Visa Requirements for Polish Citizens

Visa requirements for Polish citizens are the pre-established guidelines to follow when crossing a border with any selected foreign country. Traveling abroad has always been connected with obtaining certain documents and validating the reason for the trip.

Some countries impose more strict rules upon entering than others. However, we can distinguish four main categories of visa requirements that concern Polish citizens. All Polish passport holders will either need a visa obtained from an Embassy, an eVisa obtained online, a visa obtained on arrival, or not need any visa to travel abroad. Of course, this all depends on the country you want to visit and its own rules and conditions to follow.

There are around 30 countries that still require Polish citizens to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival. However, there are more than a hundred destinations that make it possible for Poles to visit visa-free. Lastly, dozens of countries have either introduced an electronic visa system that includes Polish passport holders or allow obtaining a Visa on Arrival.

No matter which visa type you're required to obtain or not, the length of the permitted stay always differs depending on the selected destination. The most commonly seen options are a one-month, three-month, six-month stay.

Generally speaking, regular Embassy visas serve for both short and long-term visits abroad. This visa type can be used for recreational, professional, or transit reasons. However, it is most often used when you want to live abroad for a more extended period of time to study, work, or join your significant other living in a foreign country.

On the other hand, eVisas and Visas on Arrival are issued for all leisure, business, or transit-related short-term stays. These types of travel permits are far easier to obtain than the regular Embassy visa since they require no visits to any official institution.

If you're a citizen of Poland, make sure to read on to learn all about your passport's international power and the specific visa requirements that concern you upon traveling abroad!

Electronic Visa

Let's start with the most accessible travel permit - an eVisa. Recently, more and more countries have been introducing the electronic visa system. eVisas work just like regular visas; the only difference between the two is in the application process. Electronic visas are obtainable entirely online and, once approved, arrive at the applicant's email address in the form of a PDF file.

List of countries allowing Polish citizens to use eVisas

More than forty countries, all listed above, have included Poland in the lists of eligible countries for their online visa system. Travel to any of the listed destinations with an easily obtainable eVisa for an effortless traveling experience!

Polish citizens using eVisas can stay abroad for anywhere from two weeks to even six months. The length of the permitted stay varies between the different destinations. Check the specified conditions before applying online.

As was already mentioned, applying for an eVisa is more than simple. All you need to do is follow a quick and intuitive online application process that consists of three easy steps. After that, the approved document will reach you via email in the form of a PDF file.

Print your approved eVisa out and travel for all leisure, work, or transit-related short terms trips. You can go on vacation, visit your friends and family living abroad, go on a business trip, or simply transit through a specified country to reach another final destination.

Visa on Arrival

A Visa on Arrival for citizens of Poland is a travel permit that, contrary to other documents of this kind, is obtainable after you arrive at your chosen destination. It is easier to obtain than an Embassy visa; however, a bit more challenging to get than an eVisa.

List of countries that offer a Visa on Arrival for Polish citizens

  • Angola
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Burkina Faso
  • Cambodia
  • Comoros
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Crimea
  • Djibouti
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Kuwait
  • Laos
  • Lebanon
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • The Maldives
  • Mauritania
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Puerto Rico
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Somaliland
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Again, over 40 different countries have come forward with a Visa on Arrival option for all Polish passport holders to use. So as long as you're a Polish citizen, you can visit any of the above-listed countries without having to obtain a visa prior to departure!

To obtain a Visa on Arrival, first, check the visa requirements that currently in place for the selected destination. This step needs to be completed prior to arrival since some of the required documents may take some time to be issued.

Travel prepared, and once you arrive, go directly to any border control checkpoint and ask for a Visa on Arrival application form to fill. Complete the form with valid data and submit it to the customs officials along with any required documents validating the purpose of your stay. If necessary, cover the visa issuing fee and wait for approval.

Please note! Most countries that offer a Visa on Arrival option also have an eVisa option. So, if the destination you've selected has an eVisa option, consider applying for one instead. It makes you feel a lot more secure when traveling abroad than waiting until the very last moment to obtain the necessary visa.

Applying for an eVisa online can be done even on your phone. Simply fill an application form with some basic personal and travel-related details, cover the fees using any online payment method, and wait for the approved document to be delivered to you via email!

Embassy visa

An Embassy visa is simply a regular visa that is obtainable upon visiting an appropriate official institution. Regular visas usually work for people who intend to live in a foreign country for a more extended period of time to be employed, study, or join their significant other abroad.

Moreover, sometimes even short-term visits require Polish citizens to apply for an Embassy visa as well. This happens when traveling to foreign countries that are not offering electronic visas or Visas on Arrival.

List of countries that require Polish citizens to present an Embassy visa upon arrival

  • Abkhazia
  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Belarus
  • Bhutan
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • The Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • China
  • The Republic of Congo
  • Cuba
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ghana
  • Guyana
  • North Korea
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Mongolia
  • The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
  • Nauru
  • Niger
  • North Korea outside Pyongyang
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Tokelau
  • Turkmenistan
  • United States Minor Outlying Islands
  • Yemen

As few as 31 countries and territories still require travelers from Poland to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival. If you plan on visiting any of the above-listed destinations, you will need to apply for a traditional visa a few weeks before the intended departure date.

To apply for the Embassy visa, make sure that you first look up the present visa requirements and gather the required documents. Some countries need you to attach official documents to your application, which may take even a few weeks to be issued. Once you have a complete paperwork, submit everything at an Embassy and, if needed, cover the fees.

Please note! Embassy visas may take a while to be issued; thus, it's crucial to start preparing for the application process at least a few weeks before the planned trip is supposed to take place.

Visa-free countries

Lastly, let's get into the most enjoyable part, i.e., visa-free countries for Polish citizens. Traveling under visa exemption means that you don't have to obtain a visa at all. Furthermore, Poland has an agreed Freedom of Movement with numerous countries, which means a valid ID is enough to cross the border. Other countries simply require a valid passport.

List of visa-free countries for Polish citizens

  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Aruba
  • Austria
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia
  • Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Brest and Grodno
  • The British Virgin Islands
  • Brunei
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Cape Verde
  • The Cayman Islands
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Curacao
  • Cyprus
  • The Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominica
  • The Dominican Republic
  • El Salvador
  • Estonia
  • Eswatini
  • The Faroe Islands
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • The Gambia
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Guernsey
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Indonesia
  • Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Ireland
  • Isle of Man
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Jersey
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kiribati
  • The Kish Island
  • Kosovo
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Hong Kong
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macao
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mayotte
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • The Netherlands
  • Nicaragua
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Palau
  • Palestine
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • The Philippines
  • Phu Quoc
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Reunion
  • Romania
  • Sabah and Sarawak
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • The Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • South Ossetia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tonga
  • Transnistria
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
  • Tuvalu
  • Ukraine
  • The United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vatican City
  • Venezuela

Over 150 countries and territories allow travelers from Poland to visit either with just a valid passport or simply an ID (to some destinations). Check which document you will need and travel under visa exemption to any of the above-listed countries.

Simply choose the destination you want to visit, grab your valid passport or an ID (depending on the chosen country), and go ahead and cross the border! Make sure to check if the country you're visiting is not requesting you to validate the purpose of your trip in any way.

You can enjoy all recreational, leisure, work, or transit-related trips without having to obtain a visa! Go on a relaxing getaway, visit for business-related reasons, or simply transit through any of the visa-free countries to reach a different destination of choice.

Bogdan T
2022-09-28

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