There are circumstances when one can apply for a visa on the Polish territory, but these are unusual situations. A provincial governor is the person in charge of issuing visas in Poland.
For example, issuing visas on the territory of Poland is possible in case of an infant born on the territory of Poland, whose parent stays in Poland on the basis of his/her visa. A provincial governor extends the visa only in the case of an occurrence of events that do not depend on the foreigner’s will and were unpredictable in the moment of the consul’s granting him/her the visa (i.e. hospitalization).
A visa can be extended only once. The stay period defined in a visa cannot exceed:
- 3 months in a 6-mont period, in case of a harmonized residence visa, from the date of one’s first entry
- 1 year, in case of a national residence visa
The stay period defined in an extended visa cannot exceed the stay period anticipated for a harmonized and national residence visa. The visa extension application is submitted for, at least:
- 7 days before the final day of stay specified in a harmonized visa
- 14 days before the end of the permitted stay specified in a national visa
On the territory of Poland there are also procedural visas issued. It happens so when the proper unit of administration is not able to issue a residence card on time.
Extension of visa is just one of the possible ways of legalizing one’s stay. Most often the foreigners applying for legalization of their further stay in Poland, are applying for a permission for a time-specific stay. Moreover, there are also other kinds of documents. The table below shows the variety of required documents as well as basic information about administrative proceedings.
ATTENTION!
In Poland, unlike many other countries, there is no presumption that as long as you are applying for a residence document, i.e. temporary residence card, you are here legally. However, if you submitted your documents and have not received any decision yet, the Foreigners’ Unit of Mazowiecki Voivodship Office is obliged to issue a procedural visa for a time period not shorter than until the day the decision is made.
Useful addresses and website links
Addresses of RP Consulates
Diplomatic Posts in Poland
Foreigners’ Unit of Mazowiecki Voivodship Office
Długa 5 St.
00-263 Warszawa
Telephone information service for foreigners: (0-22) 695 67 70 and (22) 695 67 73
A Customer’s Guide of The Foreigners’ Unit of Mazowiecki Voivodship Office in Warsaw
Useful links:
