PolandStudy and training

Poland internship visa and residence permit for interns

National visa (D) for an internship and temporary residence permit for an intern

In short

Students and graduates of the last 2 years can do an internship linked to their studies in Poland. Polish consulates issue a national D visa for internships, and in Poland an intern residence permit for 3 to 6 months is available if the organiser is approved by the Interior Minister.

Apply on MOS – Moduł Obsługi Spraw (Office for Foreigners e-application portal) checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Intern permit: from more than 3 up to 6 months; D visa up to 1 year
Validity
The period needed for the internship, 3–6 months
Fee
€135National (D) visa fee set by the Polish MFA from 1 June 2024; consulates may collect it in local currency, and an external service provider may add its own fee. Not refunded if refused. A residence permit in Poland costs a separate stamp duty plus PLN 100 for the card.
Funds required
PLN 1,010 per monthMonthly means after housing costs above PLN 1,010 for a single person or PLN 823 per person in a family (social-assistance thresholds in force since 2025), plus PLN 2,500 per person for the return to a non-EU country.
Processing time
Visa: up to 30 days where documents are checked; permit stamp duty PLN 340
Work
An internship is not work; paid work requires a work permit
Where to apply
D visa: in person at the Polish consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or the visa centre it uses, after registering in e-Konsulat; permit: MOS portal in Poland

Who qualifies

You must be a student at, or have graduated within the last 2 years from, a higher education institution outside the EU, and be accepted for an internship that matches the field and level of your studies and lasts more than 3 months. Under the Foreigners Act an internship means tasks set by the organiser that are not work and serve to gain knowledge and experience.

The organiser must be a legal entity based in Poland approved by the Minister of the Interior for receiving foreign interns; the ministry publishes the list. You must also have completed or be attending a language course at the level the internship needs.

The internship agreement

The written agreement must describe the programme (aims, theoretical and practical training, position, language and required level, tasks, skills to be gained), duration, place, supervisor and hours, and the parties' duties on costs, medical checks, accident insurance and days off, as well as termination and how results are confirmed.

The organiser must also commit in writing to cover return-decision costs within 6 months after the agreement ends if you stay illegally.

Required documents

Identity

  • Visa form completed in e-Konsulat, printed and signed, and one 3.5 x 4.5 cm biometric photo (white background, max. 6 months old)
  • Civil-status, residence and criminal record documents as listed in the checklist of the consulate where you apply

Travel

  • Passport not older than 10 years, valid 3 months beyond the visa, two blank pages; copy of the data page and of Schengen visas from the last 3 years

Money

  • Own bank statement for the last 3 months, or notarised sponsor letter with sponsor's statement, or grant letter, as the consulate's checklist asks

Study

  • Invitation from the Polish university, institution or internship organiser (original and copy)
  • Student ID copy or student certificate, or a diploma obtained within the last 2 years

Insurance

  • Health insurance valid in Poland for every day of the stay, cover at least EUR 30,000, meeting the Foreigners Act conditions

Other

  • Accommodation: confirmation from the host company, hotel booking or rental contract

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Money

  • Proof of payment to the institution, if the programme is paid

Funds

You need more than PLN 1,010 a month after housing costs (PLN 823 per person in a family) and PLN 2,500 for the return to a non-EU country. Consulates typically accept your own bank statement, a notarised sponsor letter, or a grant letter.

Visa, then permit

Apply for the internship D visa at the Polish consulate responsible for your place of residence, or its visa centre, with the consulate's checklist. If you want to stay on a residence permit, apply in MOS during your legal stay; the permit covers the internship period, from more than 3 up to 6 months, with stamp duty of PLN 340 and PLN 100 for the card.

  1. Find an internship with an organiser on the Interior Ministry's approved list and sign the written agreement.
  2. Prepare the D visa documents from the checklist of the Polish consulate responsible for your place of residence, with originals and copies as it asks.
  3. Fill in the form in e-Konsulat, book the appointment and apply in person at the consulate or its visa centre; pay the visa fee as the consulate directs.
  4. After arriving, register your address and, before the visa expires, apply for a temporary residence permit through the MOS portal using a Polish trusted profile or qualified e-signature.
  5. Pay the stamp duty and the PLN 100 card fee into the voivodeship office's accounts and attach the proofs in MOS.
  6. Attend the voivodeship office when summoned (no sooner than 7 days after the summons) to show your passport and give fingerprints, then collect the residence card after a positive decision.

Forms

Refusals and appeals

A refused D visa can be reconsidered by the consul on request within 14 days, for a fee set by the consulate. A voivode's refusal of a residence permit can be appealed to the Head of the Office for Foreigners within 14 days of delivery, in writing through the voivode; the appeal should be decided within 90 days.

If the permit is finally refused and you have no other basis to stay, you must leave Poland within 30 days.

Frequently asked questions

Can I be paid during the internship?

An internship under the Foreigners Act is not work. If the role is in fact paid work, you need a work permit or single permit instead.

I graduated 3 years ago. Can I still apply?

Not for the intern permit, which requires studies in progress or a degree obtained within the last 2 years.

What if the company is not on the approved list?

The intern residence permit cannot be granted. Ask the organiser to obtain approval from the Interior Ministry or choose another organiser.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Poland

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: D visa up to 1 year; residence permit 15 months at first, then the length of studies plus 3 months (max. 3 years)
  • Language course visa Maximum stay: As stated on the D visa, at most 1 year; 90 days in any 180 in other Schengen states
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: Permit for the duration of the research, from more than 3 months up to 3 years

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: D visa up to 1 year; single permit from more than 3 months up to 3 years
  • EU Blue Card Maximum stay: 3 months longer than the work contract, from more than 6 months up to 3 years
  • Job seeker visa Maximum stay: 9 months, granted once
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Up to 3 years for managers and specialists; up to 1 year for trainee employees
  • Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: At most 9 months per calendar year, counted from the first entry into Schengen that year

Family

Residence

Protection

Poland visa guide