• Indian ordinary passport holders require a Schengen visa to visit Poland for tourism.
• The correct visa category is the Short-Stay Schengen Visa – Type C.
• Poland must be the correct Schengen country to process the application.
Normally apply through Poland when:
Poland is the only Schengen destination
OR
Poland is the main destination based on the principal purpose or longest duration of stay.
Where a main destination cannot be determined, Poland may be competent where the traveller first crosses the external Schengen border through Poland.
Application in India:
• Applications are submitted personally through VFS Global.
• Applicants must book an appointment through VFS.
• The final decision is made by the Embassy of Poland in New Delhi or Consulate General of Poland in Mumbai according to jurisdiction.
New Delhi jurisdiction covers northern, eastern and several central Indian states.
Mumbai jurisdiction covers states including:
Tamil Nadu
Puducherry
Kerala
Karnataka
Andhra Pradesh
Telangana
Maharashtra
Gujarat
Goa
and other states/territories listed by the Polish Embassy.
Passport Requirements:
• Passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years.
• Passport must remain valid for at least 3 months after the intended departure from the Schengen Area.
• Passport must contain at least 2 blank pages.
• Damaged travel documents can be refused.
• Copy of the current passport bio-data page is required.
• For Indian passports, a copy of the last page is also required.
• Copies of previous Schengen entry/exit stamps should be provided where available.
Visa Application:
• Completed Schengen Visa Application Form is required.
• The form must not contain blanks.
• It must be signed by the applicant.
• For minors, the appropriate parent or legal guardian must sign according to the applicable rules.
Photograph:
One recent colour photograph is required.
Requirements:
35 × 45 mm
White background
Not older than 6 months
Face should occupy approximately 70–80% of the photograph.
Cover Letter:
A covering letter is required.
It should explain:
Purpose of travel
Duratio
Names of accompanying travellers
Transportation arrangements
Accommodation details
Overall travel itinerary.
Travel Itinerary:
Proof of intended transport and itinerary is required.
Tourists should provide:
Detailed travel plan
Travel agency confirmation if using an organised tour
OR
Other appropriate documentation explaining the planned trip.
Flight Booking:
Round-trip flight reservation should be provided.
Where travelling through several Schengen countries, also provide applicable:
Internal flights
Train reservations
Bus bookings
Car rental
Other transportation arrangements.
A reservation is sufficient; applicants should avoid unnecessary non-refundable bookings before visa approval.
Accommodation:
Accommodation must cover the complete intended stay.
Acceptable evidence includes
Hotel reservations
Holiday-home rental
Other appropriate confirmed accommodation.
If visiting several Schengen countries, accommodation should normally be provided for each destination.
For a private stay with family or friends, appropriate sponsorship/private accommodation evidence should be provided.
Travel Medical Insurance:
Mandatory.
Minimum Coverage:
EUR 30,000 per person
The insurance must:
Be valid throughout the Schengen Area
Cover the entire intended stay
Cover emergency medical treatment
Cover hospitalisation
Cover medical repatriation
Cover repatriation in case of death.
For applicants in India, Poland requires an original insurance certificate from an insurer on the approved list used by Schengen diplomatic missions in India.
Financial Requirements:
Poland has an official border financial-means requirement.
For a stay of up to 4 days:
Minimum PLN 300 per person
For a stay longer than 4 days
Minimum PLN 75 per person for each day of the planned stay.
Examples:
4 days:
PLN 300
7 days:
PLN 525
10 days:
PLN 750
15 days:
PLN 1,12
If the traveller does not have a return ticket, additional funds may be required to cover the cost of departure.
For a traveller arriving from a non-EU country without a return ticket, Poland publishes an additional minimum reference of:
PLN 2,500.
Important:
These are border financial reference amounts.
They are not an automatic visa approval formula.
The Embassy assesses the applicant's complete financial circumstances.
Bank Statement
Mandatory.
Poland's current February 2026 India Tourist Visa checklist requires:
Original personal bank statement showing movements during the last 3 months.
The bank statement must be:
Stamped by the bank
Signed by the bank.
Income Tax Returns:
Mandatory under the current India tourism checklist.
Provide:
Indian Income Tax Return acknowledgement for the last 2 assessment years.
For Employed Applicants:
Provide:
• Last 3 months salary slips
• Employment contract
• Employer statement approving leave / holidays
• Last 3 months original personal bank statements
• ITR acknowledgement for the last 2 assessment years.
For Self-Employed / Company Owners:
Provide:
• Company registration certificate
• GST registration number for an India-based company
• Business bank-account statement
• Proof of Income Tax Return that is barcode-verifiable
• Personal financial documents where applicable.
For Students:
Provide:
• Certificate from School / College / University confirming enrolment.
• Student ID – recommended where available.
• Parent/sponsor financial evidence where the student is financially dependent.
For Retired Applicants:
Provide:
• Pension statements for the last 3 months
AND/OR
• Evidence of regular income generated from property or business.
For Sponsored Applicants:
Provide:
• Sponsorship evidence
• Sponsor financial documents
• Proof of relationship where applicable
• Proof of private accommodation where applicable.
Where Poland's national sponsorship form or registered invitation is applicable, the appropriate official document should be provided.
For Unemployed Applicants:
An unemployed applicant can apply.
The applicant should clearly establish
Who is financing the journey
Availability of sufficient funds
Relationship with the sponsor where relevant
Personal/family/economic circumstances in India
Credible intention to return after the holiday.
Appropriate sponsor documents should be provided where another person finances the trip.
Minors:
If travelling with only one parent:
Written consent certified by a public notary from the non-travelling parent/legal guardian is required unless sole custody can be established.
If travelling without either parent:
Notarised consent from both parents/legal guardians is required.
Also provide:
Copies of parent/guardian identification documents
Birth certificate where applicable
Custody or guardianship documents where relevant.
Biometrics:
• Schengen biometric data are normally required.
• Applicants aged 12 and above normally provide fingerprints.
• If fingerprints were collected for a previous Schengen visa application within the last 59 months, they normally do not need to be collected again.
• Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprint collection.
• The Polish authorities may still require personal appearance where necessary.
Invitation Letter:
Not required for a normal independent tourist staying in hotels.
For visiting family or friends, provide:
Invitation from the host
Host address
Contact details
Intended period of stay
Proof of the host's legal residence in Poland where applicable.
Hotel Booking:
Required.
Return Ticket:
Round-trip travel reservation required/recommended as part of the itinerary.
Bank Statement:
Mandatory – last 3 months, stamped and signed.
Income Tax Returns:
Last 2 assessment years.
Travel Insurance:
Mandatory – minimum EUR 30,000.
Employment Documents:
Required according to applicant profile.
Aadhaar:
Not listed as a standard mandatory Tourist Visa document.
PAN:
Not listed as a universal mandatory Tourist Visa document.
Police Clearance Certificate:
Not required for an ordinary short-term Tourist Visa.
Medical Examination:
Not normally required.
Vaccination Certificate:
Not listed as a standard Poland Schengen Tourist Visa application requirement.
