🇵🇱Poland Visa for Tanzanian Citizens2026 Requirements, Fees & Documents

National Visa (D-Type) – Study

Long-stay national visa for foreign nationals pursuing full-time education at Polish higher education institutions, including degree programs, PhD studies, exchange programs (Erasmus, NAWA), and language courses.

• Subcategories include: Study I year (beginning students), Study II year and above, and Study – Others (PhD, exchange, Erasmus, NAWA).
• Fee is EUR 100 in most jurisdictions (USD ~109); USD 235 at US consulates; GBP 175 in UK; free for Ukrainian nationals.
• Valid up to 1 year; holders may also stay in other Schengen states up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
• Processing 15 calendar days; up to 30 days for complex cases.
• Applications via e-Konsulat system in person at Polish consulate.

National Visa (D-Type) – Work

Long-stay national visa for foreign nationals taking up employment in Poland, requiring a valid work permit or declaration of intent to entrust work from a Polish employer.

• Requires prior work permit (Zezwolenie na pracę) or employer declaration (oświadczenie o powierzeniu wykonywania pracy).
• Fee USD 235 at US consulate; EUR 100 (~USD 109) at most European consulates.
• Valid for up to 1 year.
• Processing 15 working days standard; expedited in 3 working days for urgent cases.
• Does not include EU Blue Card (fast-track highly-qualified worker stream, processed separately via MOS portal).

National Visa (D-Type) – Family Member of Polish National

Long-stay visa for foreign family members of Polish citizens who wish to join or visit their Polish relative in Poland for a period exceeding 90 days.

• Fee GBP 175 at UK consulate; varies by consulate elsewhere.
• Fee may be waived in certain circumstances.
• Applicants must demonstrate family relationship with a Polish citizen.
• Valid up to 1 year.
• For longer stays, a temporary residence permit application may be required in Poland.

National Visa (D-Type) – Pole's Card (Karta Polaka)

Long-stay visa issued to holders of the Pole's Card (Karta Polaka), a document confirming Polish heritage or membership in the Polish nation for persons from former Soviet Union countries.

• Available to Karta Polaka holders from countries of the former Soviet Union (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan).
• Fee may be reduced or waived for Karta Polaka holders.
• Provides certain privileges including reduced visa fees and right to work without a separate work permit.

National Visa (D-Type) – Medical Professional

Long-stay national visa for foreign-qualified doctors, dentists, nurses, obstetricians, and paramedics seeking to practice their profession in Poland following recognition of their qualifications by the Minister of Health.

• Requires prior approval from the Minister of Health for recognition of non-EU qualifications.
• Expedited processing of approximately 4 working days.
• Eligible professions: doctor, dentist, nurse, obstetrician, paramedic.
• Applicants from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia may submit applications by post; others must appear in person.
• Full consular fee schedule applies (same D-type fee structure).

National Visa (D-Type) – NATO/SOFA

National visa issued to NATO military and civilian personnel and their dependants stationed in or transiting through Poland under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

• Issued to NATO/SOFA personnel and dependants.
• Fee exemptions may apply under SOFA provisions.
• Applicants must present NATO orders or equivalent official documentation.

Schengen Visa (C-Type) / National Visa (D-Type) – Diplomatic/Service

Visas issued to holders of diplomatic or service passports for official missions, including diplomatic representatives, consular officers, and accredited international organization staff.

• Fee exempt under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
• Diplomatic passport holders from most countries are also exempt from standard Schengen visa requirements.
• Issued via the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for accredited diplomats; consulates for service passport holders.
• Bilateral diplomatic visa waiver agreements may apply.

National Visa (D-Type) – Seasonal Work (D/05a)

Long-stay national visa for foreign nationals performing seasonal work in Poland (e.g. agriculture, horticulture, tourism, and gastronomy) on the basis of a seasonal work permit issued by the starosta (district labour office).

• Seasonal work is permitted for a maximum of 9 months within a calendar year.
• Requires a prior seasonal work permit (zezwolenie na pracę sezonową, type S) obtained by the employer from the powiat (district) labour office, or an entry in the register of seasonal-work applications.
• After entering on a D/05a visa or under the visa-free regime, the foreigner may apply for a temporary residence permit for seasonal work.
• National visa fee EUR 80 (approx. USD 87); some consulates charge a different local-currency amount.
• Visa applied for in person at a Polish consulate via e-Konsulat.

National Visa (D-Type) – Scientific Research (Researcher, D/13)

Long-stay national visa for non-EU researchers conducting scientific research or development work at an approved Polish research institution under a hosting agreement, for stays exceeding 3 months.

• Annotated 'D/13'.
• Requires a hosting agreement (umowa o przyjęciu w celu realizacji projektu badawczego) with a research institution on the Ministry of the Interior's approved list, specifying the research project, duration, remuneration, and working conditions.
• Applicant must hold qualifications giving access to doctoral studies (Polish Master's-equivalent).
• Holders may perform research work without a separate work permit.
• Fee EUR 80 (approx. USD 87).
• A national visa or refusal is issued within 30 days of submission.
• Valid up to 1 year; also permits travel in other Schengen states up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Working Holiday Visa (National D-Type)

Long-stay visa for young citizens (aged 18 to under 31) of partner countries to spend up to a year in Poland discovering its culture and language, with the right to take up supplementary employment.

• Poland operates working-holiday / youth-mobility agreements with New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, Chile, Republic of Korea, Argentina, and Peru; a parallel Youth Mobility Program covers Canada (ages 18–35).
• Applicants must be at least 18 and not yet 31 at the time of applying (Canada up to 35).
• Issued as a national D-type visa valid for up to 1 year; no separate work permit is required.
• The main purpose must be leisure/travel, with employment being supplementary.
• Administered by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy; visas issued by Polish consulates.
• Fee varies by partner country (e.g. Poland–Canada Youth Mobility Program: 202 CAD).

National Visa (D-Type) – Other (General/Miscellaneous)

Catch-all category of the Polish national D-type visa covering purposes not listed separately, such as cultural activities, sports competitions, volunteering, internships, and other justified long-stay purposes.

• Used for purposes such as cultural, sports, scientific, religious, and humanitarian activities.
• Same fee structure and processing times as other D-type categories.
• Applicants must provide documents proving their specific purpose of stay.