Student in Poland

Conditions

• National visas (marked with D symbol and annotation ‘09’, ‘student’) or temporary residence permits for the purpose of studying at a higher education institution are issued to third-country nationals, whose purpose of stay in Poland are full-time studies or PhD studies justifying stay for a period longer than 3 months.
• The higher education institution should be approved by the Minister of the Interior for the purpose of admission of third-country students (see the first list here). Public and non-public University-type higher education institutions (HEIs) as well as public professional HEIs are i.a. exempted from the approval obligation (see the list here and here).
• The temporary residence permit for studies is granted to the third-country national also when the studies constitute a continuation of studies taken up in the territory of another EU Member State and are not covered by an EU programme or a multilateral programme or an agreement between two or more higher education institutions providing for intra-EU mobility and the third-country national meets the above-mentioned conditions for granting the temporary residence permit.

The temporary residence permit may not be applied for if the third-country national stays on the basis of the EU Blue Card or as a trainee employee on the basis of a temporary residence permit for the purpose of performing work in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer (ICT).

Procedures

Where to apply

National visas

The visa application can be completed online and printed, however there is no possibility to apply for a visa online. The only electronically operated part of the visa application procedure is the reservation of the date and time of the meeting in the consulate and registration of the application via the e-Konsulat portal. Printed and signed applications should be submitted to the consular offices. In some locations (Belarus, China, India, Philippines Turkey and Ukraine), applications can be submitted via the External Service Provider, where applicants may ask ESP staff to help them to fill in an application.

Applicants shall pay a visa fee of 80 euros.

A national visa or a decision refusing to issue this visa shall be issued within 30 days from the date of submission of the application together with the documents necessary to confirm the data contained in the application and the circumstances justifying the application for this visa. If the documents have not been attached to the application, the applicant has the right to supplement them within 7 days from the date of submission of the application.

Temporary residence permits

The third-country national makes the application in person, no later than on the last day of the lawful residence on the territory of Poland to the governmental province authority (voivode) competent in respect of his/her place of residence. You should make an appointment early enough.

While submitting the application, the third-country national is under the obligation to give his/her fingerprints.

More information how to apply for a temporary residence permit for the purpose of studying may be found here.

Stamp duty PLN 340 (ap. 77 euros).

Fee for issuing a residence card PLN 100 (ap. 23 euros).

The procedure should end within 60 days from the day of making a complete application.

The third-country national who has obtained the temporary residence permit is issued with a residence card.

Documents required

National visas

• completed visa application form;
• valid travel document satisfying specified criteria should be presented (its validity period shall expire no earlier than 3 months after the expiry of the visa you are applying for, it contains at least two blank pages and has been issued in the past 10 years);
• up-to-date biometric photograph;
• proof of payment of the visa fee;
• supporting documents as listed below at the temporary residence permit procedure. As regards health insurance - proof of possession of public health insurance in Poland or a travel medical insurance for a minimum sum insured of 30000 euros, valid for the period of the intended stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland, covering any expenses that may arise during your stay in this territory in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention, emergency hospital treatment or death, in which the insurer undertakes to cover the costs of health services provided to the insured person directly to the entity providing such services based on the bill issued by that entity. Information on insurers and the insurance they offer meeting the statutory requirements can be found here.

Temporary residence permits

1. completed form of the application for a temporary residence permit;
2. 4 up-to-date photographs;
3. photocopy of a valid travel document (original available for inspection). In particularly justified cases, if the third-country national does not have a valid travel document and it is not possible to obtain such document, he/she may present another document which confirms his/her identity;
4. proof of payment of stamp duty (340 PLN).

Note: failure to submit any of the above-mentioned documents will result in the applicant being requested to provide the missing documents within a deadline of not less than 7 days from the delivery of the request, otherwise the application will not be considered. In case of failure to pay a stamp duty within a deadline specified in the request the application will be returned.

Standard documents necessary for examination of the application

1. a certificate of an entity conducting studies concerning the enrolling for their study programme or the continuation of the studies. The entity conducting studies attaches a printout of the student's periodical achievements card or a certified true copy of this card, showing the current course of the third-country national's education process in this entity, in case of continuation of studies;
2. evidence of payment of the fee for studies if applicable;
3. documents confirming the third-country national is covered by public health insurance in Poland or the confirmation of the private insurer’s coverage of the medical treatment costs on the territory of Poland.

Document confirming the possession of sufficient financial resources to cover subsistence costs and costs to travel back to the country of origin or residence or the costs of transit to a third country which shall grant the entry permit as well as the costs of the studies. The amount of monthly funds, upon deducting the funds dedicated to cover the costs of residence should exceed 776 PLN for single persons or 600 PLN for persons in the family. It is assumed that these costs of residence cover at least the amount of fixed charges for the use of the accommodation per number of people living in it as well as the charges for supplies of power, gas, water and disposal of sewage, waste and liquid waste. For the cost of the return travel acceptable amounts are: 200 PLN in case of arrival from a neighbouring country, 500 PLN from other EU/EOG Member States or Switzerland, 2500 PLN from other countries. You may find detailed information here.

Note: during the administrative proceeding, the third-country national may be called to submit other documents or testimonies which confirm circumstances referred to in the application.

Duration of validity of permits

National visas are issued for up to 1 year validity.

The first temporary residence permit for the purpose of studies is granted for a period of 15 months. If the studies justify the stay of a third-country national on the territory of Poland for a period shorter than 15 months, the first permit is granted for the term of the academic year or the studies, extended by 3 months.

Where the studies are covered by an EU programme or a multilateral programme involving mobility measures or an agreement between at least two higher education institutions, the first temporary residence permit is granted for 2 years. A subsequent temporary residence permit for studies is granted for the period necessary for achieving the goal of stay on the territory of Poland, however the duration cannot be longer than 3 years.

Conditions for renewal

The same as above.

Appeals

A third-country national who received a negative decision on issuing a visa may submit in person within 14 days a request to a consul for re-examination of the application.

A third-country national not satisfied with a decision concerning granting the residence permit may appeal before the Head of the Office for Foreigners within 14 days. Moreover, it is possible to bring a further appeal before the administrative courts. The decision includes detailed information on the right to appeal.

Rights

Access to employment

Holders of a national visa with a ‘student’ annotation or temporary residence permit for the purpose of studying at a higher education institution may perform work in Poland without the need to have a work permit. The residence card, issued in connection with temporary residence permit, includes apart from an annotation ‘student’, also an annotation ‘access to the labour market’.

Access to economic activity

Holders of the temporary residence permit issued for that purpose may undertake and conduct business activity on the territory of the Republic of Poland on the same terms as Polish citizens.

Change of status

Possible if conditions for other status are met. Right to apply for a temporary residence permit for the purpose of job-searching or setting up a business after the completion of studies. Holders of a temporary residence permit for the purpose of studying at a higher education institution cannot apply for a temporary residence permit for the purpose of performing work as part of an intra-corporate transfer.

Family members

Family members may accompany on general rules in a framework of a national visa or temporary residence permit issued on discretionary basis. After residence on the basis of subsequent temporary residence permits for a period of at least 2 years – the right to family reunification (see the section: ‘Family Member’).

Long-term residence

Polish law makes a distinction between a permanent residence permit and the EU long-term residence permit.

Permanent residence permit

The permanent residence permit is issued to specified categories of third-country nationals i.a. to children of Polish citizens or of permanent residents in Poland, spouses of Polish nationals and persons of Polish origin. A decision on granting a permanent residence permit is issued for an indefinite period. A residence card remains valid for 10 years, which means that it should be replaced every 10 years.

A permanent residence permit issued in Poland does not entitle the third-country national to obtain a residence permit in another EU country as is provided for holders of EU long-term residence permits.

A permanent residence permit entitles the third-country national to travel to other Schengen Area countries for up to 90 days in a 180-day period mainly for tourism purposes like temporary residence permits.

More on permanent residence permit.

EU long-term residence permit

The EU long-term residence permit is issued to a third-country national who has been staying legally and continuously on the territory of Poland for at least 5 years directly prior to the submission of the application for granting this permit and meets the following conditions:

• has a source of stable and regular income adequate to cover the means of subsistence for himself/herself and his/her dependent family members;
• has a health insurance as defined by the Act of 27 August 2004 on health care services financed from the public funds or a certificate confirming that the costs of medical treatment on the territory of Poland shall be covered by an insurer;
• has confirmed command of Polish.

The permit is granted for an indefinite time. A residence card remains valid for 5 years, which means that it should be replaced every 5 years.

Note for important exceptions:

Third-country nationals who stay in Poland for the purpose of studies may not apply for a residence permit for EU long-term resident. Third-country nationals residing in Poland due to their intention to take up or continue education also cannot apply for this permit. The 5-year period of residence, determining the condition for obtaining the aforementioned permit, shall include half of the period of stay on the basis of a visa issued for the purpose of study programmes or on the basis of a residence permit for the purpose of receiving higher education, with student’ annotation.

More on EU long-term residence permits.

Mobility

If you have a valid residence permit/long-term visa for studies with a ‘student’ annotation in an EU Member State (with exclusion of Ireland and Denmark) covered by an EU or multilateral programme that comprises mobility measures or an agreement between higher education institutions, you may carry out part of your studies and work (in addition to your studies) in Poland, if you fulfil certain requirements. You may reside and study in Poland for up to 360 days.

The period of validity of the residence permit/long-term visa with a ‘student’ annotation issued by another EU Member State should cover the entire period of planned student mobility in Poland. 

The higher education institution in Poland should be approved by the Minister of the Interior for the purpose of admission of third-country students (see the first list here). Public and non-public University-type higher education institutions (HEIs) as well as public professional HEIs are i.a. exempted from the approval obligation (see the list here and here).

If you are not covered by the programme or agreement, you can apply for a new residence permit/visa issued by Polish authorities. You may find information on residence permits here.

Procedure

It is necessary that the unit conducting studies with its seat on the territory of the Republic of Poland submits a notification of the third-country national's intention to use student mobility to the Chief of the Office for Foreigners. The notification should be drawn up in Polish language, submitted in writing, in a paper form or in electronic form to the electronic inbox email inbox of the Office for Foreigners. 

A third-country national who is a student or doctoral candidate can benefit from mobility, if the following conditions are met cumulatively:

1. the purpose of the stay on the territory of Poland is to continue or complete studies taken up in the territory of another EU Member State;
2. the third-country national is covered by an EU programme or a multilateral programme including mobility measures or an agreement between at least two higher education institutions providing for intra-EU mobility;
3. the residence permit, referred to in Article 1(2)(a) of Regulation No 1030/2002, or the long-stay visa issued by another Member State of the European Union held by the third-country national has the annotation ‘student’;
4. the period of stay in Poland does not exceed 360 days.

The condition for a third-country national to make use of the student mobility on the territory of Poland is that the Head of the Office for Foreigners: 

• receives a notification on the intention of the third-country national to benefit from mobility approved by the Minister of Interior if required (see more information above in ‘Conditions’ section at ‘student’ category);
• does not issue a decision on objection within 30 days.

A third-country national entering the territory of Poland in order to benefit from the student mobility in connection with the possession of a residence permit referred to in Article 1(2)(a) of Regulation No 1030/2002 or a long-term visa with the annotation ‘student’ issued by another EU Member State which is not a state of the Schengen Area provides a copy of the aforementioned notification.

Documents required

The notification should include the following information:

1. first name(s) and last name of the student;
2. date and place of birth;
3. sex;
4. citizenship;
5. series, number and date of expiry of the travel document held by the third-country national;
6. planned period or periods of continuation or completion of studies;
7. name of the European Union Member State which issued the residence permit referred to in Article 1(2)(a) of Regulation No 1030/2002 or the long-stay visa with the annotation ‘student’ to the third-country national;
8. the validity of the residence permit or the validity and permissible period of stay indicated in the long-stay visa referred to in point 7;
9. the name of the EU programme or multilateral programme including mobility measures or of the agreement between at least two higher education institutions providing for intra-EU mobility;
10. the name and address of the higher education institution established on the territory of an EU Member State, referred to in point 7, in which the third-country national has been studying so far;
11. the name and address of the higher education institution established on the territory of Poland in which the third-country national intends to continue or complete the studies taken up in the territory of another European Union Member State;
12. name, surname, official position and signature of the person or persons authorised to represent the higher education institution established on the territory of Poland.

The notification should be accompanied by:

1. evidence that the third-country national has a residence permit, referred to in Article 1(2)(a) of Regulation No 1030/2002, or a long-stay visa issued by another EU Member State with the annotation ‘student’;
2. evidence confirming the third-country national is covered by public health insurance in Poland or of the private insurer’s coverage of the medical treatment costs on the territory of Poland;
3. documents confirming sufficient financial resources to cover the cost of living and return travel to the EU Member State which issued the residence permit or a long-term visa with the ‘student’ annotation in an appropriate amount. Financial resources should exceed 776 PLN for single persons or 600 PLN for persons in the family after deduction of residence costs of the third-country national in Poland. For the cost of the return travel acceptable amounts are: 200 PLN in the case of a neighbouring EU country, 500 PLN in the case of other EU Member States. You may find detailed information here.
4. evidence on payment of the tuition fees by the third-country national, if appropriate. 

Documents prepared in a foreign language shall have a certified translation into Polish attached.

The 30-day deadline concerning the student mobility procedure shall be counted from the date of delivery of the notification along with all required documents including certified translations.

The compilation of the information on modalities of students’ mobility concerning Poland may be found here.

Applicable fee 

N/A

Allowed number of working hours/days

Not specified

Other information

Students who exercised mobility in Poland are not allowed to apply for a temporary residence permit in order to seek employment or start a business, but only those who, are graduates from Polish higher education institutions, after completing studies.