Foreign students from non EU countries must apply for a Student Visa in the Polish Embassy or consulate in their home country before arriving in Poland. Any student in need of assistance is asked to contact the KIBS office.

An EU student can enter Poland with his/her ID document (a valid travel document e.g. passport, or another document certifying his/her identity and citizenship). If a student intends to visit Poland's neighboring countries (not all of them are EU Member States), a passport is recommended. Citizens of the EEA countries are subject to the same conditions as EU citizens. Citizens of Switzerland can enter Poland only on the basis of a valid passport.

For stays of up to 3 months no legalization of stay will be necessary. For stays exceeding 3 months, an EU student will have to obtain a temporary residence permit or a residence permit (Karta pobytu obywatela UE). In the case of students, the residence permit is issued for one year and can be extended every year until the completion of his/her studies. This document will be issued by the Department of Citizens Affairs of the Voivodeship Office (Wydział ds Cudzoziemców ul. Długa 5). Temporary residence permits will be granted to EU students who have health insurance and sufficient resources to cover their expenses without needing social security support.

The students of a non-EU/EEA country can enter the territory of Poland on the basis of a valid travel document (passport) and a visa (if required). A student of a non-EU country has to obtain a visa from the consulate of Poland in his/her country of residence. A short-term visa entitles the holder to stay in Poland for up to 3 months, a long-term visa - up to 1 year. At least 45 days before the visa expires, students must apply for the temporary residence permit (karta czasowego pobytu) at the the Voivodeship Office (Wydział ds Cudzoziemców ul. Długa 5) Prolongation of a visa in Poland is only possible in cases of force majeure or situations impossible to foresee while applying for the visa in consulate. The visa can be prolonged only once. An application form for Polish visa is available at: http://www.msz.gov.pl/start.php?page=1270100001.

For more information about the residence permit please visit at: http://www.mazowieckie.pl/eng/dep_of_foreginers.html or contact the KIBS office

More practical information about: arriving to Poland, legalizing your stay, medical care and insurance, recognition of diplomas, driving license, addresses of diplomatic missions of EU and EEA in Poland you will find on the website: http://www.msz.gov.pl/The,Schengen,Info,12589.html