Stay right

By the day of 1st may 2004 year Poland has been affiliated to European Union. Polish border on Bug river has become east boarder of European Community, and in wider geographical and geopolitical plan of whole continent our country has a central position. By receiving a responsible role, bound up with people-cargo border control, Poland is open for newcomers from all around the world.

Hospitality, which Poles pride themselves on, is finding reflection in regulations about foreigners stay on lands of Republic of Poland. The allow to cross the border regardless to provenance, religion, social or political opinion.

However Polish government will refuse anyone to cross the border who have or had law difficulties. So will not cross border legally a foreigner which e.g. has been convicted in Poland by a judgment in force for a willful crime for at least 3 years or has been convicted for a felony behind Polish borders. Will not avail himself of Polish hospitality person under suspicion of terrorism, illegal gun or ammunition running, people smuggling or a person menacing the interest of the country. The authorities can refuse visa to a person which is under age and is not under protection of aged people or if a boundary officer will adjudge that declared point of visit is different tan the real one.
Every foreigner, which wants to legally visit territory of the Republic of Poland should go to a Polish diplomatic institution in his country, where he will get full information on which rules can he stay in Poland. List of Polish consular institutions abroad is generally available on web pages of Foreign Office in English version at http://www.msz.gov.pl
In dependence of purpose of the visit the foreigners may stay in Poland upon:
- valid passport, of which validity exceeds 3 months the date of leving Poland;
- residential visa;
- permission for time stay;
- permission for persistent stay;

In the best situation are citizens of those countries, with which Republic of Poland has signed indentures about lifting the visa duty. They need only a valid passport to pass the border. Time of stay upon the passport is however limited, mostly 90 days.. But there are some countries in this group, of which citizens can stay in Poland more shortly than 90 days. - for example citizens of Singapore - 30 days.

List of "nonvisa" countries is long and can be longer, according to signing more international agreements. There are: Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Equator, Honduras, Hong Kong, Island, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Costa Rica, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA and all the countries being the members of European Union, with countries entering Union on 1st may 2004 (condition from 20.10.2003).

In condition with entering European Union on 1st may 2004, citizens of member countries of the UE and European Economic Area may enter from territory of their country or territory of another member country the territory of RP, upon passports or obligatory in their countries identity cards.

Source: www.poland.gov.pl