PolandVisits and short stays

Poland medical treatment visa: requirements for patients and companions

Schengen visa (type C) for medical treatment

In short

Planned treatment in a Polish hospital, clinic or sanatorium of up to 90 days is done on a Schengen visa for medical purposes. Under the EU Visa Code you show an official document from the medical institution confirming the treatment, and proof that you can pay for it.

Apply on e-Konsulat (Polish online visa application system) checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area
Validity
Set by the consul according to the trip; single or multiple entry
Fee
€90Standard Schengen visa fee under the Visa Code: EUR 90 for adults, EUR 45 for children aged 6 to under 12, free under 6; consulates may collect it in local currency. Where the consulate uses an external service provider, its service fee is added. Not refunded if refused.
Funds required
PLN 75 per dayPLN 75 per day in general; PLN 20 per day (minimum PLN 100) when the stay is prepaid, for example sanatorium guests; plus PLN 2,500 per person for the return to a non-EU country.
Processing time
Usually within 15 calendar days of a complete application; up to 45 days in individual cases
Work
No; a Schengen visa does not permit work in Poland
Family
Each family member applies separately with their own form and fee
Where to apply
In person at the Polish consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or at the visa centre it uses, after registering in e-Konsulat

Who applies

Patients travelling for planned treatment and, separately, any companion. Each person files their own application; the companion's purpose is linked to the patient's treatment.

Medical documents

The EU Visa Code lists, for medical travel, an official document from the medical institution confirming the need for treatment there, and proof of sufficient means to pay for it. In practice this is a letter from the Polish hospital or clinic with the dates and type of treatment, and an estimate, contract or proof of advance payment.

Polish consulates also require the standard Schengen documents and may ask for a report from your treating doctor or other evidence.

Required documents

Identity

  • Visa application form completed in e-Konsulat, printed and signed
  • One colour biometric photo 3.5 x 4.5 cm, white background, taken within the last 6 months, face covering 70–80% of the frame
  • If you are not a national of the country where you apply: proof of legal residence there, such as a residence permit valid beyond the planned stay; other civil-status documents as the consulate requests

Travel

  • Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after the visa ends, with two blank pages, plus a copy of the data page and any other valid passport
  • Flight reservation or other proof of transport and route
  • Proof of accommodation: hotel booking or an official invitation (original and copy)

Money

  • Proof of funds: bank statements for the last 3 months, or credit card statements showing the available limit, or an employer letter with position and last 3 months' salary, or pension proof
  • Proof that treatment costs are covered: contract, cost estimate with means to pay, or proof of advance payment

Work

  • Employees: employer letter or leave approval stating your position, start date and the leave granted, with proof of employment as the consulate for your country requests

Insurance

  • Travel medical insurance with at least EUR 30,000 cover, valid in all Schengen states (for a multiple-entry visa: the first trip)

Other

  • Official letter from the Polish medical institution confirming the treatment, its type and dates

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Work

  • Company owners: business registration and recent tax documents; students: student ID and certificate of enrolment

Family

  • Minors: notarised consent of both parents (or written consent of the other parent or guardian), birth certificate, and copies of the parents' passports and visas if travelling together

Other

  • Medical report from your treating doctor

Funds for patients

The general Polish amount is PLN 75 a day. When accommodation and board are prepaid — sanatorium guests are the example given in the regulation — it drops to PLN 20 a day, with a minimum of PLN 100. Add PLN 2,500 per person for the return journey from a non-EU country, and the cost of treatment itself.

Longer treatment

If treatment will clearly last more than 90 days, ask the consulate about a national D visa; the Foreigners Act lists medical treatment among visa purposes. A Schengen visa can only exceptionally be extended in Poland for serious personal reasons, such as sudden illness.

Refusal and reconsideration

A refused applicant may ask the consul who decided to reconsider the case within 14 days of receiving the refusal. The request is lodged where the consulate directs and carries a reconsideration fee set by the consulate. Spouses, dependent children under 21 and dependent parents of the applicant or spouse, and spouses of Polish citizens, do not pay it.

After reconsideration, a complaint can be filed with the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw within 30 days, through the consul. The consul charges nothing for forwarding it, but court fees apply.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Check that Poland is your main destination (longest stay, or first entry if stays are equal); otherwise apply to the main destination country.
  2. Complete the application form in e-Konsulat, print it and sign it.
  3. Book an appointment through e-Konsulat or, where the consulate uses one, through its external service provider, which may charge a service fee.
  4. Obtain the hospital's confirmation and the cost estimate or payment proof before booking the appointment.
  5. Attend in person at the consulate or visa centre, give fingerprints (unless taken in the last 59 months) and pay the visa fee as the consulate directs.
  6. Collect the passport where you applied once the consul has decided.

Forms

Frequently asked questions

Can my spouse come with me?

Yes, as a companion with a separate Schengen application; include the hospital letter and your relationship proof in their file.

Does my travel insurance have to cover the planned treatment?

The EUR 30,000 travel medical insurance is required for emergencies during the trip; planned treatment is normally paid separately, which is why proof of payment is asked for.

Is there a faster procedure for urgent treatment?

There is no paid express service. Explain the urgency in your application; in urgent cases the consul may decide sooner, but the standard limit is 15 days.

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
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Intern permit: from more than 3 up to 6 months; D visa up to 1 year

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