Poland visa requirements for Kenyans

• Poland is part of the Schengen agreement, so the basic requirements of a Schengen visa apply.
• Kenyans intending to visit Poland for the purpose of hiking, sight-seeing, visitation of historic sites and art museums will need this visa.
• An international passport that will still be valid for at least 3 months after your return from Poland is needed.
• Two 35 x 45 mm professionally photographed passport photographs should be provided. The photos should be identical and taken in light grey or white background.
• If you are employed, you are required to provide the following documents:

                           -  Employment contract.

                     - Current bank statement from the last 6 months.

                     - An approval from your employer.

                    -  Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax

• Proof of accommodation while in Poland must be provided, for example, a confirmed hotel reservation. Twelve-bed hostel dorms can be found for as little as 25 PLN per night, while 4 - 6 bed dorms will cost closer to 45 PLN. Private rooms generally cost 100 - 150 PLN, although this price varies by city. 
• If you’re looking for a romantic getaway destination, Poland offers many options.
• Poland tends to get very cold in the winter and quite hot during the summer. Spring and autumn offer milder temperatures and quite a bit of rainfall, depending on your luck.
• The coldest months are January and February; if you don't like the cold then you should avoid visiting Poland during those months.
• Tourists are not allowed to discuss religion or politics with the locals.
• Poland is the center of vodka, even with that, it is illegal to drink in the streets. You can be fined heavily or deported.
• Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before your trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
  

•  The business visa to Poland allows Kenyans to travel for the purpose of setting up business, or having a business meeting. 

• To apply for a business visa to Poland, the applicant must submit a business invitation from Polish partners to prove the business purpose of the trip. The business invitation should mention establishing contacts with partners (business meetings, negotiations, signing contracts, purchasing goods and services), opening a business, developing business ties or relations with companies or partners.
• When setting up a business in Poland, you must do the following:

            - You must prepare Articles of Association for business registration. These documents must include information like business name, business activities and minimum share capital (PLN 5,000 for an LLC).

            -  The most important step in the registration process is entry into the National Court Register. After registering at the Polish court, REGON (Statistical) and NIP (tax identification) numbers will be issued to you.

            -  As a new business, you must register to the Social Insurance Institution in order to make social insurance payments.

            - You must open an in-country account.

            - You are required to file an application to register as a VAT payer.

• If you have previously been in business with the company you are meeting up with, proof of this is required.
• According to Polish business etiquette, gifts are given at the beginning of a relationship, especially when contracts are made for the first time. You should give a gift as a good-nature offer.
• Here are some few tips while attending a business meeting in Poland:

              - Learn some basic Polish phrases for smoother communication.

              - Avoid talks about politics and religion in general, except they are brought up first.

              -   Avoid speaking with your hands in your pockets - it is considered rude in Poland.

              -   Also don’t sit with one ankle resting on the other knee.

• Original copy of memorandum and an article of association of the Polish company should be submitted.
• Trade license of the company should also be provided.
• Proof of clean criminal record should be presented.
• Kenyans are expected to exit the country at the expiry of their visa.

• Poland is one of the most sought-after destinations for medical treatment. 
• The Poland medical visa is issued to Kenyans  seeking medical treatment in Poland.
• A medical report issued by a hospital in Kenya describing your ailment and the reason it is best treated in Poland is required.
• Certificate of employment from your employer in Kenya including information on leave of absence must be submitted.
• Travel insurance must be provided to ensure you have access to enough funding to cover any medical treatment in Poland.
• Remember to keep all receipts and paperwork as they might be needed by your insurance company (if applicable) to apply for a refund.
• If you are asked to pay for health services upfront, it is likely that you are not going to be treated under the state health system.
• The healthcare system in Poland is universal and free to people who are insured via national insurance contributions.
  
• Minors must ensure they possess the original copy of their birth certificate. If they are traveling alone or with one of their parents, a document of consent which is signed by both parents of the minor should be provided.
• You are expected to leave the country after your treatment has been completed.
• Holders of this visa are not allowed to take up permanent residence in the country.

• A Poland student visa is a National visa. This visa is issued to foreigners who would like to study and stay in Poland for longer than 30 days.
• Poland has become a popular destination for foreign students and this is because of the low tuition and low cost of living in the country.
• The passport-sized photographs used in the application must have the following specifications:

            - Size: 35mm x 45mm.

            - Must be in color and set against a neutral backdrop.

            - Must be recent (taken in the last 6 months).

• Before this visa is issued, a letter of acceptance from the school offering the admission should be submitted.
• An enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses in Poland is also required.
• Certificates and transcripts of applicant's previous schools should be submitted.
• You must provide a cover letter, stating why you chose to study in Poland. 
• Healthcare in Poland is not free for foreigners. It is important for students to have health insurance that comes to at least 30,000 euros.
• Students are required to carry enough funds that'd ensure they can comfortably spend 20 euros per day. 
• When you receive your student visa you will be issued a temporary residence card. The first residence permit is issued for a period of 15 months. It can be renewed afterwards for periods of up to 3 years.
  
• If you don't have enough means to fund yourself while in Poland,  you can support yourself financially through scholarships and funding programs.
• Part-time jobs and, in some cases, student loans are also available to foreigners.

• Foreigners intending to make short stops in Poland can do so with the transit visa.
• This visa allows Kenyans to alight from a flight in a Polish airport and board another flight going to their destination.
• Flight ticket of your destination country should be presented during visa application.
• The visa of your destination country must be provided.
• If you are under the age of 18 years, the unabridged original copy of your birth certificate should be provided.
• Only travelers with a clean criminal record will be issued this visa.
• The visa is valid for 5 days.
• You are required to exit the country before the expiry of your visa.
• The transit visa cannot be extended.

• This visa is for diplomats visiting Poland for diplomatic duties.
• A diplomatic note from the Kenyan government is required. The note should state your status in government, as well as the duration, and purpose of your visit to the country.
• An invitation letter from the Polish government is required.
• Those who are eligible for this visa are Heads of States, consular officers, ministers, and African Union representatives.
• If the purpose of your visit to the country is non-official you will not be issued this visa. Only Heads of States are exempt from this.
• Application form of minors should be signed by both their parents. The original copy of their birth certificate should also be tendered during the visa application process.
• You are permitted to attend meetings and conferences in the country.
• Evidence of the purpose of the journey which includes negotiations, meetings, event by intergovernmental organizations and consultations should be presented.
• Holders of this visa are not allowed to take up a course of study or be paid for services they render in the country.
• Diplomats are required to present a valid means of identification at all times.