Your stay in Poland

EU Citizens
 
A foreigner is considered a citizen of the European Union if they meet one of the following criteria:
 
They are a citizen of an EU Member State, or they are a citizen of a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Member State, namely Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland.
Staying for up to 90 days: To enter Poland and stay for a period of up to 90 days, an EU citizen only needs to present an identity document (identity card or passport).
Staying for more than 90 days: An EU citizen planning to stay in Poland for longer than 90 days must apply to register their stay with the relevant voivode (provincial authority) in the area where they reside. The application is free of charge, and once submitted, the registration is processed immediately. The citizen will then receive a certificate confirming their registered stay without delay.
 
Useful website: https://www.katowice.uw.gov.pl/service/gb/registration-of-residence-of-a-eu-citizen
 
NON-EU Citizens

Schengen Visa ("C")
Schengen Visa ("C") is a short-stay visa issued for the stay up to 90 days in 180 days. This type of visa owner is entitled to enter Poland's territory and travel freely within the Schengen area.

National visa ("D")
National visa ("D") it is a long-stay visa entitling its owner to entry and continuous stay on the territory of Poland for a period of up to one year. This type of visa also allows travelling freely within the Schengen area for 90 days in 180 days.
Students coming for a period of study longer than 3 months are therefore obliged to apply for a visa in a consulate or embassy for the whole planned period of stay in Poland. The prolongation of a visa in Poland is only possible in case of situations impossible to foresee while applying for the visa in the consulate. The visa can be prolonged only once.
 
Students who have received a visa for the whole period of stay in Poland are not obliged to apply for a residence permit for their stay in Poland.
 
Useful website: https://immigration-portal.ec.europa.eu/index_en

Insurance

Exchange students coming to our university are required to have health and accident insurance that covers the entire duration of their stay in Poland. It is also highly recommended to have liability insurance.

Please ensure that you carefully review the expiration date, coverage, and all terms of the insurance policy you plan to purchase. If you intend to travel to other countries during your stay in Poland, make sure that your insurance includes coverage for those trips.

Students from the European Union or the European Economic Area should apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in their home country.

We strongly encourage you to follow these guidelines, as they are in your best interest.

Health Insurance for EU/EEA Citizens

EU/EEA citizens should obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the relevant authority in their home country before arriving in Poland. The card must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Poland. With the EHIC, you are entitled to receive health care in Poland free of charge, under the same conditions as Polish citizens. Free health services are available at clinics, hospitals, and doctors’ offices that have a contract with the Polish National Health Fund (NFZ), the organization responsible for health care in Poland.

You can identify these health care providers by the NFZ logo:

To receive treatment from a general practitioner, you will need to present your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a replacement certificate, along with a valid identity document and your student ID.

Health Insurance for Non-EU Citizens

Students from outside the European Union and EEA countries are required to obtain health insurance either through the Polish National Health Fund (NFZ) after arriving in Poland or through a private insurance company, either in their home country or in Poland. The insurance must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Poland.

Depending on the terms of your insurance, you may receive health care free of charge, or you may need to pay for treatment and seek reimbursement after returning home.

If you choose to enroll with the Polish National Health Fund (NFZ), the cost will be approximately PLN 50,00 (12 EUR) per month. To access health services, you will need to present your NFZ contract and proof of your monthly premium payment.