How to Make an Invitation to Poland for a Visa

Reloaction.io helps digital nomads, IT specialists, business owners, and their families relocate and legalize in Poland. Adaptation is much easier and faster when you know exactly what needs to be done. The Reloaction.io platform has broken down all the important legalization processes in Poland step by step so that you can go through everything with the least amount of stress.

So, let's get back to what an invitation for a visa is and who can issue it.

What is an invitation and who can issue it?

An invitation is an official document confirming that someone is expected in another country. It can be an employer, a relative, or just a friend. By the way, it doesn't have to be a close relative. Contrary to popular belief, anyone can issue an invitation for obtaining a visa. The main condition is that this person must be a citizen of the Republic of Poland or have temporary/permanent residence status (permanent or temporary residency).

Who can issue an invitation to Poland?

• Citizen of the Republic of Poland;
• Person with temporary/permanent residence status in Poland;
• Legal entity or an entity without legal entity status with an office in the territory of the Republic of Poland - for employment.

Today, a Polish visa can be obtained for one of the following purposes:

• visiting relatives;
• employment with a specific company;
• education;
• exchange programs for scientists and graduate students;
• visiting friends/acquaintances.

Based on the invitation, visas of types C (Schengen) and D (national) can be obtained, allowing stays in Poland for up to 90 days in each half-year (180 days).

Polish visa centers in Belarus accept 2 types of invitations:

• Notarized invitation. It is issued only for close relatives (children, parents, spouses). Such an invitation can be drawn up in any form. It is important that it contains the passport details of the applicant and the invitee, as well as indication of the degree of relationship (for example, father/mother/spouse/child). After drafting, the invitation must be certified by a Polish notary.
• Voivodeship-certified invitation. It is issued for all the above-mentioned purposes on a special government form with the coat of arms. Such an invitation is usually prepared in about one and a half months. It can be issued not only by close relatives but also by any acquaintances/employers in Poland.

How to make a guest invitation yourself?

Citizens of the Republic of Poland or individuals with residency status in this country, to apply for an invitation through the Voivodeship, must provide the following documents:

• A document confirming the identity of the inviting person and their right to reside legally in Poland (residence permit, permanent residency);
• A copy of the guest's passport;
• A statement of invitation registration (filled out on the spot);
• Confirmation of the inviting person's financial means to support the guest;
• Confirmation of the guest's accommodation in Poland (rental agreement or the inviting person's address);
• Confirmation of payment of the state fee – 27 zlotys.

It is important to note that the rental agreement of the inviting person should not include a clause prohibiting the provision of premises to third parties. Otherwise, an additional document confirming the owner's consent to accommodate the guest there will be required.;

Documents can be submitted to the Voivodeship either in person or by mail. The main advantage of personal submission is speed. On the same day, the inviter will receive a decision, whereas after sending the application by mail, a response can be expected within 30 days. Another important detail: when submitting in person, it is sufficient to show the original documents, while for submission by mail, notarized copies will be required.

How to confirm the availability of funds to support the guest?

For the Polish authorities, it is not important whether the guest will live on the inviting person's funds. However, during the entire stay in the country, the inviting person bears full responsibility for them. Therefore, the inviter must confirm the availability of the necessary amount to support the guest. At the moment, it amounts to 515 zlotys per month per person.

If the invitation is for a family of three, the net income of the inviting person must be at least 2260 zlotys per month (515 zlotys for each person being supported, including the inviter, plus 200 zlotys).

Documents that can serve as proof of financial means include:

• Bank account statement;
• Employment contract and income certificate to confirm salary compliance;
• For entrepreneurs, providing a tax return for the previous year is suitable.

After receiving the completed invitation, the original should be sent to Belarus so that the guest can use it when applying for a visa at the visa center.

Invitations for work: types of work visas and the application process

A work visa, type D, is issued based on an invitation from the employer. There are 3 types of work visas, differing in duration:

1. Standard work invitation: usually issued for a period of up to two years and certified by the local labor office;
2. Invitation for seasonal work: issued for 270 days per year. This type of work often includes agricultural labor, such as fruit or berry picking;
3. One-year work invitation. It is issued by the Voivode at the location of the inviting company.

To apply for a work visa, in addition to the invitation, the applicant must have a passport and a photograph against a light background in 35x45mm format.

Important! There are currently many scammers on the internet who sell allegedly ready-made invitations in thematic groups and chats. We recommend being cautious and vigilant and not falling for speculation. Instead of a genuine invitation, fraudsters may send a document from Photoshop, and for the visa recipient, this could result in being denied entry to Poland for many years.

Submitting documents at the visa center in Belarus

Once the guest receives the original invitation, they need to schedule an appointment at the visa center and come on the appointed day with a package of documents. It should include:

• Original and copy of the invitation;
• Passport (not older than 10 years);
• Photo against a light background in 35x45mm format (it's better to take several as a backup);
• Valid medical insurance for the duration of the requested visa;
• Transport documents (driver's license and vehicle registration certificate, or bus tickets);
• Receipt of payment for consular (35 euros) and service (11 euros) fees;
• Proof of employment and financial status. Working individuals need to provide a certificate from their workplace indicating their position and salary for the past 3 months. Individual entrepreneurs provide a registration certificate and tax return for the last quarter. Pensioners should provide a copy of their pension certificate and a statement of pension accrual for the last six months. Lastly, students need a certificate from their educational institution and proof of having at least 300 euros in their bank account.

It is worth noting that if the applicant has a biometric passport, they should also bring a document confirming their place of residence, as this information is not included in the new Belarusian passports.

Conclusion

A guest visa is a convenient and accessible solution for meeting relatives and friends already in Europe. It is worth reminding that the main requirement for Belarusians to obtain an invitation to Poland is to have a temporary or permanent residence permit.

Reloaction.io can also assist in these processes. If you already have a residence permit, feel free to reach out for assistance with any other questions. We can help not only in meeting loved ones in Poland but also in relocating colleagues, employees, and family members.