Persons applying for Polish visas are advised to plan their itinerary perfectly so that their trip will not be delayed for any other reason. When planning a trip, knowing the Poland Schengen visa processing time is best, as this will help you organize yourself. However, knowing exactly how long the process will take is difficult as different factors may influence processing times. For starters, the standard processing time for Schengen visas is 15 calendar days after submitting your application.
It is important to note that the time starts counting after, not before, you submit your application and documents. This process differs from one Polish embassy to the next due to the peculiarity of their circumstances. Some embassies may take as much as 30-45 days to process visa applications. Here are some reasons for the delays.
The volume of Applications: Schengen visa applications to Poland are often high in some countries.
If you are from such a country and the Polish embassy is handling a significant volume of applications, your visa will take a while before it is issued.
Time Of Season: Eastern Europe is mostly cold for a significant part of the year, but the one or two months of summer and warmer climate trigger an avalanche of visitors. If you submit your application during this period, expect some delays because the embassy will be handling a massive volume of applications at the time.
Additional Documents: In the case where the embassy requires additional documents, your application may be put on hold while you provide them. This may delay the process for a few more days or weeks.
Visa Application Center: If the standard practice of the embassy is to receive applications through visa centers rather than directly from applicants, you should expect some delays. This is because your application processing will not commence until your documents get to the embassy. Visa application centers are only mandated to collect applications on behalf of the embassy, but they don’t have the authority to process them.
What Is A Polish Schengen Visa?
A Polish Schengen visa is a short stay visa issued by Polish embassies and missions abroad to foreigners from non visa exempt countries. This visa is solely for short trips that will not take more than 90 days.
The visa is valid for 180 days and may be issued as a single, double, or multiple-entry visa. Poland is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, which gives it the right to issue the visa like the 26 other countries in the region. Moreover, Schengen visas issued by Poland are recognized by other member states, so holders are permitted to visit them with the same visa rather than apply for a new one.
However, they must visit Poland first before traveling to other countries in the region under the first entry rule.
Documents For Schengen Visa To Poland
If you want your visa to be released on time or at all, you ought to submit the right documents. We list them below.
Your national passport with at least two empty pages and a minimum of 3 months validity beyond your planned departure date from Poland
Two recent passport-sized photograph
Visa fee receipt to show proof of payment
Medical travel insurance with coverage of a minimum of €30,000 for medical emergencies during your visit
Proof of financial means
Proof of accommodation
Cover letter
Round trip flight ticket
Civil status certificate
Aside from these documents listed above, the embassy may request additional documents depending on your circumstances or nationality. These documents must be properly arranged and added to your signed and completed application form before submitting them to the embassy for processing.
What Can You Use A Schengen Visa For?
Schengen visas can be used for tourism, business trips, transit, short study, family visit, official visits, or cultural exchanges. This visa is solely for engagements in Poland or any other Schengen country that will not take more than 90 days.
Schengen Visa Cost
Schengen visa costs €80 for applicants 12 years and above, but for 6-11 year olds, the visa fee is €40. Children under six years do not pay fees for visa applications. This fee is non-refundable once it is paid, and it is strictly for application processing and not a guarantee that the visa will be issued to you in the end. If you use the services of a visa collection agency, you will incur additional service costs separate from the visa fee.
The standard Poland Schengen visa processing time is 15 calendar days, but the factors we reviewed in the article may extend the time by a few more days or weeks. To avoid delays, we recommend you submit your application at least six weeks before the day you planned for your trip.