Poland is an attractive country for business trips, shopping tours, travel with tourist purposes. This is a state with more than a thousand-year history, a huge number of attractions, picturesque countryside, mineral and water resorts. The journey to the country from Moscow can take about two hours by plane, depending on the airport of arrival, by train - almost 20 hours, by bus or car - more than a day. Regardless of the method, it is worth considering in advance whether the Russians need a visa to Poland and how to get it.
Basic rules for crossing the Polish border for Russians
Whatever the reasons that prompted the Russian to visit the country, he will need to get a visa before the trip. Since the country joined the agreement on simplification of passport and visa control under the Schengen agreement since 2004, a visa of the same name is required to enter the country.
A traveler crossing the state’s border will need to have a passport with him. Its validity should include at least 3 more months preceding the intended end of the trip.
A prerequisite is the availability of medical insurance. In fact, without it it is impossible to obtain a visa. They may be asked to present a policy when crossing the border.
In some cases, a document may be requested at the border to confirm that the traveler will have a roof over his head for the duration of the trip. This can be a voucher from a package of tourist packages, a printout of a booking confirmation from the hotel or an invitation. If the arrivals did not take care of housing, then proof may be required that he is not only solvent, but also can afford to live in the country. At the same time, the following prices are established by the Law on Foreigners in 2003:
- adults - 100 PLN;
- persons under 16 years old - 50 PLN;
- people in organized groups - 20 PLN.
The indicated amounts are calculated in Polish zlotys, but may be presented in another currency. This is the daily rate, which should provide the traveler with shelter over his head, and food. It will be necessary to provide confirmation that he has such security for the entire trip.
You should be aware that in the absence of a medical policy, in addition to the above security, the traveler will have to add 300 PLN to it for each day of stay.
As confirmation, the amount in cash in Polish or foreign currency may be presented. You can stock up and an extract from a banking institution on the status of the account. It will need to be supported by a debit card demonstration.
If the border crosses in a private car, then you must show the rights of an international standard, documents for a car and an international policy insuring the civil liability of the owner.
Thus, the answer to the question of whether a visa to Poland is necessary for Russians is positive. Only thoroughly prepared, the traveler can calmly carry out all plans for the trip.
Special position of the Kaliningrad region: will the simplified regime be resumed
Getting a visa is a serious matter. But in Russia there is only one oblast, which some time ago had privileges for the travel of its inhabitants to Poland. The region got such an opportunity due to its proximity to the border and the conclusion between the countries of an agreement on local border movement. People living in the region are not required to obtain a visa, instead of it, upon application, they are issued a special pass.
On it you can visit only some areas:
- 4 county and 3 cities of the region of Primorsky;
- 11 counties and 2 cities of the region of Warmia and Mazury.
In order to get such a pass, it was necessary to collect the following papers:
- a document and an internal passport confirming permanent residence in the region;
- a passport with a remaining validity period of at least six months;
- a statement and letter explaining the need for travel;
- photo of the established sample.
It was necessary to apply for a pass at the Kaliningrad Consulate on Kashtanovaya alley, d. 51. It was issued for no more than 2 years, but you can stay in the country for no more than a month for one entry and no more than 90 days in six months.
In July 2016, the agreement was suspended at the initiative of the Polish side. The moment when it will be restored is not yet known. Therefore, at the beginning of 2018, even residents of this area will need to get a visa on a common basis.
Ways to get a visa to Poland for Russians
There are several ways to get a visa. The choice in favor of one of them depends on the availability of free time and financial opportunities.
- You can use the services of companies that promise to obtain a visa for Russians to Poland without effort. Indeed, in this way the process of collecting the necessary documents is somewhat facilitated. The person applying for the service does not need to find out the composition of the package submitted to the court, even a representative for a visa to Poland will fill out a company representative. This method is less complicated, but more expensive.
- Independently a visa to Poland can be obtained by applying to two options for the place of application:
- visa centers;
- Consulate General of Poland.
The latter option provides not only independent collection of documents, but also their submission.
Consulates of Poland
On the territory of Russia there are several Consulates General of the country:
- in Moscow, on Klimashkina street, 4 there is a corresponding department at the embassy;
- in St. Petersburg on 5th Sovetskaya Street, 12/14;
- in Kaliningrad on Kashtanovaya Alley street, 51;
- in Irkutsk on the street of Sukhe - Bator, d.18.
In addition, there is a Consular Agency in Smolensk, located on 1 Mira Street.
Visa centers in Russia
Russians from regions where there are no consular departments do not need to travel far to open a visa to Poland. To ensure maximum convenience, there are visa centers in some large regional centers:
- in Moscow on Suschevsky Val, d. 31, building 2;
- in St. Petersburg on Bolshaya Raznochinnaya, 16 A;
- in Veliky Novgorod on Syrkovskoye Shosse, building 2 A;
- in Vladivostok on Okeansky Prospekt, 17;
- in Vologda on Prechistenskaya embankment, 34 A;
- in Voronezh on Voroshilov street, 16;
- in Vyborg on Moskovsky Prospekt, 9;
- in Yekaterinburg on Kuibyshev street, 44 D;
- in Irkutsk on Sverdlova street, 10;
- in Kazan on the street of the Paris Commune, d. 8;
- in Kaliningrad, on the street of 1812, d. 126;
- in Krasnodar, on the street of Academician Pavlov, d.64;
- in Krasnoyarsk on the street Maerchak, d.16;
- in Murmansk on Karl Liebknecht Street , 13;
- in Nizhny Novgorod on the street Scherbakova, d. 15;
- in Novorossiysk on Karl Marx Street, 49;
- in Novosibirsk on Chelyuskintsev street, 15;
- in Omsk on the street Frunze, d. 1/4;
- in Perm on Chernyshevsky street, 28;
- in Petrozavodsk on Gogol street, 6;
- in Pskov on Riga Avenue, d. 60;
- in Rostov-on-Don on Trolleybusnaya street, 24 / 2B;
- in Samara, on the street of Michurin, d. 78;
- in Saratov on Vavilova street, 38/114;
- in Smolensk on Nikolaev street, d.20;
- in Ufa on the street Chernyshevsky, d. 82;
- in Khabarovsk on Istomina street, 22 A.
The operating hours of each of them and contact numbers are available on official resources on the Web. Most of them advises by telephone about which documents for a visa to Poland are needed in each case.
Entry into the state through third countries
The Schengen Agreement involves 26 countries. Russian citizens who already have permission to visit one of these countries are not required to obtain a Schengen visa to Poland.
The only condition for such a visit is the initial entry into the country for which an existing visa has been obtained. From it moving to Poland is made. However, most of the travel should be in the first country. For example, there is a Spanish Schengen. The traveler first travels to Spain, spends three weeks there, and then moves to Poland for a week, and then returns home.
Visa types
There are 4 standard types of visas for European countries.
- A. Transit option. For Russians, it is not required to receive it if it is not planned to leave the airport and the transfer time will not be more than a day.
- B. Transit option. Gives the right to stay in the country for no more than five days. Thus, the traveler can cross the country by train or car on the way to another state. She will also help in the case of a business trip arriving by plane. He will be able to travel to the city, visit several settlements and again leave.
- C. Such a visa to Poland allows Russians to stay in the country for up to three months. This is the most common option. It is used for both tourism and business purposes. On it, trips to visit guests or to relatives are also possible.
- D. This is a long-term visa option for Russians to Poland, most often such a trip exceeds a three-month period and is targeted. It is issued as a working, student or for the implementation of treatment in the country.
In order to understand what kind of visa is needed in Poland, one should decide not only for the purpose of travel, but also with time and frequency of stay on its territory. According to the latter criteria, visas are divided into single-entry (only one entry into the country) and multi-visa (multiple entry, limited to three months in each half year, within the period for which the entry document is provided).
Visa cost
The cost of a visa to Poland can vary significantly with an independent attempt to obtain and contact an intermediary company.
The standard fee consists of the amount of consular and visa fees. The latter is payable if the traveler applied for a visa at one of the visa centers. Actual amounts must be found on their official resources.
At the beginning of 2018, the cost of a visa to Poland through the Consulate General is 35 euros for a single entry, for multiple entries - 60 euros. The size of the visa fee may vary depending on the city of circulation, and reach 20 euros.
Visa Procedure
In order to apply for permission to visit, you need to collect the regulatory list of documents for a visa to Poland. It may differ, depending on which variety is served. Below is the standard package for the C-Class.
- Application for a visa to Poland.
- The original and photocopies of the passport, valid for another 3 months on the date of the expected end of stay in the country and taking place for putting down marks on crossing the border.
- 2 photos 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
- Original and photocopies of a general passport.
- Health insurance that meets the conditions for the limit of the amount and region of operation.
- Documents confirming the solvency of the traveler for the entire trip.
- Documents confirming the reservation of a place of residence in the country for the entire stay.
If the trip is carried out as part of an invitation from a private person, then the following will need to be added to the package of documents:
- An invitation notarized and containing detailed information on the inviting and allocation of expenses for the traveler’s accommodation.
- A document that confirms that the inviter is a resident of the host state.
- Copy of the passport of the inviter.
You should be aware that if the inviter is not related to the traveler, the invitation must provide in the original and a copy bearing the assurance of the voivodship where the inviter resides.
To apply for a student visa, you need to add a document to the package proving that the traveler has been admitted to the educational institution or that he is currently studying (student ID).
Having prepared a package of documents, you can make an appointment at the visa center or consular department. Having paid the fees, provide documents for consideration. The procedure has a debugged mechanism, the result can be expected on the set dates, officially this is a period of 10 to 14 days. This is actually done within the working week. If necessary, you can carry out an urgent procedure, but in this case you will need to pay 70 euros, and will issue a visa for 3 working days.
There are some features when obtaining a work visa to Poland, but we will consider them separately.
If the applicant has never before passed biometric data, then before receiving a decision he will have to come additionally.
Features of obtaining a work visa
A work visa to Poland makes it possible to carry out labor activities in the country. Having this type of permission, you can travel to neighboring states participating in the Schengen agreement, but he does not give the right to work there. At the same time, the design of such a permit document can be carried out in the following categories:
- semi-annual visa;
- annual visa.
Both options are a variety of category D, allow multiple entry, but the duration of the general stay is limited.
In the case of obtaining such a visa, it will be necessary to add to the standard package of documents those that confirm the work plans in the country. This may be an invitation from a future employer, registered with the labor office of a particular voivodship, where activities are supposed to be carried out. If a contract has already been concluded, then its original, also having a voivodship visa, and a copy are provided.
Otherwise, the procedure for filing documents is similar to other types of visas, except that it opens without the participation of intermediaries.
Refusal of a visa: reasons
Such an unpleasant result of the procedure is not uncommon. The reasons may be the following:
- application form for a visa to Poland with typos, errors or inaccuracies;
- providing false information or fake documents;
- incomplete package of documents for visits for a specific purpose;
- lack of evidence of traveler solvency;
- problems with medical insurance, its inconsistency in the limit of the amount of insurance.
Therefore, thinking about the issue of how to get a visa to Poland, special attention should be paid to the collection and execution of a package of documents. Different types of refusals imply either the possibility of re-applying after a while, or a lifelong entry ban.