How To Apply For A Poland Student Visa

Mickiewicz University, Poland. Image Courtesy Scotch Mist

Admission must be confirmed before applying for a visa
Students from certain countries do not need a visa to study in Poland
A student visa should be applied for at least a month before the date of travel
Poland student visas take 2-3 weeks to be processed

Poland is popular not only with tourist but also with students from across the globe. The country has some of the best universities in the world and unlike some other countries, allows students to work while they study. If you are planning on studying in Poland, here’s everything you need to know about the Poland student visa.

Polish universities compete against universities across the world not only in terms of courses offered but also cultural experiences and scenic beauty. Poland is home to over 450 Higher Education Institutions with the University of Warsaw, Jagiellonian University in Krakow and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań named as the top three universities. Poland welcomes international students to all its universities as long as they have the necessary paperwork such as a Poland student visa in place.

Mickiewicz University, Poland. Image Courtesy Scotch Mist

Do you need a Poland Student Visa?

European citizens do not need a visa to study in Poland but if the course is longer than three months, they must register their stay in Poland. Citizens of a few other countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore may also not need a Poland student visa to study in Poland.

If the country you belong to is not amongst the list of visa exempt countries you will need to apply for a Poland student visa before arriving in Poland. This visa typically allows a person to stay in Poland for up to 90 days at a stretch in a period of 180 days. Hence, after arriving in Poland, the student will have to apply for a Temporary Stay Card.

Documents Required for a Poland Student Visa

The first thing you need to have before applying for a student visa is a valid passport. You will also need 3 recent passport sized color photographs of yourself. Apart from this, a number of other documents are also required. These include:

Completed and signed Poland student Visa Application form

This form is available online and can be downloaded freely. The application form must be filled in no earlier than 6 months from the date of submission.

Cover Letter

This must mention why you have chosen to study in Poland, your intent to go back to your home country after the course is completed and a list of documents included. If any of the required documents have not been attached to the application, a reason for the same must be mentioned here.

Letter of acceptance from a recognized university in Poland

You may also have to show proof of tuition fees that have already been paid.

Recent resume
Copy of school certificates and degrees

If the student has studied to a level equivalent of the European Baccalaureate, the certificates will have to be nostrificated or certified.

Proof of having sufficient finances to pay for the course and live in Poland

This could be in the form of bank statements for the last three months, salary slips or a copy of your income tax returns. If the tuition is being sponsored by someone else, the relationship between the student and the sponsor should be explained.

Health insurance

Healthcare in Poland is not free. Hence it is essential for all international students to have health insurance of at least 30000 EUR.

Proof of accommodation
Flight itinerary
Proof of proficiency in the course language

Specifications of Passport Photograph for a Poland Student Visa

One of the common causes for the denial of a visa is an improper passport photograph. Hence, ensure that your passport photograph meets the below specifications.

Size: 35mm x 45mm
The photograph must be in color and set against a neutral backdrop
The photograph should have been taken in the last 6 months
The applicant must be looking straight into the camera with a neutral expression
The applicant’s face must take up 70-80% of the frame
The applicant’s face must be clearly visible from the forehead to the chin
Headgear of any kind is not allowed unless worn for religious purposes. In such cases, it should not cover any part of the face
If spectacles are to be worn, they must be non-reflective and the applicant’s eye must be clearly visible
There should be no creases or marks on the photograph
The applicant’s face must be in focus and the photograph must be clear

How to Apply for a Poland Student Visa?

Once the application has been filled in and the necessary documents are in place, the applicant will need to book a visa appointment at the closest Poland consulate. This can be done online at the e-konsulat page. A date and a time slot will be appointed.

The applicant will then be directed to the registration page where personal details will need to be filled in. This page should be printed along with the email confirming the visa appointment.

On the date of the visa appointment, the first thing to be done is the payment of visa fees. This amounts to 99 EUR and may be paid in cash or by debit/credit card. The visa fee is non-refundable.

The application form, passport photographs, supporting documents and visa fee receipt will then need to be submitted. A token no. will be given to the applicant for the visa interview.

The visa interview is quite straightforward. The applicant must answer all questions honestly and confidently. Biometric details such as fingerprints will also be taken at this time.

The student visa typically takes 2-3 weeks to be processed after which the visa and all other documents can be collected from the consulate.