Poland Visa Insurance Requirements

If you are an international student who intends to study in Poland, you may first need to obtain a student visa. This article will help you to better understand the requirements and application process.

Do You Need a Visa?

In order to study in Poland, you will need to legalize your stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland. If you are a citizen of a European Union (EU) country and you would like to stay in Poland for longer than three months, you will need to register your stay in the country. Visas are not required for holders of United Nations “laissez-passer.”

If you are a non-EU citizen, you will need to obtain a visa at a Polish consulate in your home country before your arrival in Poland. Once you have arrived in Poland, you will need to apply for a Temporary Stay Card 45 days before your visa expires in order to prolong your stay. Visa approval to access Poland gives right of stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland only.

Education Requirements for Student Visa

In order to study in Poland, you must have completed a secondary level education and be in possession of a leaving certificate that confirms that you are eligible to apply for university. If you passed the International Baccalaureate or European Baccalaureate exams, you may freely apply for undergraduate studies at a Polish university.

However, if you only have an equivalent qualification from your home country, you will need to have it legally recognized at one of the Polish diplomatic outposts or another appropriate institution. This means certifying that your diploma is in accordance with the law of the country in which it was issued. Then you will have to verify it with the Polish law. This process of granting recognition of a degree from a foreign university is called nostrification.

Additionally, if you wish to be accepted for postgraduate studies in Poland, you will need to present an undergraduate diploma from a Polish institution or an overseas equivalent. You must present nostrification of your foreign diploma to a Polish university by the end of the first term.

Visa Requirements

In order to apply for a student visa in Poland, you will need to submit several documents. These documents include:

• A filled-in and signed Poland Student Visa Application form
• Valid passport (must be valid for three months after planned departure from Poland)
• Official letter of acceptance to a college or university in Poland
• A short CV
• Your school certificates and diplomas
• Evidence of proficiency in the language in which you wish to study
• Confirmation of having the funds for studying and living in Poland
• Health insurance
• One passport-sized photo
• Visa Application Fee, payable by cash/postal order
• Proof of Accommodation in Poland, if required
• Transport documentation, such as a rail or air ticket

Health Insurance Requirement

International students who study in Poland will need to obtain a doctor’s certificate confirming that they can freely undertake study in the field of their choice. You will also need to be insured for the duration of your stay in Poland. Health care in Poland is not free, so you should be insured in case of illness or an accident.