Rules for entering Poland for Ukrainians
What documents are required for Ukrainians to enter Poland?
To cross the border with Poland, Ukrainians need to prepare a complete set of documents, as the requirements have become stricter and border guards are checking them thoroughly.
You must have:
- Biometric passport, valid for at least 3 months after the planned date of departure from Poland.
- Medical insurance covering expenses from €30,000, which meets Schengen standards (you can quickly and conveniently purchase a policy on the Visit Ukraine website).
⚠️ Recently, when entering Poland, border guards have been checking for medical insurance more often, especially if the trip is planned to last more than a few days.
Now they pay attention to whether the policy covers the entire period of stay, not just the travel dates. In practice, insurance is often checked along with accommodation reservations and return tickets as part of the assessment of the purpose of the trip.
If you go to a Polish medical facility without an insurance policy, treatment will be charged, and the costs can be significant.
👉 We recommend that you take out medical insurance in advance to avoid additional questions at the border and financial risks.
- Proof of financial means for your stay:
- at least 300 PLN if the trip lasts up to 4 days;
- 75 PLN per day (if the stay exceeds 4 days);
- an additional PLN 500 to PLN 2,500 for the return trip, depending on whether you have a return ticket. The following are accepted as proof: cash, bank statement, confirmation of card limit, paid accommodation reservation, or invitation with sponsorship from the Polish side.
- Documents confirming the purpose of the trip: return tickets, hotel or accommodation reservation, official invitation or other confirmation.
Children must have a separate biometric passport. If a child is traveling with one parent, the consent of the other parent is not required. However, if a child is traveling with relatives or acquaintances, a notarized consent from both parents is required.
Please note: previously, document checks were often formal, but now Poland applies strict EU rules. The absence of any of the documents may be grounds for refusal of entry. Therefore, it is advisable to have not only the originals but also copies of the supporting documents to avoid problems.
Do I need a Green Card to travel by car to Poland?
Yes, if you plan to drive to Poland by your own car, you must have a Green Card - an international driver's liability insurance policy. It confirms that your car is insured for driving in European countries, including Poland. You can quickly and conveniently apply for a Green Card on the Visit Ukraine service.
You will need the following documents to apply for insurance:
- Passport of a citizen of Ukraine;
- international passport;
- car registration certificate.
Can I travel to Poland with pets? What documents are needed?
Currently, the following documents are required to cross the Polish border:
- A document confirming the presence of a microchip on the animal;
- Valid rabies vaccination;
- Veterinary passport of the European standard;
- Health certificate;
- Certificate of testing for rabies antibodies (titers);
- VET-1 or VET-1 (CIS) certificate;
- International certificate. It is issued free of charge at the border at a special veterinary station. The VET-1 certificate is required to obtain it.
Official information on entering Poland with an animal can be found here.
Do I need health insurance to travel to Poland?
Yes, health insurance is mandatory for traveling to Poland, as it covers the costs of medical care in case of illness or accident during your stay in the country. You can apply for a reliable insurance policy on Visit Ukraine, which guarantees the necessary coverage and meets all the requirements for traveling to Europe.
How much money do you need to enter Poland in 2026?
To enter Poland in 2026, you need to confirm that you have sufficient financial resources:
- a minimum of PLN 300 if your stay lasts up to 4 days;
- 75 PLN for each day if the stay exceeds 4 days;
- an additional 500 to 2,500 PLN for the return trip, depending on the availability of a return ticket.
Cash, bank statements, confirmation of the card limit, paid accommodation reservations, or invitations with sponsorship are accepted as proof.
⚠️ Currently, when entering Poland, the actual purpose of the trip is more often clarified, even within the visa-free regime.
In practice, questions arise for travelers who declare tourism but have long-term plans to stay or previous work experience in Poland.
They also pay attention to compliance with the permitted length of stay during previous trips. Inconsistencies between explanations and documents may be grounds for additional checks or refusal of entry.
👉 Legal advice will help you correctly determine the purpose of your trip and prepare documents to avoid risks at the border.
What should I do if I plan to stay in Poland for more than 90 days?
If you plan to stay in Poland longer than the visa-free regime allows, you need to apply for a temporary residence permit (karta pobytu) at the local voivodeship. This card allows you to stay in Poland legally for a period of 1 to 3 years, depending on the circumstances and purpose of your stay.
What should I do if I lost my passport in Poland?
If you lose your passport, you should contact the nearest police station to register the loss and receive a report. Next, contact the consulate or embassy of Ukraine in Poland to obtain a temporary document that will allow you to return to your home country or obtain a new passport.
Are you planning a trip to Poland? You need to be sure that all the documents are executed correctly and that you will receive professional assistance in case of unforeseen situations. Visit Ukraine offers a wide range of legal services to make your trip to Poland as safe and comfortable as possible.
Choose the format that suits you:
- A written consultation is a quick and convenient option to get an answer to your 2 questions. The 2-4 page answer is provided within a day and is available in the language of your choice.
- Introductory consultation (30 minutes) - a short conversation with a lawyer to understand your situation and determine how to proceed.
- Basic consultation (60 minutes) - a detailed discussion of your issue with a specialist, which will allow you to get a clear plan of action and the necessary advice on legalization of your stay or other legal issues in Poland.
- Legal support - comprehensive assistance for those who plan to stay in Poland on a permanent basis. A lawyer provides support at all stages: preparation of documents for the migration service, certification of papers, advice on fiscal certificates, deregistration in Ukraine and obtaining a residence card. We do our best to make your moving process as comfortable and legal as possible.
💡 Make your trip safe - choose your consultation here and travel without any worries!
- necessary medicines;
- personal luggage taken with you on the trip;
- the amount of tobacco and tobacco products and alcoholic beverages that can be imported without paying duty.
- clothes, shoes
- personal hygiene products;
- gifts in the amount of 1 piece of each item;
- telephone (up to 2 pieces);
- laptop (up to 2 pieces);
- musical instrument (up to 2 pieces);
- sports equipment for personal use.
- products made of the skin of wolves, bears, snakes, crocodiles and other wild animals;
- stuffed animals and products made of elements of animal origin, for example, ivory jewelry, feathers of wild birds;
- souvenirs, such as shells, corals;
- original engravings and lithographs;
- handmade paintings older than 50 years that do not belong to their creators, worth 15 thousand euros or more;
- archaeological objects over 100 years old;
- books over 100 years old and worth 50 thousand euros or more;
- archival materials and their parts over 50 years old;
- photographs and paintings made by hand on any media, more than 50 years old and worth 150 thousand euros or more;
- antique items worth 50 thousand euros or more;
- medicines containing animal derivatives, for example, bear fat;
- endangered animals and plants, such as insectivorous plants, tropical wood.
How to travel abroad with a child in 2026?
During martial law, the rules for children leaving Ukraine have peculiarities that should be taken into account before traveling.
- Children under the age of 16 may leave the territory of Ukraine with one of their parents without the notarized permission of the other.
- If the child is traveling with relatives or other trusted persons, a written statement from one of the parents certified by the guardianship authority is sufficient.
- Children who have reached the age of 16 may cross the border on their own in accordance with Article 313 of the Civil Code.
- The main ways to leave are the land borders with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova.
Documents for a child to travel abroad
Before traveling, be sure to check that your child has all the necessary documents:
- Biometric passport
- Birth certificate (if there is no passport)
- Travel permit (if the child is traveling with relatives or other authorized persons)
- Medical insurance with coverage from 30,000 euros
- Documents confirming the grounds for a long-term stay in Poland (study, employment of parents, family reunification)
List of things to take with you when traveling with a child
Documents:
- Originals and copies of all required documents
- Departure permit (if the child is traveling without parents)
What to take on the road:
- Change of clothes and shoes
- Hygiene products, diapers (if necessary)
- Medicines (antipyretic, anti-allergy, digestive)
- Light snacks and water in case of long waiting times
- Toys, books or gadgets to keep your child entertained
If you are traveling by car:
- In Poland, a car seat is mandatory for children under 12 years of age or up to 150 cm tall
- A navigator with a planned route
- A spare set of warm clothes, a blanket
Legal nuances of traveling with a child abroad
Rules for issuing a power of attorney for a child
1. If the child is traveling with one of the parents, the notarized consent of the other parent is not required.
2. If the child is traveling with relatives or other trusted persons, a written consent of one of the parents certified by the guardianship authority is required.
3. Polish border authorities may require a translation of the document into Polish - it is worth checking before the trip.
📌 Not sure whether you need a power of attorney or how to draw it up correctly?
Visit Ukraine lawyers will help you to understand all the nuances of a child's travel abroad, tell you what documents are needed and how to prepare them.
Staying in Poland
- The visa-free regime for Ukrainians is also valid for children with a biometric passport (up to 90 days of stay within 180 days).
- For a longer stay, you need to apply for a residence permit on the basis of study, parental work or family reunification.
📌 Need advice on documents or a residence permit?
Visit Ukraine specialists will help you with:
✔ Registration of a power of attorney for a child
✔ Consultation on departure and residence of a child abroad
✔ Preparation of documents for legal stay in Poland
Practical tips for traveling with a child
- At the border, keep your documents separately and in an easily accessible place.
- Find out about possible preferential queues for parents with children. Some checkpoints have them for young children.
- Make copies of all important documents and save them on your phone or in the cloud.
- Teach your child to know his/her data (name, phone number of parents). For young children, you can use special bracelets with contact information.
Make sure you have health insurance. In Poland, doctors' services for foreigners are paid, and even a consultation can be expensive.
👉 Apply for insurance in a few minutes on Visit Ukraine - it covers emergency care, treatment, diagnosis and hospitalization.
Useful contacts in Poland
📍 Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Poland (consular section)
Address: Antoniego Malczewskiego 17, 02-617 Warsaw
Phone: +48 22 621 39 79, +48 22 622 47 97
Hotline in case of threat to life, accident or death of a citizen of Ukraine: +48 698 608 837
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://poland.mfa.gov.ua/
Borders of the consular district: Mazowieckie, Łódzkie, Wielkopolskie, Lubuskie voivodeships of the Republic of Poland
Consulate of Ukraine in Gdansk
Address: ul. Bernarda Chrzanowskiego 60-A, 80-278 Gdańsk
Hotline in case of threat to life, accident or death of a citizen of Ukraine: +48 6076 543 33
Phone: +48-58-34-606-90
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://gdansk.mfa.gov.ua
Consular district boundaries: Pomeranian, Western Pomeranian, Kuyavian-Pomeranian and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeships of the Republic of Poland
Consulate General of Ukraine in Krakow
Address: Beliny-Prażmowskiego 4, 31-514 Kraków
Phone: +48-12-429-60-66, +48-124-29-45-22
Hotline in case of threat to life, accident or death of a citizen of Ukraine: (+48) 6693 529 62
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://krakow.mfa.gov.ua
Borders of the consular district: Małopolskie, Świętokrzyskie, Silesian, Opolskie, Lower Silesian Voivodeships of the Republic of Poland
Emergency numbers
Ambulance - 112 or 999
Police - 997
In case of an emergency dial a free emergency hotline number 112 – its service is provided in Polish and English. The operator of the 112 service will direct your call to the appropriate emergency service.
In addition, the following numbers of emergency services operate in the territory of the Republic of Poland:
Emergency medical assistance: 999
Firefighters: 998
Police: 997
Municipal police: 986