1. Overview
ETIAS will apply to eligible short visits to Poland for tourism, business, family visits and other permitted purposes.
- Travel on an eligible visa-exempt passport
- Plan a short stay within the 90-days-in-180-days rule
- Travel for tourism, business or another permitted short-term purpose
- Are not travelling under an exemption such as EU free-movement rights
2. Who needs ETIAS for Poland?
Travellers from eligible visa-exempt countries will need ETIAS for short trips to Poland once the system is operational. Document-specific conditions can apply to some passports.
3. Arriving in Poland
The ETIAS requirement is linked to your eligibility and travel document. The border procedure can differ depending on how and from where you arrive.
Warsaw Chopin, Kraków and Gdańsk are major international gateways. Travellers arriving from outside Schengen use the applicable ETIAS and EES procedures.
Poland has internal Schengen borders with Germany, Czechia, Slovakia and Lithuania, and external Schengen borders with Ukraine and Belarus.
Ferry and cruise arrivals on the Baltic coast are subject to the same ETIAS eligibility rules, with border formalities depending on the origin of the vessel.
4. Border and territory notes
Poland’s eastern borders with Ukraine and Belarus are external Schengen borders, so the entry process differs from travel across internal Schengen borders.
Practical information
Poland uses the Polish złoty (PLN). ETIAS does not extend the Schengen-wide 90/180-day short-stay allowance.
Frequently asked questions
When will ETIAS become operational?
Expected Q4 2026. The EU says the specific start date will be announced before launch.
Do I need ETIAS for Kraków or Warsaw?
Eligible visa-exempt travellers will need ETIAS for short visits to both cities once ETIAS is operational.
What if I enter Poland from Ukraine?
That is an external Schengen border, so the normal entry checks apply in addition to ETIAS eligibility.