Poland Visa From India – How to Apply for Polish Schengen Visa Application Requirements Guide

There are 26 Schengen countries to choose from and Poland is one of them. The city centers of Warsaw and Krakow are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so you will find some lovely attractions to visit. Bialowieza and Karkonoski national parks provide beautiful natural settings with woodlands and waterfalls. In this article, learn more about how to apply for a Poland visa from India, Poland visa appointment booking, processing time at the Poland visa application center, flight itinerary for a Poland visa, hotel bookings for a Poland visa, Schengen travel insurance for a Poland visa application, and Poland visa application process in India.

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Poland Schengen Visas

There were 41,891 Poland visa applications processed by embassies worldwide. Of this amount, 2,350 were rejected. The Embassy of Poland in New Delhi received 385 applications and rejected 113. The consulate in Mumbai received 373 applications and rejected 43.

Applying for a Poland Schengen Visa from India

Applying for a Poland visa is easy in India. All you need to do is to submit your application and supporting documents to one of the offices of VFS Global. Your application is then sent to either the Embassy of Poland or the Consulate of Poland in Mumbai who will make a decision as to whether to grant you a visa.

Please note, you must be able to prove that you are a citizen of India or you have the legal right to live in India.

The embassy will make the decision on the visa within 15 calendar days, but it could take as long as 30 days, so you need to apply in plenty of time. You can apply up to 6 months in advance and no later than 15 days before your departure date.

Types of Schengen visas offered at The Embassy of Poland in India

There are 3 types of visas you can apply for and it is your responsibility to choose the right one:

1. C-Type Schengen Visa – choose this visa if you plan to stay in Poland or other Schengen countries for a maximum of 90 days for business, conference, visiting relatives/friends, tourism etc
2. D-Type National visa – choose this visa if you want to stay in Poland for more than 90 days for employment, study/training, family reunion etc. See the embassy’s website for more information
3. Airport transit Schengen visa (A-Type) – choose this visa type if you plan to pass through an international transit area of a Polish or other Schengen airport. See the embassy’s website for more information

How Can I Apply for a Poland Schengen Visa from VFS Global in India?

To help you to apply for your visa, follow these steps:

1. Step 1 – Identify visa type
2. Step 2 – Begin your application
3. Step 3 – Book an appointment
4. Step 4 – Pay your fees
5. Step 5 – Visit a Visa Application Center
6. Step 6 – Track your application
7. Step 7 – Collect your passport

Step 1 – Identify visa type

Go to VFS Global’s website and click on “Start now”:

Go to “step 1 – identify visa type” and click on the link:

Select the visa you are applying for:

You will then be presented with information about that type of visa. Make sure you familiarize yourself with everything before attending your appointment with VFS Global:

Step 2 – Begin your application

To begin your application, go to “step 2” and click on the link:

Click on the link for the application form:

You will need to download the form to your computer:

Complete the form on your computer as handwritten forms are not accepted. Remember to print and sign it and take it to VFS Global along with the rest of your supporting documents.

Step 3 – Book an appointment

Making appointments with the embassy, consulate or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, the visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below.

1. Go to VFS Global’s website and click on “start now”
2. Go to “step 3” and click on the link to book an appointment
3. On the next page, click on “book now”
4. Create an account and then log in
5. Make your appointment
6. Receive an e-mail confirming your appointment, with a confirmation letter attached

Step 4 – Pay your fees

Fees can be paid in cash or by card.

Along with the visa fees, there is a service charge of INR 927. The visa fee is paid in Indian Rupees and can change due to currency fluctuations.

The visa fee and service charges are non-refundable even if your application is rejected.

Step 5 – Visit a visa application center

When you attend VFS Global for your appointment:

1. Arrive in time for your appointment (at least 15 minutes ahead). If you miss your appointment on the scheduled day, you will need to book a new appointment after 24 hours from your original appointment date
2. You must submit your application in person. You cannot send someone in your place
3. Take a printed copy of your visa application, 2D barcoded sheets (2 copies), passport bio page (2 copies), as well as a valid passport or travel document with at least 2 pages that are blank on both sides
4. You must take a complete set of all supporting documents (an original and a copy for each document)
5. If you have not paid your visa fee online, you can pay your fee at the center
6. You will also provide biometric information collection. A scanner collects images of all 10 digits, and you will have a photo taken. Without biometrics, your visa application will not be processed

You may also be asked questions about your application. Typical questions include:

1. What do you know about Poland?
2. How long are you planning on staying in Poland?
3. Do you know anyone in Poland?
4. What ties do you have in India?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

Step 6 – Track your application

Once your application has been submitted to VFS Global, you can track its status. Go to “step 6” and click on the link:

Key in the VFS reference number and your date of birth to track your application:

Step 7 – Collect your passport

There are different reasons why an application may get rejected:

1. You have a valid Schengen visa – if you have a previous Schengen visa in your passport, it may still be valid, so check this before applying for a new one
2. Passport issued 15 years ago – your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years, otherwise, it is not valid. If this is the case, you must get a new one before applying for a visa
3. You only provided 1 bank statement – you must provide at least the last 3 (sometimes 6) bank statements as part of your application. Refer to the checklists when preparing your documents
4. No travel insurance – you must take out travel insurance which meets certain criteria (see below). The embassy will not accept your application without it

Documents Required

There are document checklists on VFS Global’s website, so familiarize yourself with the requirements before you submit your application.

You should also submit photocopies along with original documents.

Documents include:

1. Passport – should have been issued within the previous 10 years; its validity should extend at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen territory; must have at least two blank pages
2. Passport data pages
3. Visa application form – fully completed and signed twice
4. Two color photos – passport-type, white background 35mm x 45mm, no more than 6-month-old (see full photograph specifications)
5. ID confirming residence in India
6. Cover letter mentioning the purpose and duration of travel
7. Certificate of the travel agency confirming the booking of an organized trip indicating the travel plans
8. Official letter of invitation from the family member/friend, including their address and contact details, and intended period of stay
9. Evidence of legal residence of family/friends visited valid for the whole period of the intended stay (e.g. residence permit, valid visa)
10. If host provides accommodation – document indicating the right of ownership, e.g., rental agreement
11. Proof of relationship document confirming family ties (e.g. birth certificate); for friends visit: confirmation of relationship (e.g. documents, pictures)
12. Flight reservation – if you are traveling to several Schengen States, proof of intra–Schengen flight reservation, train itinerary or car rental to include dates to/from
    
13. Travel medical insurance – must be valid in the Schengen area and for the entire duration of stay. Minimum cover 30,000 Euros and it must cover costs of any emergency medical treatment, hospitalization and repatriation (including in case of death)
14. Accommodation – hotel reservations etc
15. Proof of financial means – 3 months’ bank statements; income tax return for the last two assessment years. If employed: pay slips for the last three months; employment contract and employers’ statement on approval for holidays; If self-employed: certificate of registration of the company; If retired: pension statements for the last three months and/or  proof of other income; If unemployed: any proof of regular income
16. For minors – permission to travel from the parent(s) & parent’s ID

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2. Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

COVID Regulations

All restrictions on travel to Poland are lifted. However, check for updated entry requirements before you travel.

How to contact VFS Global in India

Please contact VFS Global for any information regarding the Poland visa process:

Contact Number: 022-67866078 ( 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday )

Email: info.polandin@vfshelpline.com

Conclusion

To apply for a Poland visa from the Embassy of Poland in India, follow these simple steps:

1. Step 1 – Identify visa type
2. Step 2 – Begin your application
3. Step 3 – Book an appointment
4. Step 4 – Pay your fees
5. Step 5 – Visit a Visa Application Center
6. Step 6 – Track your application
7. Step 7 – Collect your passport