Is it worth going to Poland on vacation? How to move to live and work in Poland - legal options. Main road rules in Poland

Modern realities, namely the sharp depreciation of the national currency, force Ukrainians to seriously consider the option of going to Poland to work in order to find decent wages.

Why Poland? Main criteria:

Relatively easy to obtain permission
Not far to go
Easy to understand Slavic language
Level of remuneration (salary in Ukraine - from 100 Euro / in Poland - from $700 Euro)

GDP in Poland shows record growth among European countries - over 4%. Compare with other countries - in France this figure is 3.7%, in Italy - 0.8%, and in Germany, which is considered the strongest economy in Europe - 0.9%.

Another factor that forced us to look towards Europe was the need to obtain a work patent from January 1, 2015 for “workers” who went to work in Russia (and this is about 6 million of our compatriots), and the fall in the exchange rate of the Russian ruble played an important role role. In a word, it has become profitable to earn money abroad and spend it at home.

“To go or not to go?” - that is the question

Since 2007, the registration procedure has been simplified. Citizens of other countries are required to obtain a work permit, but for Ukrainians an invitation from an employer is sufficient. In addition, today Poland is the only European Union country that issues work visas and legally accepts workers from Ukraine.

Neither the Czech Republic, nor Germany, nor Canada, and especially the United States, are waiting for labor migrants from our country, unless you are an outstanding scientist or a specialist of the highest class. Want to make sure? Just call the Ministry of Social Policy and ask which EU country how many work visas have been issued to our fellow citizens over the last year and all questions will disappear by themselves.

Today, everyone affected by the crisis is traveling from Ukraine to Poland - middle managers, executives and teachers; everyone needs work. And here lies the first unpleasant surprise. If you worked in an office in your home country, this does not mean that you will receive a similar position in Poland. Work in their specialty is the lot of technical specialists (programmers, turners, drivers), where knowledge of the language is not the main requirement.

The first job in Poland for a humanitarian or office worker is a laborer or any other job that does not require high qualifications (factories, warehouses, etc.).

However, if you are not used to physical labor, the first time will be difficult for you and many simply cannot cope with the “sense of self-importance” and return. You shouldn’t judge life and work in Poland by videos from social networks; in reality, everything is much more prosaic. If you are not ready for drastic changes in your life, think again, maybe you shouldn’t be disappointed and it’s better to look for luck at home.

Important! Without language knowledge and experience, earning more than the minimum wage (8-10 zlotys per hour) will be extremely difficult, if not impossible. Yes, there are exceptions, but it’s better not to count on them.

Reviews about earning money in Poland:

I have decent experience in earning money abroad, I’ve been to many places: Italy, Germany, Poland. However, the best option for me was working in Poland on road construction. The work cannot be called easy, but the salary is decent - more than 4,000 zlotys per month (although you had to pay about 600 zlotys separately for accommodation and food). Working hours are from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. I'll probably go again next season. Andrey, 44 years old, Rivne

Who better not to go to work in Poland?

Let's face it! If you have spent your whole life in an office and are afraid of physical labor, if you are waiting for a miracle in the form of a well-paid job where you can “not strain”, immediately upon arrival - Poland is not for you.

Poland is waiting and will not disappoint those who want and love to work. Those who will work and develop, invest in themselves, their education and future are welcome here. I hope these lines will help you make the right decision and prevent another negative review on the Internet.

How to go to Poland to work?

To officially go to Poland to work, a Ukrainian must, which gives the right to stay and work on the territory of the state for 180 days in a year 180/365 (or 90 days in a half-year).

There are few options for obtaining such a visa:

Option 1. Traveling by invitation to work

To obtain a visa at the Polish consulate or embassy in Ukraine, you must provide an invitation to work from a Polish employer with a note from the voivode.

You can obtain such permission:

By contacting an intermediary (recruitment agency for job search abroad)
By independently contacting an employer in Poland and convincing him to send you an invitation

Option 2. Obtaining a one-year visa D (360/360) based on a POLE CARD

It is no secret that a significant percentage of the population of Ukraine (especially people from the western and central regions) and Belarus are of Polish origin, that is, their close relatives (parents or grandparents) were Poles by nationality.

If you can confirm the fact of having Polish roots, according to the law you have the right to receive a so-called POLE CARD (KARTA POLAKA), and on its basis a long-term national visa on a free basis.

In addition, the Pole’s card makes it possible to obtain permanent residence under a simplified procedure and subsequently Polish citizenship.

Read more : And is it possible to get such a card without Polish origin?

These are not all the ways to go to Poland to earn money, but the options given are the least expensive in terms of finances and time.

Where to go to work in Poland?

There are enough vacancies for our compatriots. There are offers for both qualified employees and the opportunity to get a job that does not require qualifications. The Poles are happy to hire Ukrainians, because they have to pay less than the local population. Polish workers themselves go to Ireland, Sweden, Austria, where earnings are higher.

Here is a list of the most popular vacancies with working conditions, requirements and average salaries -

September 21, 2016

Picodi

We travel abroad for various reasons: some people want to see the beauty of other countries, others just like to relax in comfort, and many cross the border to make purchases. But, no matter what our goal is, we always want to save as much as possible and travel cheaper. Read this article about how to reduce transport costs when traveling from Belarus to Poland.

The most economical options

Those who have traveled a lot and with pleasure, and also used different methods for this, know: there is nothing cheaper than hitchhiking. And indeed: by hitchhiking, you can not only save money, but get anywhere practically for free. But there is a high risk of getting into an unpleasant situation, and such trips, to put it mildly, do not add comfort. The most affordable and reasonable options for getting to the border are, of course, trains and buses.

We go through Brest - Terespol (Terespol)

Perhaps the most convenient point for crossing the border. The cheapest way to get to this checkpoint on the Belarusian-Polish border is from Minsk in two steps. The cost of a trip on the Minsk - Brest electric train, which we board first, will be about 8 rubles in new Belarusian rubles. However, there is one nuance: it is better to travel at night (and cheap trains here most often run at night) with a group, since anything can happen in shared carriages. Let us add that the trip to Brest by train will take about 8 hours.

However, Brest is not the final destination of our journey, and now we need to get to the border. To do this, we transfer in Brest to the Brest-Terespol train, a trip on which will cost us about 9 rubles. The time from Brest to Terespol by train is approximately 15–20 minutes. It could be less (the drive is no more than 10 km), but do not forget about border control (more on this, as well as how else you can get to Poland, in a separate chapter below). In total, a trip abroad by train will cost approximately 17 rubles (round trip, respectively, 34 rubles).

You can check the current train schedule Brest - Terespol and Terespol - Brest on the website rw.by or rozklad-pkp.pl

From other options we immediately exclude the plane, since this is obviously not economical, and nothing flies to Terespol. All that remains is a fast train, a bus (minibus) and an economy taxi. A one-way bus trip from Minsk to Terespol will cost 15–20 rubles, and a round trip, respectively, will cost 30–40 rubles, which is comparable to electric trains. The cost of travel by minibus is the same. On the other hand, it is obviously more comfortable to travel this way than on two electric trains, although this largely depends on personal preferences.

If you take a fast train, you will have to pay more than 30 rubles just one way (the total price for a round trip is 60 rubles), which, of course, is not at all profitable. In addition, this is the cost of traveling in a reserved seat carriage, and in order to reserve seats, you need to buy tickets in advance. And it’s much more expensive than a taxi, which will cost you 200 rubles one way even with an economy class car, and even then only to Brest.

We go through Grodno (Bruzgi) - Kuźnica

Another fairly conveniently located checkpoint, which is located not far from another large city, Grodno, is Bruzgi. However, you don’t need to go specifically to Bruzgi, since in most cases you first need to get to Grodno, and then from there, bypassing Bruzgi, you will reach the Polish border settlement. From here, by the way, you can quickly get to Bialystok - a fairly large administrative center. Now about specific travel options.

By train From Minsk you will have to change trains, since you first need to take an interregional train to Grodno, and then transfer to a train or bus. In August 2016, the railway connection from Grodno to Bialystok was resumed. Below are prices in euros for tickets from Grodno to other Polish cities. By the way, for owners of Pole Cards there is a special price of 4 euros for the section Grodno - Kuznitsa.

In terms of time, this could take us about 6.5 hours: 5 hours to Grodno and another one and a half to Kuznitsa (it would take about 2.5 hours to get to Bialystok, and 7.5 hours from Minsk in total), but there is one caveat - going through customs, so the trip takes longer. The cost of a one-way trip from Minsk to Kuznitsa, including transfers, is about 11 rubles, to Bialystok - about 20 rubles. In principle, the prices are comparable to a trip through Brest, but there is one advantage - you can immediately get to a large Polish city.

Buses travel from Minsk to Bialystok, and the approximate cost of the trip is about 30 rubles (you can find it a little cheaper). Thus, this method is one and a half times more expensive than the previous option, but you travel without transfers. Comfortable? Undoubtedly. Economical? Not really. In terms of time, however, it turns out to be a little faster (about 7 hours), if the customs does not spoil the schedule.

As for Taxi, then the only option here is to travel to Grodno - not a single taxi driver will take you across the border. Therefore, you will have to travel further by bus. The cost of a taxi to Grodno from Minsk is about 160 rubles, which significantly exceeds the amount of all previous options combined.

We go through other checkpoints

There are three other checkpoints separating Belarus and Poland: Berestovitsa - Bobrowniki, Peschatka - Polowce and Domachevo - Slawatycze. However, the location of the last two makes it easy to get to them unless you have your own transport, and they are also very popular among truckers. In any case, for those who want to save as much as possible, traveling through these checkpoints is not the best option. As for the Berestovitsa - Bobrovniki checkpoint, some buses heading to Bialystok and further to Warsaw pass through here, and the cost of a direct bus trip through this checkpoint is approximately the same as in the case of a trip through Grodno.

Shopping buses - is it worth going?

Another financially beneficial way to cross the border is a shopping trip to Poland on a special bus - the so-called shopping bus.

Of course, no one obliges you to make purchases; besides, the obvious advantages of this method undoubtedly include the low price (you can travel for about one and a half times cheaper than a regular one), as well as transporting passengers home at the end of the return trip. But this method also has its disadvantages: firstly, it takes a longer time to clear customs, and secondly, you will definitely have to go back on a shopping bus, and at a strictly defined time - one-way trips are not provided in such cases. However, for those who travel to Poland mainly for shopping or just to take a walk, a shopping bus is an almost ideal option in terms of cost, and they will also take you home.

Poland is located quite close to Russia, and the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation even borders it. In this regard, tourist trips to Poland by car are very popular, and a Polish visa is becoming needed by an increasing number of Russian citizens. They get it according to the standard procedure: Poland has been a member of Schengen since 2004, so you can’t do without a visa for a tourist trip.

For a long time now, all states of the Schengen area, including the Republic of Poland, have entrusted the work of processing to special intermediaries - visa centers. Therefore, obtaining a visa to Poland is possible through these organizations, as well as through the country’s diplomatic missions in the Russian Federation - the Embassy and Consulates General in Moscow or other cities.
For those who decide to apply for a visa without refusals, quickly and inexpensively, we recommend the Online visa center.

A Polish visa will be more difficult to obtain than a Schengen visa from another country.

Do I need a visa

If there are any doubts whether Russians need a visa to Poland, then it is better to immediately understand that all guests of this country need it. You cannot get there without special permission, so a visa is required. If the purpose of the visit is, for example, tourism, visiting close relatives, a business trip or an official visit, then you need a document called a Schengen visa to Poland. If you need to stay in Poland for a long time and in the future obtain a residence permit, then you will already need a national visa, not a Schengen one.

Entry with a visa from another country

If the passport already has a valid Schengen visa stamp from any of the 26 states in this zone, then Russians do not need a separate visa to Poland, but in such a situation there are also restrictions. The visa must be opened in the country that issued it and most of the time must be spent there, and you can come to Poland afterwards.

Types of visas

Visa to Poland is Schengen. Now there is only one type of such visa - category C. It is issued to all tourists, Russian citizens who have invitations and go to visit, business travelers, workers whose activities are related to periodic work visits to Poland, for short studies, and so on.

Photo of Polish visa

But there is another type of Polish entry permit - the national visa D. This kind of visa to Poland is no longer Schengen. It has an extended period of validity and period of stay in Poland; it can be used to obtain a residence permit in this state. Issued in cases where a Russian has plans to study/work in Poland, live with a spouse who is Polish, and so on.

Tourist visa to Poland

It is necessary to dwell separately on a tourist visa to Poland, since the majority of our citizens still go to Poland specifically for tourism purposes. There really is something to visit in this country - medieval cities, mountains, health resorts, attractive with their low price and European quality. A tourist visa to Poland is the same as a Schengen visa C. It must be issued according to the general rules for these categories of entry documents. A tourist entry permit is the document that is most often required.

Transit visa to Poland

The topic of tourist transit through the territory of Poland is very relevant for many Russians, because many use a car to travel further to Western Europe. Transit through Poland without separate registration of Polish Schengen is quite possible if you have a visa from the destination country. That is, the traveler will be allowed through the territory of Poland with a visa from France, Italy, Germany, and so on.

If in Poland you need to transfer from plane to plane, then provided that you do not leave the international zone of the airport, Polish Schengen is also not needed. If you still need to leave the international zone of the Polish airport, then you cannot do without a transit visa. These points must be taken into account in order to plan your trip correctly.

Entry for residents of Kaliningrad and the region

There is a special visa to Poland for those Russians who live in Kaliningrad and the region. It is called the MPP map for residents of areas on the border. It can be obtained using a simplified version by providing evidence that the applicant has actually lived in Kaliningrad or the region for the last three years; registration takes several days.

Such a visa to Poland for Russians has restrictions on the geography of visit. It allows access only to certain cities and areas bordering the Kaliningrad region: Gdansk, Elblag, Gdynia, Puck and so on.

Required documents

A visa to Poland for Russians in 2019 is issued after submitting a regulated list of required documents. It is quite standard and practically does not differ from the list for other Schengen states. So, obtaining a visa to Poland is possible by providing the following documents:

Completed application form for a visa to Poland, the form must be filled out in Latin letters or in Polish (in this case it is better to immediately fill out the form in Polish), you must sign the form in the right places;
An original valid passport issued within the last 10 years in the name of the applicant. The passport must be valid for another 90 days after leaving the Schengen territory and have at least 2 blank pages;
Two photographs 3.5x4.5 cm;
Photocopy of the international passport: those pages where there is a photograph and personal data of the applicant;
If available, then other/old passports and their copies;
A photocopy of the internal Russian passport addressed to the applicant (not blank pages);
Medical insurance that meets the requirements: insurance amount – 30,000 €, policy area – the entire Schengen area;
Financial guarantees for the trip, confirming solvency and availability of funds:
- Bank account statement;
- Credit card account statement from the bank;
- A certificate from work indicating both the position and salary;
- IP certificate;
- Sponsorship letter from a sponsor who is a close relative. This sponsorship letter must be accompanied by financial guarantees from the sponsor himself, confirming a satisfactory financial position/availability of funds.

A minimum of PLN 100 per person per day of stay is required.

The validity period of financial documents is limited to one month, bank statements must show the movement of money in bank accounts for three months, translation into Polish/English is not required.

The listed documents for a Polish visa are basic and mandatory for everyone. They are served by tourists, business travelers, and invitees.

Additional documents for a tourist visa to Poland:

Route confirmation: transport tickets/transport ticket reservations;
Booking a hotel/inn or other place to stay. The reservation must be paid at least 50%, the confirmation must contain: address and telephone number of the hotel/inn, names and surnames of tourists, dates of travel. The booking confirmation must be stamped (stamped copies sent by fax are also acceptable).

Additional documents for a Schengen visa to Poland upon invitation from a private person:

A notarized letter of invitation containing: names, surnames, addresses, telephone numbers of the guest and the inviting party, passport number of the invitee, dates and purposes of the trip;
Confirmation of legal residence in Poland of the inviting party;
A copy of the first page of the inviting passport;
If the inviting party is not a relative, then you need the original and a copy of the invitation, which are registered in the Voivodeship at the place of residence.

Additional documents for obtaining a visa to Poland upon invitation from an organization or company:

An invitation from a partner/company in Poland on company letterhead with a stamp, required signatures, dates, purposes of travel, first and last names, issued/certified in the Voivodeship.

Additional documents for obtaining a Polish visa for short-term study:

Certificate of inclusion in the list of students/certificate of enrollment in an educational institution/student card - both an original and a copy are required.

If a Russian citizen travels to Poland at the invitation, it does not matter - from a private person or an official, then the invitation must indicate who will bear the costs and where the invitee will live, and appropriate guarantees must be attached. If this information is not available, then the invitee provides financial documents from item 8 of the main list.

Filling out the application form

The central place in preparing an application for a visa to Poland for Russians is occupied by a questionnaire. A lot depends on how correctly it is filled out. It’s good that the questionnaire itself is in Russian and the questions are extremely clear: if difficulties arise, you can look at the sample. This sample is also available at the visa center itself.

The application form is downloaded to your computer from the visa center website and printed; for convenience, you can fill it out at home. You need to follow simple filling rules:

Fill out the form in Latin letters;
Write neatly;
Provide accurate information;
Sign in the right places;
Avoid blots.

Photo requirements

A photo to obtain a visa to Poland must also meet the established parameters:

Size 3.5x4.5 cm, face is located in the center;
The height of the head in the photo is about 30 mm, the head occupies 70-80% of the entire photo;
Without edging and on a light background;
The photo must be no older than six months;
Without hats, even for religious reasons;
The glasses in the photo are only acceptable for medical reasons;
A full-face photo, preferably with open ears.

Traveling with children

No less relevant is the question of how to get a visa to Poland for children. For any minor, a full package of documents is submitted along with adults. For a child you must submit:

Birth certificate – copy plus original;
Consent/power of attorney to travel if the child is traveling alone, with one parent or with third parties. The consent or power of attorney must be certified by a notary; this will give the child the right to travel alone or with a parent;
If consent/power of attorney for the right of departure of a minor cannot be obtained, then papers explaining this circumstance are needed;
Copies of Schengen visas and passport pages with parents’ data, if a child visa is issued separately.

To open a visa to Poland for a child, you need to take into account that his visa stamp will be pasted into the parent’s passport if he does not yet have his own passport.

Self-registration

Many tourists ask themselves how to apply for a visa to Poland. With the growing popularity of traveling without travel agencies, this issue is first on the agenda. Independent registration of a Polish visa is carried out either through visa centers of this state, or through its Consulates General located in several constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

The most common and popular way is to use the services of visa centers; they are located in many cities. Obtaining a visa to Poland through the Consulate is possible if, for example, a refusal was received, or you need a national visa, not a Schengen one.

All travelers who apply for a visa to Poland on their own need to know that a new procedure has been in effect since September 2015. This is the provision of biometric data when submitting a visa application. At the visa center or Consulate you will need to submit your fingerprints and take a photo. Obtaining a Polish visa is now possible only after this procedure. The data will be stored for five years, then you will have to submit it again. Children under 12 years old do not submit fingerprints.

Application through the visa center

A visa to Poland is obtained through a visa center in Moscow and through its branches in other Russian cities. There are quite a lot of them; the full list can be found on the visa center website. To submit an application, you need to follow an algorithm consisting of several simple points:

Decide on the purpose of the trip and the required type of entry permit;
Collect documents;
Download to your computer and fill out the form;
Bring a package of papers to the visa center (pre-registration and registration are required, there is an electronic queue);
Pay the consular and service fees for services, receive a receipt and attach it to the package of papers;
Submit documents and receive an individual number to track the status of your application.

Obtaining a visa to Poland through the Moscow visa center and its regional departments is a streamlined, fast and not at all difficult procedure. Before submitting your papers, you can go to the VC website and read the instructions to be completely sure of the correctness of your actions.

At the visa center you can get insurance (medical policy), take photographs, and also order photocopies of documents, if all this has not been done in advance.

Some are interested in how to obtain a visa to Poland on their own through the Consulate at the Embassy. The same as through the visa center. Appointment and registration is required, as the Consulate only accepts and issues items during certain hours of the working day. There is no electronic queue at the Consulate; you can only register by phone.

Polish visa on your own: reviews 2019

It should be additionally noted that Poland is not the most loyal country to Russians in visa matters (and not only in them). Despite the formally simple list of required papers, there are also strange requirements - a mandatory hotel stamp on the reservation, 50% payment for the stay. And, of course, according to reviews about independently obtaining a Polish visa, the statistics of negative decisions among Poles is higher than among the French, and even more so the Spaniards.

According to reviews from independent travelers, the Polish Consulate often finds fault with shortcomings in papers and may require additional confirmation or financial guarantees. That is, reviews may give the impression that it is not easy to obtain a visa to Poland on your own. But this is no more difficult than obtaining a visa to Estonia or, for example, Latvia. It so happened historically that these countries are less loyal to Russia, so the collection and submission of documents must be taken seriously and everything must be done carefully, without mistakes.

Visa to Poland on your own: travel by car

A large number of Russian citizens travel to Poland by car, because it is nearby and you can see more sights. Also, the shortest transit route further to Europe is possible only through the territory of Poland.

You can plan a trip by car calmly, since in this case there are no special features; a Polish visa for a trip by car is the same Schengen type C as for other trips. It must be formalized according to the general rules.

A transit route through Poland by car is also possible with a visa from another Schengen country. Border guards, of course, can find fault with something, but this is more likely due to the general situation in relations between countries.

When crossing the Polish border in a car, a stamp with a picture of the car is affixed to the passport, which indicates the fact of the foreigner’s arrival by land and not by any other route.

Registration cost

When asking how much a visa to Poland costs for Russians, you must first understand what kind of visa is required. If it’s Schengen, then the price is one, if it’s national, it’s another. The price of a visa to Poland consists of two components: the consular fee and the visa center fee for services. The current cost is shown in the table below.

In addition to the cost of a visa to Poland, you must also pay the cost of the visa center service fee. It is not the same for different cities, there are two prices. For Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Smolensk, Yekaterinburg and Voronezh, the visa center service fee is 19.5 euros. For Saratov, Novorossiysk, Krasnodar, Perm and Ufa - 23 euros.

It should be emphasized that the price of a Polish visa type C does not depend on how long the document is valid.

Validity periods

In the visa issue, it is important not only how much a Polish visa costs for Russians, but also what its validity period is. Based on EU standards, the period for a C visa is limited to six months, and for a D visa – one year. Number of days of stay: for C – 3 months, for D – 6 months.

In fact, documents may be issued with completely different deadlines. For the first trip, the validity limit will be limited only to the dates of the trip and the visa will be single-entry; then you can count on a multi-month Schengen multiple visa, which is multiple-entry.

Long-term Polish multiple entry visa

The rule is that if the applicant already has at least two Schengen visas in his passport, no matter which state, then he can be approved for a multiple-entry visa to Poland for 2 years. But with such a visa it will still be possible to spend no more than 3 months in every six months in Poland/another Schengen country. A Polish visa for 2 years gives ample opportunities to travel around Europe.

This rule is optional, so you need to be prepared for the fact that they can give you a one-time document.

Photo of national visa to Poland

Registration deadlines

Since the Republic of Poland has been a member of Schengen for a long time, there are special documents that regulate the timing of the issuance of a Schengen entry visa. According to official papers, the period during which a Schengen document is issued is 10 or 14 days; a national D visa is issued a little longer. In practice, the period for obtaining a Polish Schengen type C visa may be limited to a period of 5 or 10 days. If you need to get a visa to Poland quickly in three days, then you just need to pay an additional 70 euros, and your application will be considered out of turn.

In some cases, the visa process takes longer. What this is connected with is not entirely clear, but such situations are still rare.

Refusal to receive

Russians need a visa to Poland, so there are many people at its visa centers who want to apply for an entry permit. However, practice shows that it is possible to get a refusal and the chances of getting it are not zero.

What documents might you need for a Poland visa?

When booking a tour to Poland, you will need to apply for a single-entry tourist visa, for which you must provide the following documents:

Foreign passport (valid for three months from the end of the foreign trip);
General passport;
Two photos (in color, using a white background, size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, with 70% for the face);

Important: Photos must be no older than six months at the time of applying for a visa!

Complete personal data (the form is available, but it is more convenient to fill out the form online at the link: secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl) ;
Confirmed sufficient solvency of the departing tourist in the form of bank statements or a current certificate from the place of work, with the correct indication of information such as actual official wages, or copies of bank cards with additional confirmation from the bank about cash balances on linked accounts;
For people of retirement age - confirmation of the fact of having a valid pension certificate;
For a child traveling with one of the parents, the previously required power of attorney, certified by a notary, and received from the other parent is no longer necessary;
For a child traveling independently, it is not necessary to have a mandatory power of attorney, certified by a notary, for independent travel from each of the parents; such permission from one of the parents is sufficient.

Clarifications and nuances

Before you begin processing documents, you should carefully study the rules, including the possibility of new changes and clarifications.

For example:

Passports must be signed. This clarification concerns the rule for minors aged 14-18 years, according to which they are required to sign in their passport.2. One color photo (size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm) must be pasted onto the application form with a signature. Requirements for the photo: faces are not covered by hair, gaze is directed at the lens, neutral expression, mouth closed; the eyes are clearly visible, without reflection of flashes in the lenses, without the use of lens tinting, with glasses whose thin frames do not cover even part of the eyes; without hats.
When scanning internal passports (starting from the age of fourteen), the copies must contain those pages that contain all the information about the applicant’s biometric data, as well as notes regarding the issuance of foreign passports, confirmation of marital status, as well as official registration in Russia. This means that if you have an issued second passport, you need a copy of the page with a stamp confirming this fact. And if you have a marriage stamp, you need to make a copy of the page that is marked in the “marital status” column.
For applicants with third-country citizenship, an additional confirmation of the legality of their stay in Russia is required, which fully complies with federal legislation (in the form of a residence permit, long-term visas or registration with the Federal Migration Service), which will remain valid for (at least) three months after the applicant’s planned return from the Schengen area. You can also get by with documents confirming the fact that you have officially submitted documents to renew your confirmation of legal stay.
Citizens of the Russian Federation with temporary registration in the Kaliningrad region are limited by the validity of visas, which are tied to the period of such temporary registration.
Tourists must have a special voucher or a confirmed reservation of a place in a Polish hotel, paid for at least 50%, and when planning to travel to other countries of the Schengen zone, they must pay in full for their stay in these countries (100%).
The original certificates issued from the place of actual work of tourists differ in their actual status:
- Employees submit certificates from their place of work, issued using company letterhead, which indicate the details of the employing company, the actual position of the tourist, his length of service, as well as the confirmed amount of monthly salary and other income for the last six months (the validity of such a certificate is no more than one months);
- Entrepreneurs submit originals and copies of documents confirming the registration of their company with authorized local authorities (certificates of form 2NDFL and 3NDFL).

Traveling with minor children

Registration of travel for minor children must be completed in the visa folder with the following documents:

Full personal data;
Two color photos, size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, with a white background;
Child's birth certificate;
His mother's civil passport;
, with notarization.

About multiple-entry tourist visas

As for multiple-entry tourist visas, with a validity period of six months to one year (with a maximum stay of 90 days), applicants with the following parameters will be able to possess such documents:

In the last two years, they have had at least two Schengen visas issued, which were correctly used, without any violation of laws, and at least one of them was issued at a Polish consular post, and was subsequently used in accordance with the purposes defined in writing in the official application submitted for such a visa;
The rules for entry, stay and exit from the territories of all visited EU member states were not violated;
They can show all the documents that confirm the presence of permanent legal sources of income, or they will familiarize themselves with the latest current statement of their any bank account, or with a statement issued by an ATM confirming the presence of sufficient financial assets in the client account in the applicant’s banks;
It is possible to present receipts for payment made for a stay in a Polish hotel, which will be at least six (for the entire period of the last two years) days, before submitting the application for such a visa. Hotel checks for independent visits, checks from a Polish travel agency for payment for the provision of travel services, checks from Russian travel companies for tour services are suitable. Such checks must necessarily coincide with the periods in which the visas were issued. And confirmation of actual payment is made by checks or payments from the bank about the fact of transferring funds for certain travel services to the bank accounts of legal entities from Poland, or by official confirmations from hotels (with their full details and signatures certified by “wet” seals).

Additional documents for tourists applying for multiple visas include: petition statement To the Consul of the Republic of Poland for the issuance of a multiple visa (can be filled out at the tourist office).
Since November 1, 2012, the visa center of the Consulate General of Poland has been operating, where to the basic visa price (35 euros). the cost of the visa center service is added, equal to 19 euros.

For children under six years of age, as well as for disabled people, visa center services are provided free of charge.

Opening a Polish business visa

In order for the opening of a business visa to be successful and the procedure for obtaining it to occur without any delays, you will be required to carry out a certain procedure when providing the following documents:

An original invitation from a Polish legal entity, issued on the letterhead of this organization, with the obligatory confirmation of the signature with the original stamp of the company's seal, as well as indicating the most complete information (both about the company and the type of its activity). In addition, this invitation must contain information about the specific invited person, which will indicate his full name, date of birth, passport details, purposes and dates of the trip, with mandatory information on determining the party bearing full financial responsibility for all expenses necessary for such a trip leaving.
A completed form in Latin, which you can find on the consulate website.
And finally, you must submit documents in person.

A well-executed invitation from the host party serves as the basis for guaranteed receipt of this type of visa.

We should not forget about this decisive role of the invitation in the process of obtaining a business visa, as well as the varying requirements for it in different consulates. For example, in addition to the standard template, you may need to provide an eight-digit identification number of an electronic invitation or an original invitation from the host party, where, in addition to a detailed description of the company’s activities, goals and duration of stay, it is necessary to indicate the position of the invitee and the sources of covering the financial costs associated with this invitation. In cases where the invitation does not contain information about financial responsibility, an official letter from the company about covering such travel expenses is required.

In some cases, any country that issues business visas to Russians, including Poland, may require additional information confirming the declared purposes of the trip, additional confirmation of financial support, or confirmation of family ties in Russia.

About local border traffic (LBT) for residents of Kaliningrad

For residents of Kaliningrad, the possibility of crossing the border is always relevant, so they are more likely than other residents of Russia to apply for special border visas.

What do Russians need to know about MPP?

All persons who need a special permit to cross the border, valid on the basis of the Agreement on Border Movement, can register their applications by going to the official website of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, taking advantage of the e-konsulat system. This type of procedure coincides with the rules for filling out Schengen visa applications. When filling out an application, you should correctly fill out the proposed application forms, so that you can then deliver them with a general set of documents to the Consulate at the exact time specified for this visit, which will be written on the application itself.

And you should know that documents for MPP can also be submitted both personally and by immediate relatives, for example: a wife has the right to submit these documents for her husband, a father - instead of his own children who have not reached the age of majority.

Please note that applications not registered on the official website will not be considered.

The following administrative units are classified as special Polish territories of the MPP zone:

For Pomeranian Voivodeship: cities of Gdynia, Sopot and Gdansk; as well as the powiats: Nowodworski, Gdańsk, Puck and Malbork.
For the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship: cities of Olsztyng and Elbląg; as well as the powiats: Elbląg, Giżycki, Braniewski, Mrągowski, Lidzbar, Bartoszycki, Olsztyn, Węgorzewski, Kętrzyn, Olecki and Gołdap.
The Russian Federation includes the entire territory of the Kaliningrad region.

Complete list of documents for MPP:

Confirmed place of permanent residence in the border region (no less than a period of three years) - both original and copies.
Application for an MPP permit (with ease of registration when electronic registration is carried out on the website e-konsulat.gov.pl).
Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, with a marked registration of a specific place of residence in one of the settlements located in the border zone.
A travel document recognized by both parties as an identity document and giving the right to cross certain points on state borders (excluding diplomatic passports, service passports, and sailor’s passports) - both in the original and in a copy.
Temporary identity card of a citizen of the Russian Federation, with a marked registration of a specific place of residence in one of the settlements located in the border zone.
Certificate of registration at the place of residence in one of the settlements located in the border zone.
An extract from the house register, which is certified by the authorized bodies for registration and registration of citizens of Russia, which must certify the fact of residence in one of the settlements located in the border zone.
A residence permit for a foreigner or for a stateless person must indicate registration of place of residence in one of the settlements located in the border zone.
Stay card.
Certificate from the competent Polish authorities about the place of actual residence.
A letter of justification for the reasons for frequent crossings of the Polish-Russian state border, including factors supporting family relationships, or socio-cultural contacts that are not legally related to entrepreneurship or work.
A color photograph that meets all visa requirements, measuring 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm.
Identification.

All of the above data are entered into a specific form, in accordance with the requirements of the detailed instructions, and a document with errors will not be accepted.

Obtaining such a permit gives the unconditional right to residents of the border areas of one of the states to enter and also stay in the border areas of another state specified in this MPP permit. However, each stay cannot be more than 30 days, with a specified time of entry, and the total total stay can never exceed ninety days in each six-month period, which is counted from the moment of the very first visit to the country with such a permit.

In 2019, a considerable number of Russians were able to travel to Poland by car. Located in the very center of Europe, the republic has a land border with the Russian Federation. Namely, with the Kaliningrad region. It is not surprising that many of our compatriots prefer to travel around Polish territory by personal transport. We will find out all the nuances of traveling to Poland in your car.

In 2019, the Central European country continues to be popular among tourists from Russia. Visitors from the Russian Federation enter Poland both by air and by land - including by personal vehicle. The latter option is preferred by residents not only of the Kaliningrad region neighboring the republic, but also of regions remote from the border. Guests from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and even Vladivostok come to the European state in their own cars.

To come to Poland by car, you will need to obtain a visa in advance. In this sense, traveling to a European country is no different from arriving by plane, train or bus. You cannot visit the country without an entry document.

Typically, motorists and their travel companions apply for tourist Schengen visas. Each visitor, including children, will need their own document. Polish Schengen allows you to stay in the country for a maximum of 3 months within a six-month period. You will learn how to obtain a tourist visa to Poland from the article on our website.

Where to enter Poland

Of all the regions of the Russian Federation, Poland borders only the Kaliningrad region. Therefore, entering the republic from Russia by personal transport is only possible through this region. There are special checkpoints at the border. You are only allowed to drive your car through these checkpoints.

The second option for starting a Polish road trip is to enter Poland through Belarus. Citizens of the Russian Federation are allowed into the fraternal republic with a Russian passport. In this case, the route is built like this:

Travel from Moscow or another Russian city to Belarusian Brest.
The path to Brest lies along the M1 highway (Smolensk road).
Get to the border crossing. You can enter through the largest checkpoint Brest - Terespol or try the Domachevo crossing (50 km south of Brest).

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Basic nuances of crossing the border

When planning a trip by car to Poland from Kaliningrad or Brest, drivers and passengers should consider several factors:

A foreign passport with a Polish visa must be presented. The passport is valid for at least 3 months from the date of return home.

Entrants have the right to be required to present funds as financial guarantees. The minimum amount for 1 day of stay is PLN 300. The equivalent in foreign currency is allowed (about 100 US dollars). It is allowed to present both cash and credit cards.
The import of foreign currency is not limited, but a declaration is required if the permitted amount exceeds the allowed amount of 10,000 euros.
If guests of Poland enter the territory of the country with pets, they will need a certificate from the veterinary service. It must contain notes on all vaccinations given to the animal, including vaccination against rabies.

What might they ask at the border?

Purpose of the trip.
Travel route planned for visiting the city.
Scheduled tour dates.
What is being imported into Poland, do you have alcohol and cigarettes with you? The established norm for 1 person is 2 packs of cigarettes, 1 liter of strong alcohol or 2 liters of wine.

Documents for crossing the border by car

For passengers

International passport with visa.
Medical insurance:
- For the entire trip.
- Valid throughout Schengen.
- Coverage from 30 thousand euros.
Sometimes they require you to present:
- Financial guarantees.
- Reservation of a hotel room or place at a campsite, or availability of another residential address in Poland.
- Invitation from a local individual or legal entity.

For the driver

International passport with visa.
Medical insurance.
Sometimes they require the same additional documents as for passengers.
Driver's license (no special requirements).
Vehicle registration certificate (vehicle registration certificate). It is important that the document is issued to the driver. Handwritten powers of attorney are not accepted.
Valid green card.

What is a green card for a car?

When traveling by car to Poland, a green card is required. In fact, this is an analogue of our OSAGO. The document is issued not for the driver, but for the vehicle. This means that anyone on the trip can drive the car. Of course, provided he has a driver's license.

A green card for traveling to Poland must be of an international format and valid throughout Europe. It is not possible to issue the document at any insurance company. A limited number of organizations have the right to sell this type of insurance service. Among them:

"Rosgosstrakh".
"Alpha Insurance"
"RESO-Garantiya"
"Alliance".
"ERGO Rus".

Important! You can buy an insurance policy no earlier than 30 days before the start of its validity and the date of the trip.

How much do you have to pay for a green card?

The cost of a green card to Poland depends, first of all, on the type of vehicle and the duration of the insurance contract. Approximate amounts:

Key requirements for the car

Full technical serviceability of the machine.
Serviceability and one hundred percent working condition of lighting devices. It is advisable to stock up on light bulbs so that you can change them at the border if necessary.
The windshield is clean and free of visible cracks. Only cracks of 2-3 centimeters and small chips are acceptable.
The vehicle must contain:
- First aid kit.
- Spare tire or repair kit.
- Fire extinguisher (it is recommended to check its expiration date before traveling).
- Warning triangle.
- Reflective vests for all participants of the trip.
Child car seats (when traveling with children under 12 years old).
Foreign motorists traveling on Polish roads in their car must place on it a sign of the state where the car is registered. For Russians, this is the “RUS” sign in a white oval. It is not permissible to drive a vehicle without a sticker.

Main road rules in Poland

Maximum permissible driving speed (in km/h):

When driving, the low beam headlights are always on. Time of day and weather conditions do not play a role.
Studded tires are prohibited. The use of winter tires is voluntary.
It is prohibited to equip vehicles with radar detectors and similar devices. Even an unused radar detector cannot be carried.
The maximum possible alcohol content in a motorist's blood is 0.2 ppm. For driving while intoxicated, the driver's driver's license is confiscated. In addition, the violator faces imprisonment for up to 8 years.

Fines for traffic violations

Parking in Polish

Polish drivers and motorists visiting from other countries are allowed to park their cars only in specially designated areas. It is also prohibited to leave a car in parking lots intended for people with special needs.

For this there is a fine of 800 zlotys.

Free parking in Polish city centers is not as scarce as in other Central European countries. They are focused:
At large retail outlets (Ikea, Auchan and others).
Near historical centers.
In courtyards and next to residential buildings.

Near restaurants, cafes and shops.

Paid parking lots are also present in large quantities. They are on all main streets, near attractions and in areas that are most in demand. Finding a parking spot is easy. Just follow the blue signs with the letter “P”.

Important! In large Polish cities, parking is paid only on certain days (usually weekdays) and hours (usually from 9:00 to 17:00). The rest of the time you can stay on them for free. The cost of parking depends on their proximity to the center, significant objects and crowds of people.

For example, an hour of parking in the center of Gdansk will cost 3 zlotys.

The machine will issue a receipt - a parking ticket. It must be placed on the dashboard of the car so that inspectors can see the paper through the windshield.

If you run out of gas...

Self-service is common at Polish gas stations. The driver fills the tank and then pays for the fuel at the ticket office. Drivers are allowed to carry up to 20 liters of fuel in cans. It is worth considering that 92nd gasoline is not available at local gas stations. And 95 comes in 2 types - with and without lead.

At the beginning of 2017, the average cost of gasoline and diesel fuel in Poland was:

1.07 euros (95 petrol).
1.13 euros (98 petrol).
1.05 euros (diesel).
0.5 euro (LPG).

At the same time, prices at gas stations located along highways can be 10-20 eurocents higher than at gas stations near large shopping complexes.

Toll roads

Polish motorways A1, A2 and A4 are toll roads. The fare depends on the distance traveled.

Tolls are calculated differently for specific road sections. Typically, travel is paid both in cash and by bank transfer, in national currency, euros and American dollars. However, it is recommended to pay with local money. Change is also always given in zlotys.

By car through Poland: transit rules

People enter Poland via Kaliningrad or Brest by personal transport not only for the sake of a road trip through the Central European republic. Many of our fellow citizens only pass through Polish lands, choosing other countries as the main goal of their auto tour. The following documents are submitted for a Schengen transit visa to travel through Poland:

:
- It must be filled out completely and certified with a personal signature.
- It is advisable to fill out the form on a computer, but it is acceptable to fill out the form by hand.
- The information must be entered legibly, using a pen with blue or black ink (if filled out by hand).
- Information is written in Russian, Polish or English.
- Points No. 1-5 are filled in in Latin letters, strictly as in the international passport.
- A separate form is filled out for a minor child included in the parental passport. It is signed by the parent.

Visa of the state of destination (original and copy). In case of its absence, the following shall be submitted:
- Or a 100% paid hotel reservation.
- Or documents for ownership of real estate (lease agreement, purchase and sale agreement, etc.).
International passport:
- Copies of the first page and Schengen visas for 3 years (if available).
- With 2 free sheets.
- The document is valid for 3 months after returning home.
- The passport is valid for no more than 10 years.
Russian passport. Copies of pages:
- First.
- With registration.
- Pages 18-19 (about previous passports).

When crossing the border, the same papers are presented as for road trips directly within Poland. It is important to remember that if a foreigner already has a valid Schengen visa, there is no need to make a separate document for transit.

Polish highways are considered one of the safest in Europe. The vast majority of drivers treat all road users with respect. Pedestrians and cyclists have priority on the road. Almost all highways are equipped with CCTV cameras and radars and are carefully monitored by the police. Therefore, when traveling around the republic by car, you should strictly follow traffic rules.

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