Prepare For Arrival

Citizens of non-EU/EFTA countries should obtain a visa from a Polish diplomatic post in their country before coming to Poland. If they wish to prolong their stay in the Republic of Poland, an application for a residence permit for a fixed period should be submitted to a voivode competent for the place of the student’s planned stay before the end of the residence period based on the visa, or before the end of the period for which the previous temporary residence permit has been granted.

Citizens of the European Union, as well as Switzerland or other countries belonging to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) may enter Poland without a visa and remain on Polish territory without legalising their stay for 3 months. If a period of continuous stay in Poland is longer than 3 months, such persons are obliged to register their stay. In order to obtain the residence permit, documents have to be submitted by the student in person by the first day of the 4th month from their entering the Republic of Poland.

If you are a student from a non-EU/EEA country, you should purchase (and most likely you had) health insurance in your home country, valid in Poland. According to state health regulations, foreigners have to pay for a medical consultation. The cost should be reimbursed by the health insurance company, but please verify your agreement attentively so you are aware which medical consultations/procedures are refund.

EU/EEA citizens follow the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) card regulations. With EHIC, visits at public medical centres are free, as well as most medical examinations that are ordered by a doctor.

For more information about health insurance options once you arrive in Poland, please follow the link below: