ETIAS Poland for British
ETIAS APPLICATIONPoland entry requirements from the UK
UK citizens travelling to the Schengen area will soon require an ETIAS visa waiver for Poland. The electronic visa waiver can be requested online in a matter of minutes by meeting a few basic requirements.
Poland entry requirements from the UK
UK travellers can currently travel to Poland without the need for any additional travel documentation except for their passports. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months after they will leave the Schengen Area.
Poland's entry requirements for British citizens will change starting from 2026 with the introduction of the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System). With ETIAS, the passport validity requirement will be reduced to 3 months from the entry date into the Schengen area.
The ETIAS Poland for British visitors will be valid for multiple entries over a 3-year period or until the passport expires, whichever happens first.
Nationals of the UK will be allowed to stay in Poland (or any other Schengen Area state) for a maximum of 90 days every 180 days.
When will UK citizens need the ETIAS to travel to Poland?
UK citizens need to apply for the ETIAS for Poland starting from 2026. Until then, they are free to enter Poland only with their valid passports.
It is important to note that the ETIAS allows travellers to visit Poland for tourism, leisure, business, transit (only when leaving and re-entering the airport), or short-term study. The ETIAS is not a visa and does not replace one.
Britons who must work or study for an extended period in Poland may also require a visa.
How to apply for ETIAS Poland?
British nationals can apply for the ETIAS Poland from the comfort of their homes in a few minutes. To apply, they must fill in an online form with the following information:
- Personal details: full name, nationality, gender, date and place of birth
- Passport details: number, issuing country and date, expiry date
- Contact details: home address, phone number, email address
- Answers to security questions
Once they have filled in the application form, travellers can pay the ETIAS fee via credit or debit card and submit their application for review.
ETIAS Poland applications are generally processed within 24 to 48 hours, although most of them are approved after just a few hours.
To avoid delays, applicants must ensure the information provided is free of any mistakes.
UK travellers applying for ETIAS with dual citizenship must choose one of their passports for both application and travel.
The details on the ETIAS must match those on the travel document that travellers will be asked to show at border controls when they first enter the Schengen area.
Travel to Poland after Brexit
Although short-term travel is still free for UK citizens visiting Poland, travellers must be aware of a few changes following Brexit:
- UK biometric passports must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the Schengen Area departure date and issued no more than 10 years before the trip.
- British citizens can no longer enter Poland using the EU exclusive border gates.
- Travellers may have to provide proof of onward travel or a return ticket along with proof of funds to support their trip.
- British passport holders will require a visa to work in Poland.
Poland travel information
Poland is a country in Central Europe, bordered by Lithuania, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany.
Aside from its capital and the largest city of Warsaw, Poland’s main cities and popular tourist destinations are Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Poznań, and Szczecin.
Many British citizens visit Poland’s main cities every year.
- Capital CityWarsaw
- LanguagePolish
- CurrencyEuro
- Plug TypesTypes C, E and F
- Emerency Phone Number112
Recommended insurances to travel to Poland
British citizens travelling to Poland can no longer apply for the UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If they still have a valid EHIC, they may use it until it expires.
As a replacement for the EHIC, the UK government has introduced the GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) which allows travellers to receive discounted or free state healthcare in Poland and other European countries, except for Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Important: the EHIC and GHIC do not replace travel insurance. UK travellers visiting Poland are encouraged to get travel insurance before their trip.
British representation in Poland
The UK has several diplomatic missions in Poland, including the embassy in Warsaw and 7 consulates in Poland’s main cities.
The British Embassy is located at the following address:
British Embassy in Warsaw
Warsaw
ul. Kawalerii 12, 00-468 Warsaw, Poland
British Honorary Consulate in Gdansk
Gdansk
Gdansk, Poland
British Honorary Consulate in Krakow
Consulate
Kraków, Poland
British Honorary Consulate in Lodz
Lodz
Lodz, Poland
British Honorary Consulate in Lublin
Lublin
Lublin, Poland
British Honorary Consulate in Poznan
Poznan
Poznan, Poland
British Honorary Consulate in Szczecin
Szczecin
Szczecin, Poland
British Honorary Consulate in Wroclaw
Wroclaw
Wroclaw, Poland
Poland representation in the UK
Poland has many diplomatic representations in the UK, including the Polish Embassy in London and a total of nine consulates. Here are the locations of the embassy and main consulates:
Polish Embassy in London
London
47 Portland Place, London W1B 1JH, United Kingdom
Polish Consulate General in Belfast
Belfast
Malone Road, BT9 6SB Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Polish Honorary Consulate in Cardiff
Cardiff
Rhiwau, Old Port Road, Wenvoe, Cardiff CF5 6AL, United Kingdom
Polish Consulate General in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Kinnear Road, Edinburgh EH3 5PE, United Kingdom
Polish Consulate General in Manchester
Manchester
Portland Street, Manchester M1 3LD, United Kingdom
Most important airports in Poland
With several big cities, Poland has numerous international airports that UK travellers can fly to.
Below are the main airports in Poland:
Warsaw Chopin Airport
Warsaw
WAW
Kraków John Paul II International Airport
Kraków
KRK
Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport
Gdańsk
GDN
Copernicus Wrocław Airport
Copernicus
WRO
Katowice International Airport
Katowice
KTW
Poznań-Ławica Airport
Poznań
POZ
Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport
Rzeszów
RZE
Szczecin-Goleniów "Solidarność" Airport
Goleniów
SZZ