Due to the easy immigration process & quality of international education ‘Poland study visa’ has risen in demand.
The education system of Poland ranks fifth in Europe and tenth globally.
Various Polish universities are present in the list of leading universities globally.
These universities offer a range of courses in the English language & some prestigious scholarships like Poland Government scholarships.
After getting the residence permit, International students have also the option to do part-time work in Poland.
This detailed Polish study visa guide will explain the application procedure, documents required for it, visa types, processing fees & polish visa success rate.
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Poland Study visa
3. Poland Study Visa Processing Time
4. Polish Embassies & Consulates for Students
5. Documents Required for Poland Study Visa
6. How to Apply for a Polish Study Visa?
7. Interview Questions for Poland Study Visa
8. Poland Study Visa Success Rate
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1. Types of Poland Study Visa
You can apply for a short-term visa or a long-term visa to study in Poland. Here are the details of the two types of visas:
1.1. Short-Term Visa (Type C)
The short-term study visa for Poland is named the Uniform Schengen Visa. This visa allows you to stay in Poland or any Schengen territory for a maximum period of 90 days.
This stay can be over 180 days.
International students can get advantage of the short-term visa (Type C) if they are visiting Poland
for a particular sports, cultural, or academic event.
Students can register with E-KONSULAT & fill out the Schengen visa application forms or take appointments in their respective Polish embassies & consulates.
1.2. Long-Term Visa (Type D)
A long-term visa for Poland is required if you intend to stay in Poland for over 90 days. This visa is also called the National visa for Poland.
You can stay in Poland for up to one year on this visa if it is valid.
You can also visit other Schengen member states on this visa for 90 days in 180 days.
Most international students can apply for a long-term visa if they are enrolled in a full-time Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD program, and their stay is more than 90 days.
Students can register with E-KONSULAT & fill out the national visa application forms or take appointments in their respective Polish embassies & consulates.
After getting the long-term visa, the student will be required to apply for a residence permit in Poland.
The first residence permit may be granted for one year according to the duration of the program. They may need to apply for an extension after the expiration of this permit.
International students can apply for a residence permit by making an appointment through the Foreign Portal in POL.
If you are looking to work while studying in Poland, you would need a work permit. The applicants can apply for the work permit through the local Voivodeship Office (Governor’s Office).
You would need to submit proof of your legal status as an employee, receipt of paid fees, etc, for a work permit. The employer will be required to submit other supporting documents.
1.3. Study Programs & Poland Visa Table
|
Study Programs |
Stay of Duration |
Type of Polish student visa |
|
Exchange & mobility program/Cultural/Sports event |
Less than 90 days |
Poland Short-term Visa (Visa C) |
|
Internship |
IF More than 90 days |
Poland Long-term visa (Visa D) |
|
Full-time Graduate or post-graduate programs |
More than 90 days |
Poland Long-term visa (Visa D) |
|
Exchange & Mobility program, University single course, Vocational training, Academic short course, Apprenticeship |
IF More than 90 days |
Poland Long-term visa (Visa D) |
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2. Visa Processing Fees for Polish Study Visa
The processing fee for Type C and D study visa for Poland is 86 USD.
Family members of EU citizens and holders of diplomatic and official passports are exempted from the visa processing fees.
Find out more details about TYPE C & TYPE D here.
Remember in some countries the visa applications are received by external service providers like VFS Global etc, which can also take extra charges up to € 30.
Students can also contact their Polish consulates if they have any queries.
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3. Visa Processing Time for Poland Study Visa
The visa processing time for a student visa in Poland can vary from case to case. Various elements play a role in deciding how long the decision takes on a visa application.
The processing time may be affected due to the busy work schedules of embassies and consulates because they might receive more applications in some months than others.
The time can also be affected due to the nationality, visa type, or any other issue faced by the applicant during the application process.
Nevertheless, the standard time for the issuance of a visa type C (Also known as a Schengen visa or short-term visit visa ) is 15 calendar days. But in some cases, it can exceed 45 days.
The visa type D for Poland can take up to 4 weeks, but shouldn’t take longer than 6 months for a final decision.
The residence permit for Poland must be issued within one month of application. However, it may take up to two months in complicated cases. The work permit issuance time for Poland is between 4 to 6 weeks.
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4. Polish Embassies & Consulates for Students
If you are looking for a study visa for Poland, you will have to complete the application procedure through their respective embassies or consulates.
The applicants should apply for a student visa for Poland to the embassy or consulate nearest to them along with the online application form and supporting documents.
The embassy or consulate is then responsible for processing the applications. They are also responsible for conducting visa interviews and issuing decisions regarding the approval or refusal of a visa application.
You can find Polish embassies or consulates in your country through this link to apply for a Polish study visa.
The other important sites for international students to remember are study in poland and NAWA.
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5. Documents Required for Poland Study Visa
5.2. Passport-size photographs
5.7. English Language Proficiency (IELTS) for Poland Student Visa
5.9. Acceptance Letter for Admission
5.10. Bank statement for Polish Study Visa
5.11. Health (Travel) Insurance
5.14. Receipt of Visa Processing Fee
5.15. Copy of Hotel Reservation & Flight Booking
5.16. Family Registration Certificate (FRC)
5.17. No Objection Certificate (Optional)
5.18. Police Clearance Certificate (Optional)
5.19. Certificates of extracurricular achievements
5.20. Corona Vaccination Certificates
5.21. Marriage and Childbirth Certificate
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5.1. Poland study Visa Application form
The application form requires the applicant to fill out personal details, current residential details, financial details, etc.
Students can register with E-KONSULAT & fill their respective Poland visa application forms or take appointments in their nearby Polish Embassies & Consulates for more details.
Remember 90% of the students will need to apply for Visa type D.
In Some countries visa applications are received by external service providers like VFS Global etc.
5.2. Passport-size photographs
The general picture format for a Polish student visa is the following.
A: Two recent (within 6 months) passport-size (35x45mm) photos.
B: White background with neutral facial expressions. (Unedited)
C: Avoid uniforms & the head should be 80% in the photo.
D: The applicant should look at the camera.
E: One photograph should be glued to the visa application
while the other should contain the applicant’s full name on the reverse side, & should be attached with a paper clip to the visa form.
The same rules apply to every Schengen country.
5.3. Valid Passport
A: A passport must have at least 18 months of validity from the date of visa application.
B: Applicants will also provide visa copies (if they have any).
C: The passport must have at least two blank pages.
D: All the previous passports must also be attached. (If they have any)
5.4. CNIC
A birth certificate and a National Identity card are mandatory for a Poland student visa application.
5.5. Academic Documents
It includes all academic records & certificates.
A. Certificate & transcript of Bachelor’s (If a student is applying for a master’s program)
B. Certificate & transcript of Master’s (If a student is applying for a Ph.D. program)
C. Transcript (DMCs) of Metric & FSC and certificates (if a student is applying for a bachelor’s degree)
D. Proficiency certificate in English from the university.
E. Course summary which explains current courses & previous courses.
F. Provide two Recommendation Letters from your university along with the referee’s detail.
5.5.1. Translated Documents contain:
A. Confirmation from Translation Company/Translator
B. Translation Date
C. Name and Signature of the Translator
D. Translator’s Contact Details
NOTE:
The above-mentioned documents must be attested by respective universities and boards.
For example, in the case of Pakistan, it must be attested by IBCC, HEC, and MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
IBCC authority is only responsible for the attestation of metric and inter documents.
Dear offices are present in Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and also in other cities of Pakistan.
HEC office attests to Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. documents.
Other International students should attest their documents from their own respective ministries & authorities.
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5.6. CV
CV is compulsory for the university admission process and optional for embassy interviews.
It should contain all the contact details and academic information.
Students can make a perfect Cv in Europass here in under a few minutes.
5.7. English Language Proficiency (IELTS) for Poland Student Visa
There are no specific mentions of IELTS for Poland student visas on their immigration websites. However, IELTS is compulsory for some public Poland universities.
And Having a strong band in IELTS certainly increases your chances of getting a student visa.
For Bachelor’s an overall 6 bands while for a Master’s 7.0 bands is good for Poland.
If students can’t do IELTS they should provide the alternative PTE 54 score.
Therefore, Students from NONEU countries are strongly advised to do IELTS (Or TOEFL or PTE) to avoid any hassle.
Remember the chance of getting a type D Poland student visa without IELTS (for Non-Eu students) is low.
5.8. Statement of Purpose/Letter of Motivation/Cover Letter
This document comprises the following information about the student
A. Previous academic record
B. Employment Status
C. Relationship with your home country
D. Immigration History
E. Economic conditions of the applicant
A statement of purpose (SOP) & letter of motivation (LOM) are almost the same thing & could be interchangeable.
In this letter, you are asked to write about your personal and professional reasons why are you applying for a course or the scholarship and what is your intention of traveling to Poland.
The maximum length of this letter is three pages, But it is advised to make it short & concise to one page.
5.9. Acceptance Letter from a Polish university
The applicants applying for a student visa to Poland are required to submit an acceptance letter to prove that they are visiting the country for study purposes.
The acceptance letter is issued by a university to declare that they have accepted the student into their institution for a particular degree program.
The acceptance letter must contain the duration of the program and any additional benefits offered by the institution to the student i.e. accommodation facility.
The annual fees for a full-time degree program in Poland may cost between €2,000 and €6,000. However, the costs may go steeper depending on the program and institution.
If you are looking for a university in Poland, you can find some of the leading universities and scholarships here.
5.10. Bank statement for Poland Student Visa (Financial Means)
Students willing to get a Poland student visa must prove that they have sufficient financial means to support their stay in Poland. This can be done through three options.
Firstly, the student can submit a bank statement of the previous six months with the balance required by the embassy or consulate to show that you are financially capable to support their stay in Poland.
Compare to other European countries, Poland is inexpensive to live.
A Bank balance of 6000 Euros is enough to prove that students are financially stable enough to cover their stay for the next 7-8 months.
2500 PLN is technically enough for a student to spend in one month on basic needs (living and lodging purposes in Poland) in Poland.
Remember Bank statements must not be more than 30 days old.
Bank Statement must be signed and stamped by the bank officer. The bank account must be in the name of the student.
This amount should be shown irrespective of the university fee.
In the case of a scholarship or grant, there is no need of showing a bank statement.
Secondly, students can also submit a salary slip of three months meeting the criteria.
Thirdly, you can show sponsorship which can either be in the form of a scholarship or a person who is sponsoring you.
In this case, their bank statement or salary slip will be required.
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5.11. Health (Travel) Insurance for Poland study visa
International students from Non-Eu countries are advised to have private or public health (Travel) insurance which can cover their first few months in case of any medical & Pharmaceutical assistance or emergency.
The insurance must guarantee the coverage of repatriation costs and Covid-19 treatment.
While the EU/EEA students can use their European Health Insurance Card.
5.12. Medical certificate
Students must do a medical examination and show previous medical history about medication and illness.
They must provide test proof of Tuberculosis and Hepatitis A and B. (Incase of some countries)
Students make sure to regularly contact the embassy in case of any queries.
5.13. Proof of university Legal Fees
It is a receipt or proof of the “first-semester fee” or the “fee for the whole year”.
when students pay the Annual fee, University will send them one unconditional admission letter.
Students must also save all the online fee invoices & attach them to their documents while submitting an application for a Poland student visa.
5.14. Receipt of Visa Processing Fee
The student will pay a non-refundable fee and fill out the visa form.
The processing fee for Type C and D study visa for Poland is 86 USD.
Remember in some countries the visa applications are received by external service providers like VFS Global etc, which can also take extra charges up to € 30.
5.15. Copy of Hotel Reservation & Flight Booking
The booking confirms the arrival date in a particular country. The hotel reservation shows that a student researched the process.
The host university should mention in their admission letter if they provide accommodation for the student.
The student can also provide a rental home contract.
5.16. Family Registration Certificate (FRC)
A family registration certificate (FRC) is a document that tells that the family record of the student is complete in the database of the home country.
This document contains details of the name and information of the parents and siblings.
This document is very much important in case of extending a residence permit or in case of permanent settling in Poland.
International students can get it from their local ministries & authorities.
Pakistani students can get FRC through NADRA offices in Pakistan.
They can also apply for it online.
5.17. No Objection Certificate (Optional)
It also varies from country to country. It is compulsory for some countries and known as NOC.
This letter will include that the student is applying for a student visa to Poland, And will return to the country after completing their education.
NOC must be written by the Dean or HOD of the university.
5.18. PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) for Poland Study Visa
International students who want to apply for Polish D type visa (Long term student visa of more than 90 days) must submit a document showing a history of a criminal record.
The country of your residence must issue this document within five months of starting the visa application.
Generally, PCC can be issued by your local security police station or many international students can also make it online.
Indian students can make it through Passport seva, and Pakistani students can make it in “Police Khidmat Markaz” or the ICTP app or the ICTP website.
International Students normally don’t need PCC for Poland short-term visas, however, it’s better to cross-check the requirement with your local Polish consulate.
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5.19. Certificates of extracurricular achievements
These certificates could include internship certificates and experience letters.
The embassy gives extra value to these certificates.
5.20. Corona Vaccination Certificates
Students must complete the COVID-19 vaccination before the interview appointment at the embassy.
The administered vaccines are listed by the WHO (World Health Organization).
5.21. Marriage and Childbirth Certificate (Optional)
The embassy may ask about Childbirth Certificates and marriage certificates.
It is better to bring both childbirth and marriage certificates along with you for a student visa interview.
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6. How To Apply For a Poland Study Visa?
International students can follow these simple four steps to apply for a Poland student visa.
6.1. Apply to Polish Universities and Get an Acceptance Letter
The first step for you is to start applying to Polish universities. You can look for the Polish universities that suit you the best through this link.
After applying to your shortlisted universities, you need an acceptance letter to apply for the Poland study visa.
As we discussed above, the acceptance letter is mandatory for a student visa because it shows that you will pursue higher education at a Polish institute.
6.2. Prepare Your Documents to Apply for Poland Study Visa
After getting an acceptance letter, you need to start preparing the list of the documents we mentioned above in detail.
6.3. Fill out the application form & pay the fee for Poland Visa
The application form requires the applicant to fill out personal details, current residential details, financial details, etc.
Students can register with E-KONSULAT & fill out their respective Poland visa application forms or take appointments in their nearby Polish Embassies & Consulates for more details.
Remember 90% of the students will need to apply for Visa type D.
In Some countries, visa applications are received by external service providers like VFS Global, etc.
6.4. Set an appointment with your embassy or consulate for your visa interview
After filling out the online application form, you will have to appear for a visa interview. In this interview, you will submit the supporting documents and a copy of the application form to the embassy or consulate.
The list of possible interview questions is given below. Prepare the answers to all of them according to your need.
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7. Interview Questions for Poland Study Visa
There is common questions student face during their visa interview.
These questions vary from profile to profile and are given below:
Name of the student & questions about previous educational qualification?
What is your purpose for going to Poland?
Did you already search for opportunities in your home country?
Where is the university located in Poland?
Who is your sponsor? What is your relationship?
What is your course structure or Course summary?
Which course you will start at the university?
Why did you choose this university and subject?
How will this course shape your career?
How did you find this university?
What are your plans after the completion of the course?
Who advised this accommodation and how much will be?
When will your course start?
Why did you choose Poland and not another country?
What is the capital of Poland and the spoken language?
Can you name other cities where famous universities exist?
Did you do an examination or a test made by the university?
Please name the person with whom you are in contact at the university.
Where will you stay in Poland?
How much do you expect to spend per month in your destination city? On your rent, food & fee.
Is there any information to tell us to support your application?
8. Poland Study Visa Success Rate
The success rate of a Poland study visa is 95%.
This means that most of the people who fulfill the basic criteria (mentioned above in detail) for study purposes get their study visas approved.
9. FAQs for Poland study visa
Q. What are the reasons for delays in the decision for a Poland study visa?
Ans. The delay might be caused due to concerns of the embassy or consulate regarding your application. For some applications that appear to be shady, the embassy or consulate takes more time for the detailed examination of the request.
The processing time may also be affected due to the busy work schedules of embassies and consulates because they might receive more applications in some months than others.
The delay can also be affected due to nationality, visa type, etc
Q. How can I appeal against the decision if my Polish study visa is rejected?
Ans. You can appeal against the rejection of your Polish study visa request by a Polish embassy or consulate. The appeal must be filed within 14 days of the rejection.
To appeal against the decision, you must visit the concerned embassy or consulate with your passport, copy of the refusal letter, appeal letter, and the receipt of the new visa fee payment. You must pay the visa fees again if you want to appeal against the decision.
The appeal letter must address all the points mentioned in the refusal letter that led to the rejection of your visa. Legal reasoning must be provided in your appeal letter.
Find out more about the appeal process here.
Q. What is the process of getting a work permit in Poland?
Ans. If you are looking to work in Poland during your studies, you will need a work permit. A separate application needs to be started for a work permit in Poland.
The application must be started by your employer at the local Voivodeship Office. The documents needed for application include an application form, proof of paid fees, and proof of the legal status of the employer.
Q. What are the reasons for the revocation of my Poland study visa?
Ans. The study visa for Poland can be canceled due to different reasons. It can be canceled if you have added any false information during your application.
It is also reversed if you are suspected of negative intent or involvement in criminal activity.
The visa can also be revoked in case of its fraudulent use, status violation, etc.
Therefore, you must refrain from such activities to ensure that there are no complications with your visa.
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We try to cover each & everything about the topic, but if you still have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments.
If You have any questions related to your Poland study visa or any other study visa, you can also contact us for a live one-on-one session.
Whatsapp Contact: +393512735708
Hello Rapheal here,am from Nigeria Thanks for the detailed information. I got study offer in Poland.is it a must to legalize certificates that I wil be submitting at the embassy
yes, is a must to legalize them at the embassy
I found an error in my application form but I haven’t submitted it to the embassy. I have already printed it out and submitted through email for an appointment. In that case, can I fill out a new form and use it when I submit the documents in person at the embassy? Please guide me for what I should do.
Hi Khizar. Thanks for the Writeup. I am from Nigeria. I recently got admission to study in Poland. I want to know: can I go with my family? And what are the procedures?