POLISH VISA
& TEMPORARY RESIDENCE CARD APPLICATION

Get professional support with your Polish visa or Temporary Residence Card application.

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Polish Language Course for TRC Application

Polish language course can be the purpose of your stay when applying for a Temporary Residence Permit (TRC) in Poland. If you are a non-EU citizen planning to stay in Poland for more than three months and your main purpose of stay is learning Polish, you may apply for a temporary residence permit for educational purposes.

As part of your TRC application, you may need documents from your language school confirming your enrolment and course details. These can include information about the course dates, Polish language level, number of classes per week and your attendance. You may also need proof of tuition payment, health insurance, sufficient financial resources and accommodation in Poland.

When choosing a Polish language course for a residence permit application, make sure the course matches your actual purpose of stay and that you regularly attend your classes. A temporary residence permit based on a language course may be granted for the duration of the course, but for no longer than 12 months.

Please remember that enrolling in a Polish language course does not automatically guarantee that your Temporary Residence Permit will be granted. The final decision is made by the relevant Polish immigration authority based on your individual application and supporting documents.

Polish Language Course for Visa Application in Poland

A Polish language course can be the purpose of your stay when applying for a visa to Poland. If you are a non-EU citizen planning to come to Poland to learn Polish, you may need to apply for the appropriate visa before entering the country, depending on your citizenship and the planned length of your stay.

When applying for a Polish visa based on a language course, you may need documents from your language school confirming your enrolment and the details of the course. You may also be required to provide a valid passport, health insurance, proof of sufficient financial means and other documents requested by the Polish consulate processing your application.

Before submitting your visa application for a Polish language course, always check the current requirements of the relevant Polish consulate, as the required documents and procedures may vary.

Please remember that enrolment in a Polish language course does not automatically guarantee that a visa will be issued. The final decision is made by the relevant Polish consular authority based on your individual application and supporting documents.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR EU CITIZENS
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-EU CITIZENS
TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT

Entry and Residence Requirements for EU Citizens in Poland

If you are a citizen of an EU Member State, you can enter Poland with a valid passport or another valid document confirming your identity and EU citizenship, such as a national ID card. The same residence rules generally apply to citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

For stays of up to 3 months in Poland, EU citizens do not need to complete additional residence formalities, provided they have a valid travel document or another document confirming their identity and EU citizenship.

If you plan to stay in Poland for more than 3 months, for example to study or attend a Polish language course, you must meet the applicable residence conditions and register your residence in Poland. The registration is handled by the Voivode (Provincial Governor) responsible for your place of residence.

After completing the procedure, you can receive a Certificate of Residence Registration for an EU Citizen, confirming your right to stay in Poland for more than three months.

EU citizens do not need a Polish visa or a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) to exercise their right of residence under these rules. The registration procedure for EU citizens is different from the Temporary Residence Permit and TRC procedures applicable to non-EU citizens.

Entry and Visa Requirements for Non-EU Citizens in Poland

If you are a non-EU citizen planning to enter Poland, you generally need a valid travel document (passport) and, depending on your nationality, a valid visa or another document authorising your entry and stay.

Citizens of certain countries can enter Poland and other Schengen countries without a visa for a short stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Before travelling, always check whether a visa is required for your nationality and purpose of stay.

You can check current visa requirements on the official website of the Polish Office for Foreigners.

Visa to Poland

Poland is part of the Schengen Area, and the type of visa you need depends primarily on the purpose and planned duration of your stay.

There are three main visa categories relevant to travel to Poland:

Type A – Airport Transit Visa
An Airport Transit Visa allows its holder to pass through the international transit area of one or more Schengen airports while travelling to another country. It does not allow entry into or stay within the Schengen Area.

Type C – Schengen Visa
A Schengen visa is intended for short stays. It allows its holder to stay within the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period, subject to the conditions specified on the visa.

Type D – Polish National Visa
A Polish national visa is intended for stays in Poland exceeding 90 days. It can be issued for a validity period of up to one year. During its validity, it can also allow travel within other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, provided the applicable entry conditions are met.

If you plan to stay in Poland beyond the period permitted by your visa, you may need to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit in Poland. Visa extensions are possible only in specific circumstances and should not be treated as the standard way to extend your stay.

How to Apply for a Polish Visa

1. Find the appropriate Polish consulate

Your visa application should be handled by the Polish consulate or diplomatic mission responsible for your application. For a Schengen visa, Poland should generally be your main destination.

You can find Polish diplomatic missions using the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs directory.

2. Check the requirements for your visa

Before applying, carefully check the instructions published by the relevant Polish consulate. The required documents may depend on your nationality, country of residence, purpose of travel and type of visa.

3. Register your application and arrange an appointment

Visa applications are commonly registered through the official e-Konsulat system. Depending on the country and consular procedure, applications may be submitted directly at a Polish consulate or through an authorised visa application centre.

4. Prepare the required documents

Depending on the type and purpose of your visa, you may need to provide documents such as:

a completed and signed visa application form,
a valid travel document (passport),
a photograph meeting the required standards,
appropriate travel medical or health insurance,
proof of sufficient financial means,
documents confirming accommodation where required,
documents confirming the purpose and conditions of your stay in Poland.

If you are coming to Poland to attend a Polish language course, documents confirming your enrolment and details of your course may be required as evidence of the purpose of your stay.

Always check the exact document requirements with the Polish consulate processing your application.

5. Submit your Polish visa application

Submit your application together with all required supporting documents and pay the applicable visa fee.

For a standard Schengen visa application, a decision is normally made within 15 calendar days after an admissible application is lodged. In individual cases requiring further examination, this period may be extended to a maximum of 45 calendar days.

Processing rules may differ depending on the type of visa, individual circumstances and specific measures applicable to certain nationalities. For this reason, you should apply well before your planned journey and always check the current information provided by the relevant Polish consulate.

Important: A visa is not automatically granted simply because you have been accepted for a Polish language course or submitted all requested documents. The final decision is made by the competent Polish consular authority after reviewing your individual application.

Temporary Residence Permit & Temporary Residence Card (TRC) in Poland

If you are a non-EU citizen and want to stay in Poland for longer than your current legal stay allows, you may need to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit in Poland. The type of permit you should apply for depends on the purpose of your stay, for example work, university studies, family circumstances or education, including a Polish language course.

If you are attending a Polish language course and your main purpose of staying in Poland is education for a period longer than three months, you may be eligible to apply for a temporary residence permit based on education.

Your application must be submitted no later than the last day of your legal stay in Poland. Since 27 April 2026, applications for temporary residence permits are submitted electronically through the official MOS (Moduł Obsługi Spraw) portal.

After submitting the application, you may be required to appear in person as part of the procedure, including to provide fingerprints and present the required documents.

If your Temporary Residence Permit is granted, you can receive a Temporary Residence Card (TRC). The residence card confirms your identity during your stay in Poland and, together with a valid travel document, confirms your right to reside in Poland. It can also allow you to cross the Polish border without obtaining a visa and travel within the Schengen Area under the applicable rules.

Temporary Residence Permit Based on a Polish Language Course

A Polish language course can be the main purpose of stay for an application for a Temporary Residence Permit in Poland. This applies to eligible non-EU citizens who intend to stay in Poland for more than three months in order to take up or continue education.

For a regular language course, this is different from a temporary residence permit issued for full-time university studies. A permit based on a language course may be granted for the duration of the course, but for no longer than 12 months.

Depending on your individual situation, supporting documents may include:

documents confirming your identity and legal stay,
documents from the language school confirming your enrolment and course details,
proof of payment for the course where required,
valid health insurance,
proof of sufficient financial resources,
information or documents concerning your accommodation in Poland,
other documents required for your individual application.

For a language course, the school certificate may need to include information such as the course dates, level of Polish, number of classes and attendance.

Submitting an application or enrolling in a Polish language course does not automatically guarantee that a Temporary Residence Permit or TRC will be granted. Each application is assessed individually by the competent Polish immigration authority.

Application for a Temporary Residence Permit in Poland

As of 27 April 2026, applications for temporary residence permits must generally be submitted online through the official MOS portal. Paper applications submitted under the new procedure are not treated as a valid way of submitting the application.

The application should be submitted while your stay in Poland is still legal and no later than the last day of your legal stay.

The exact documents, government fees and additional requirements depend on the type of Temporary Residence Permit and your individual circumstances. For this reason, always check the current requirements in the MOS system and information provided by the competent Voivodeship Office before submitting your application.

Temporary Residence in Poland for EU Citizens

EU citizens do not apply for a Temporary Residence Permit or Temporary Residence Card under the rules applicable to non-EU citizens.

If an EU citizen intends to stay in Poland for more than three months, they generally need to meet the applicable residence conditions and register their residence in Poland with the Voivode responsible for their place of residence.

After successful registration, an EU citizen receives a Certificate of Residence Registration for an EU Citizen. There is no fee for issuing this certificate, and under the current rules the certificate is valid for 10 years.

The residence registration procedure for EU citizens is separate from the Temporary Residence Permit and TRC procedure for non-EU citizens.

Choose Your Polish Course for Visa or TRC

Choose the course option that best fits your visa or TRC application and planned stay in Poland

PLN

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ONE YEAR course for a TRC

440 didactic hours + 360 conversation hours

PLN

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ONE YEAR course for a VISA

880 didactic hours + 620 conversation hours

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TRC & Visa Application in Poland

Visa and Temporary Residence Card (TRC) in Poland

If you are planning to study or stay in Poland, understanding the rules for a Polish visa and Temporary Residence Card (TRC) is an important part of preparing for your legal stay. The documents and procedures that apply to you depend on your citizenship and the length of your stay in Poland.

Below you can find practical information about visa applications for Poland, Temporary Residence Permits, Temporary Residence Cards and residence requirements for EU and non-EU citizens.

Visa Requirements for Non-EU Citizens Entering Poland

Two main documents are required for non-EU citizens entering Poland: a valid travel document (passport) and a visa, if required.

As a general rule, non-EU citizens need a visa to enter Poland. However, citizens of certain countries are exempt from the visa requirement when entering the Schengen Area for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Do You Need a Visa to Poland?

Check the current visa requirements and visa-exempt countries on the official website of the Office for Foreigners.

Poland is part of the Schengen Area. A Polish visa may therefore also allow travel within the Schengen Area, subject to the conditions and validity of your visa.

Types of Visas to Poland

There are several types of Polish visas, depending on the purpose and duration of your stay:

Type A – airport transit Schengen visa
Type C – short-term Schengen visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period
Type D – long-term Polish national visa issued for up to one year
Type D visa may allow travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period

A visa can only be extended in exceptional circumstances. If you need to stay in Poland longer than permitted by your visa, you should apply for a Temporary Residence Permit.

Type A Visa

Type C Visa

Type D Visa

TRC in Poland

How to Apply for a Polish Visa – 5 Steps

1. Find the Appropriate Polish Consulate

Find a Polish Consulate or consular section of an Embassy of the Republic of Poland that can process your Polish visa application.

2. Check the Visa Application Requirements

Read all information concerning the visa application on the relevant consulate's website and carefully follow its instructions.

3. Schedule Your Visa Appointment

Set an appointment with the Polish consulate. In most cases, registration is completed through the official e-Konsulat system.

4. Prepare the Required Visa Documents

Prepare the application form, passport, biometric photo, health insurance, proof of sufficient financial means and documents confirming the purpose of your stay. Exact documentation may vary between consulates, so confirm the requirements with the consulate processing your application.

5. Submit Your Polish Visa Application

Submit the required documents, including the printed and signed application form, and pay the visa fee. A complete application should take up to 15 days to be reviewed. Early submission is advisable because in some cases the procedure may take considerably longer.

Temporary Residence Permit and Temporary Residence Card (TRC) in Poland

Every non-EU student who needs to continue their legal stay in Poland should apply for a Temporary Residence Permit before their visa expires.

Once the permit is granted, you will receive a Temporary Residence Card (TRC). This ID card confirms that you have a residence permit in Poland. Together with your travel document, it allows you to cross the Polish border multiple times.

When Should You Apply for a TRC?

Apply while you are staying in Poland legally: after your arrival in Poland, but before your visa expires.

The first residence permit is issued for a period of 15 months. It can be renewed for periods of up to 3 years, but not longer than the remaining duration of your studies.

How to Apply for a Temporary Residence Permit in Poland

Submit your Temporary Residence Permit application to the local Voivodship Office. Documents required to legalise your stay include:

Completed application form
Photographs
Documents confirming identity and citizenship
Proof of address
Documents confirming the purpose of stay, such as a certificate from your school
Health insurance
Proof of sufficient financial funds

Detailed requirements should be checked on the website of the relevant Voivodship Office. The procedure costs 390 PLN in total.

Entry and Residence Requirements for EU Citizens in Poland

Citizens of an EU member state only need a valid travel document or a document confirming identity and citizenship, such as a national ID card, to enter Poland. If you plan to travel abroad during your stay, it is a good idea to have a passport because it may be necessary when visiting neighbouring countries outside the EU.

For a stay shorter than three months, there are no additional formal residence requirements. If your studies last longer than three months, you need to register your residence in Poland with the relevant Voivodship Office.

EU students do not need to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit. They should register their stay with the local Voivodship Office within 90 days of arrival. They will receive a free certificate of registration with an unlimited period of validity confirming their right to stay in Poland.

Visa and TRC Application in Poland – Key Information

Polish Visa

Residence Permit

Residence Card

EU Registration

Visa and residence requirements depend on your citizenship, the purpose of your stay and how long you plan to remain in Poland. Always check current requirements with the appropriate Polish consulate, Voivodship Office or Office for Foreigners before submitting an application.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visa and TRC Applications in Poland

Do non-EU citizens need a visa to enter Poland?

As a general rule, yes. However, citizens of certain countries may enter the Schengen Area without a visa for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

What is a Temporary Residence Card in Poland?

A Temporary Residence Card is an ID card confirming that you have a valid residence permit in Poland. Together with your travel document, it allows you to cross the Polish border multiple times.

When should I apply for a Temporary Residence Permit?

You should apply while you are legally staying in Poland, after your arrival but before your visa expires.

Where do I submit a Temporary Residence Permit application?

The application should be submitted to the relevant local Voivodship Office.

Do EU students need a Temporary Residence Permit in Poland?

No. EU students do not need a Temporary Residence Permit, but for longer stays they should register their residence with the relevant Voivodship Office.

TRC and Visa Application Information for Poland

Preparing the correct documents and applying at the right time are important when arranging a visa or Temporary Residence Card in Poland. Check the requirements that apply to your citizenship and type of stay before starting the application process.