On December 21, 2007, Poland joined the ranks of the Schengen countries. To apply for a short-term tourist visa for up to 90 days, Russian citizens need the following documents:
– A visa application form filled in Russian (in this case, the words must be written in Latin letters), Polish or English and signed personally by the applicant. The application form can be printed here.
– One color photo that meets the following requirements: color photo, clear, clean and contrasting, 3.5 x 4.5 cm, printed on high quality paper on a light background. The photo must be no more than 6 months old to be able to identify with the applicant, taken from the front, showing clearly the eyes and face on both sides from the top of the head to the top of the shoulders so that the face occupies 70 – 80% of the photo. The photograph should show the applicant without a headdress, looking straight ahead, with his mouth closed, his face should not be covered with hair. If the applicant wears glasses, the photo must meet the following criteria: the lenses must not be tinted, the frame must not cover any part of the eye, and there must not be any glare.
If the applicant is wearing a religious head covering, then the photograph must meet the following additional criteria: the chin, forehead and both cheeks must be clearly visible, and there must be no head covering shadows on the face.
– Passport and a copy of the passport page with a photo and personal data. The passport must be signed and valid for more than 3 months after the expiration date of the requested visa. Passports are accepted without additional covers (for example, plastic, leather).
– A copy of the civil passport.
– Confirmation that the applicant has funds to cover the expenses associated with the trip, for example: bank statement, traveler’s checks, credit cards (with a certificate from the bank on the availability of funds on the card), an invitation (original and copy) issued in accordance with Aliens Act of June 13, 2003, registered with the Voivodeship Office.
– Health insurance with a coverage of 30,000 euros, valid in all countries of the European Union. The insurance policy must cover the entire period of validity of the visa and all planned days of stay.
– Original certificate from the place of work:
for employees: certificate from the place of work, issued on a form with the details of the organization, indicating the position, length of service and salary;
for private entrepreneurs: a copy of the certificate of registration of an individual or legal entity, as well as a certificate of registration with the tax authority (TIN);
for students: a certificate from the place of study, in case of a trip during school hours – a certificate of permission to be absent from classes.
– Copy of passport pages with previous Polish and Schengen visas.
– Confirmation of full payment for the booked hotel room or confirmation of your trip from a travel agency.
– Original and copy of round-trip tickets or a document giving the right to use an existing vehicle.
If the applicant is a minor and is traveling alone or with one of the parents, a copy of the written consent of the non-traveling parent(s) or guardian for the child’s travel is required, or, if it is impossible to obtain it, documents confirming the reason for the lack of consent (certificate of the parent singles or other documents).
The consular fee for consideration of a visa application is 35 euros for Russian citizens.
Import foreign currency is allowed without restrictions, but all currency in excess of 2500 USD must be included in the customs declaration. The export of currency is allowed within the amount specified in the customs declaration. It is prohibited to export abroad and import into Poland Polish currency and other Polish currency valuables without an appropriate permit. It is also necessary to declare antique jewelry and books published before 1945.
Meat, fish, poultry meat and canned food from them – up to 2 kg, animal and vegetable fats – up to 1 kg, dairy products – up to 1 kg, chocolate and chocolate products – up to 1 kg, natural coffee – up to 200 gr, strong alcoholic drinks or alcohol – up to 1 liter, wine – up to 3 liters, beer – up to 1 liter, cigarettes – up to 250 pcs., cigars – up to 50 pcs., tobacco – up to 250 gr, as well as souvenirs in the amount not exceeding 100 USD and goods for personal use in the amount of not more than 1 item of each item per person. It is allowed to import products made of gold, platinum, precious stones and natural pearls, if their total weight does not exceed 50 grams.
The import of hunting, sporting, firearms or gas weapons and up to 100 pieces of cartridges is allowed, subject to the mandatory issuance of a permit from the relevant consular office of Poland.
The import of explosives and radioactive substances, poisons and drugs is strictly prohibited. The import of a number of medicines (insulin, a prescription is required) and gasoline (only within the volume of the gas tank of the car) is limited.
Embassy in Poland
Poland, embassy in Moscow
123557, st. Klimashkina, 4, near the metro stations Belorusskaya and Barrikadnaya.
The Embassy is open daily from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17.00.
tel. 231-15-00
fax 231-15-15, 231-15-35, 254-22-86
telex 414362 AMPOL RU
Consular department 231-15-52, 231-15-53, 9.00 to 13.00. Entrance from Bolshoy Tishinsky Lane.
Poland, Embassy website: http://www.polandemb.ru/
Poland, Russian Embassy in the country:
Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Poland
00-761 Warsaw, st. Belvederska, 25C
phone (8-10-48-22) 849-51-11
fax (8-10-48-22) 849-40-85
Contact in Poland
You can call anywhere in the country and abroad from a payphone, as well as from a post office or from a hotel, but a call from a hotel will cost much more.
There are 3 types of payphones: accepting only magnetic cards, only chip cards, and accepting both magnetic and chip cards. There are few payphones operating from tokens in the country. The cards are sold at all newsstands and come in denominations of 25, 50, or 100 “pulses”. The ratio of the minute of conversation and the duration of the “impulse” depends on the nature of the call and the time of day (for local calls from 8.00 to 22.00, one “impulse” is equal to 3 minutes, from 22.00 to 8.00 – 6 minutes, a long-distance call from 8.00 to 18.00 – 43 seconds, from 18.00 to 8.00 – 87 seconds). An international call is much more expensive. The cost of one minute of conversation with Russia is about 2 PLN.
When calling to a cell phone, the caller pays for the conversation, and not the owner of the mobile phone, the cost of such a call is equal to the international one. Mobile phone numbers start with “0”. Outgoing calls to phones starting with “800” are free. Calls to telephones starting with “801” and “804” are charged as for a local call.
To call from Poland to Russia, dial 007 – area code – phone number.
To call from Russia to Poland, dial 8 – 10 – 48 – area code – phone number.
Emergency Phones in Poland
997 – police
999 – ambulance
998 – fire brigade
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
January 1 – New Year
Easter – Sunday and Monday (usually 1-2 weeks earlier than Orthodox)
May 1 – Workers’ Day
May 3 – Constitution Day (Constitution of 1791)
Corpus Christi – Thursday (date depends on Easter)
15 August – Feast of the Assumption of the Mother of God
October 30-November 1 – All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day
November 11 – Independence Day
December 25-26 – Christmas
USEFUL THINGS
The level of crime in Poland is still quite high, so you need to be very careful in crowded places, in transport and in crowded areas. It is not recommended to carry large amounts of cash with you. Passport and securities should also be kept in a place inaccessible to outsiders.
In Warsaw, Katowice and Szczecin, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., minors are not allowed to appear on the streets and in public places unaccompanied by adults. During children’s holidays, this rule applies throughout Poland, due to the alarming increase in the number of offenses committed by teenagers at night. This also applies to children – tourists from other countries.
SHOPS
According to medicinelearners, department stores are open from 10:00 to 17:00-19:00 on weekdays and from 9:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays. Grocery stores in large cities are open on weekdays from 06:00 to 18:00-19:00, on Saturdays – from 07:00 to 13:00. On Sundays and holidays, and often at night, many supermarkets are open, as well as large department stores and shopping centers.
In large Polish stores, there is a VAT refund system for exported goods if the purchase amount exceeds PLN 200. The seller needs to issue the necessary documents, and when leaving the country, you need to present the exported goods in a packaged form and checks to Polish customs officers so that they put the necessary stamp. VAT refund points are located at border crossings at the border.
TIPS
Tip in the restaurant is 10% of the bill. If they are not included in the bill, it is recommended to simply round the amount. Tipping is not accepted in taxis.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Poles are one of the most religious nations in the world. The Roman Catholic Church enjoys great political influence and social prestige in Poland. Characteristic features of this nation are goodwill and hospitality.
ELECTRICITY
220V, 50Hz;
HEALTH CARE
No special vaccinations are required to enter Poland.
From May 1, 2004, a foreigner entering Polish territory must present to the border troops an insurance policy covering, if necessary, the cost of treatment in Poland, or the original invitation. In the absence of these documents, a foreigner must present at the entrance to Poland an amount of at least PLN 300 for each day of stay in Poland or an equivalent amount in foreign currency. A confirmation of the availability of financial resources can be an open account in a Polish bank, as well as the presence of a valid payment bank card.
Most drugs in pharmacies are sold by prescription. In every major city there are pharmacies on duty, working around the clock.
