If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Poland visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Poland may ask you to show PLN 300 for up to 4 days, then PLN 75 per day. Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Poland, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Poland can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Poland can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: PLN 300 for stays of up to 4 days; PLN 75 per day for longer stays. (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Poland
Main international airports in Poland: Warszawa Chopin (WAW), Kraków (KRK), Gdańsk (GDN).
If Poland is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Poland is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
Poland has an external Schengen land border with Belarus, Ukraine, Russia. Crossing there means a full passport check and EES registration, just like at an airport.
The EES at airports and borders in Poland
In Poland, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Warszawa Chopin (WAW) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Poland no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Poland in depth: eastern borders and the złoty
Poland guards a long stretch of the EU's eastern frontier. Its borders with Belarus, Ukraine and Russia (Kaliningrad) are external Schengen borders; crossings with Belarus and Russia have been heavily restricted or closed in recent years, so check the current situation before planning an overland route.
Poland uses the złoty (PLN), and the minimum funds are set in złoty: PLN 300 for stays of up to four days and PLN 75 per day after that.
Warsaw Chopin and Kraków are the usual first Schengen airports. Trains from Germany, Czechia, Slovakia or Lithuania cross internal borders with no routine checks.
Good to know about Poland
- Land borders with Belarus and Ukraine are external Schengen borders with tighter checks.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Poland add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Poland after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Poland use the euro?
No, it uses the złoty (PLN).
Do US citizens need a visa for Poland?
No. US citizens can visit Poland visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Poland?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Poland, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
How much money do I need to enter Poland?
PLN 300 for stays of up to 4 days; PLN 75 per day for longer stays. Border officers may ask you to show it with cards, bank statements or cash.
Keep reading
Sources
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.