ;
- hold a valid residence permit issued by a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area ;
- hold a residence permit issued by the Principality of Andorra, Canada, Japan, Republic of San Marino, or the United States, that guarantees unrestricted right of return;
- are a family member of a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland ;
- hold a diplomatic passport;
- are a flight crew member national of a contracting party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
