Poland
About
| Poland offers something for every traveller - with the wild scenery of its mountainous south , and its great skiing and hiking , to the stunning old towns of Krakow, Zamosc and Gdansk and the wilderness of the Bialowieza National Park and the Great Malsurian Lakes in the country's north. There's little more inspiring than a hike in some of Poland's national parks and nature reserves. Nature enthusiasts can visit the Kampinos National Park, wear Warsaw, while the Bieszczady National Park, part of the Carpathian mountain range, contains the surviving fragments of the Great Bieszczady Forest, home to the brown bear, lynx,wolf and wildcat. A horse-drawn sleigh ride is a magical experience, though be sure to have either warmed beer or heated honey vodka afterwards. Snow falls throughout Poland during winter months so these types of rides are on offer all over the country. The perfect escape from the crowds can be found in a trip to the Hel Peninsula in the country's north east, a perfect place to escape by bike or on foot that also has some good beaches and camp sites. |
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| Capital: | Warsaw (WAW) |
| Currency: | Zloty (PLN) |
| Language: | Polish. German, English, Russian and French may also be spoken. |
| Dialling code from SA: | + 48 |
| Time Zones: | UTC / GMT +1 (1 hour behind South Africa) |
| Daylight Savings Time: | From last Sunday March to last Sunday October: UTC / GMT +2 (same time as South Africa) |
| Side of the Road: | Right |
| Best Time to Go: | May - September |
| Best for: | Medieval Architecture, Religious Sites, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Historical Sites |
| Plugs: | 230 volts AC, 50Hz; continental plugs with two round pins |
| Drinking Water: | Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink. |
| Health: | There are adequate and well-equipped medical facilities in the main towns, however visitors are required to pay for these services. Doctors and nurses may not speak English. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended. Outside of the main towns, medical facilities may be more limited. If you take prescription medication on your travels it is best to bring it with you, in the original packaging, with a signed and dated letter from your doctor detailing exactly what it is and why you need it. |
| Customs: | If visiting the rural areas, not that the locals are very conservative and religious. Respect to religion should be shown. |
| Local Offences / Law: | Jay walking is punishable with a fine. If caught by the police being drunk in public, you will be taken to a drying out clinic and charged for the stay. Driving under the influence of alcohol is punishable. Military installations should not be photographed. Smoking is banned in public areas. |
| Duty Free: | If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported into Poland by persons over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty: • 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco (if arriving by air or sea). • 40 cigarettes or 20 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50g of tobacco (if arriving by land or rail). • 4L of wine and 16L of beer and 1L of spirits over 22% or 2L of alcoholic beverages less than 22%. • Other goods up to the value of €430 for air and sea travellers and €300 for other travellers. |
| Prohibited Imports: | Unlicensed firearms and ammunition, narcotics, meat and dairy products from outside the EU. Endangered species require a permit. You may only import small quantities of plants, fruit and vegetables for personal use; otherwise they require a phytosanitary certificate. |
| Prohibited Exports: | Certain arts and antiquities require an export licence, e.g. archaeological artefacts more than 100 years old or paintings more than 50 years old. Endangered species also require a permit. |
Travel Alerts
July 2025: Due to the enormous interest in visas to Poland, we would like to inform you that booking an appointment at a time convenient for you is now very difficult. Please take this fact into consideration when planning your trip to Poland.
This Information is intended as a Guideline.
Issuing Authorities
Embassy of the Republic of Poland
14 Amos Street, Colbyn, 0083, Pretoria
Tel: +27 (0)12 430 2621 / 31 / 32
E-mail: pretoria.consul@msz.gov.pl
Website: www.gov.pl/web/southafrica/embassy
Monday: 14:00- 17:00
Tuesday - Friday: 09:00-12:00
All Consular visits must be made by appointment via the e-Konsulat system online: www.e-konsulat.gov.pl. New appointment dates are made available every Monday evening after 19:00.
Please ensure that EACH CASE is registered INDIVIDUALLY.
Collections of documents (passports, visas or documents) may be done anytime during the above-mentioned times without an appointment.
Public Holidays 2025: Jan 1, 6; Apr 20-21; May 1, 3; Jun 8, 19; Aug 15; Nov 1, 11; Dec 25-26
Public Holidays 2026: Jan 1, 6; Apr 5-6; May 1, 3, 24; Jun 4; Aug 15; Nov 1, 11; Dec 24-26
Visa Requirements
Visas are required by SA passport holders.
Poland is a member of the Schengen Agreement.
- If you intend to visit only Poland, you must apply at the Embassy of Poland/ Visa Application Centre.
- If you intend to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate that is your main destination / longest stay.
- If you intend to visit several countries but are spending an equal number of days in each, you should apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate of the country of your first point of entry.
REQUIREMENTS:
See General Schengen Requirements
In addition:
NOTE: All original documents (passports, certificates, official letters, etc.) must be accompanied by copies thereof.
- Visa application form must be submitted in person.
- Visa application form completed via the e-konsulat system, printed and signed.
- If you have more than one valid passport, you should include it with your visa application.
The visa may be collected by a courier or representative, who should present an authorization letter which has been signed by the passport holder.
Visa Processing Time
Apply at least 2-3 weeks before the intended visit. Not more than 6 months before the visit.
Visa Validity
Stays of up to 90 days in a 180 day period
Visa Cost
ZAR 1832. Please refer to Embassy for updated fees based on exchange rate.
All consular fees must be paid in cash. Visa Fees are non-refundable.
SA Representative
SA Embassy
54 Koszykowa,Trade Center, 6th Floor Warsaw 00675, Poland
Tel: +4822 622-1031/ 1005
E-mail: warsaw.dha@dirco.gov.za
Web: dirco1.azurewebsites.net/warsaw/
Travel Health
| Compulsory: | None |
| Recommended Travel Vaccines: | Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Polio |
