Countries to which foreigners with Polish residence cards can travel

One of the significant opportunities that the Polish residence card provides is visa-free travel to other Schengen countries. However, for such travel, a foreigner must strictly comply with a number of conditions, without which he may find himself in extremely uncomfortable conditions, and sometimes even be deported. Where you can go with a residence card, what is needed for this, and what features of such trips exist, read in this material by IS group.

Which countries can you go to with a residence card and for how long?

A foreigner may travel and stay in Schengen countries for a period not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period .

This right is established by Part 1 of Article 21 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement , signed back in 1985, but still in force today and extending to all countries in this zone:

Foreigners who have a valid residence permit issued by one of the Member States may, on the basis of this document and a valid travel document ( foreign passport ), move freely throughout the territories of other Member States for a period not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period, provided that they meet the conditions of entry ( these conditions will be discussed in more detail below ) and are not included in the national list of refusal warnings of entry of the relevant Member State.

What does this data show? Firstly, entry is possible in a 90/180 mode, secondly, certain conditions must be met, and thirdly, the foreigner, among other things, must have a residence permit from one of the member countries. We will consider these questions in more detail, but first let us remember which countries are included in the Schengen zone.

Schengen countries

Let us briefly recall that the following members of the European Union are Schengen countries:

Austria. Belgium. Hungary. Germany. Greece. Denmark. Spain. Italy. Latvia. Lithuania. Luxembourg. Malta. The Netherlands. Poland. Portugal. Slovakia. Slovenia. Finland. France. Croatia. Czech Republic. Sweden. Estonia.(Recently added Romania and Bulgaria)

In addition, under special conditions, from April 2024, Romania and Bulgaria belong to the Schengen countries.

The Schengen area also includes some countries that are not members of the European Union, namely:

Iceland.

Liechtenstein.

Norway.

Switzerland.

All of the above countries are possible for short-term entry (90/180) using a residence card issued in Poland. However, there are countries of the European Union that are not part of the Schengen area. These are Ireland and Cyprus (we will return to the latter later). Bulgaria and Romania, as noted above, have joined the Schengen zone, but so far in a limited manner.

Which countries outside Schengen can you enter with a Polish residence card?

Having a residence card does not deprive a foreigner of the rights that he has by virtue of his citizenship. If entry into a country outside the Schengen zone is possible due to interstate agreements, a foreigner has the right to exercise this right, regardless of the availability of a Polish residence permit.

Is it possible to travel to Cyprus with a residence card?

Cyprus, as already noted, is not part of the Schengen zone. However, third country nationals holding a valid D visa or residence permit in the European Union (except UK and Ireland)/Schengen countries are entitled to visit Cyprus without an additional visa under the following conditions:

have a valid passport or other document provided for traveling abroad

have the opportunity to confirm the purpose of travel and residence in Cyprus

have sufficient funds to stay and return to their country of permanent residence

are not on the list of persons prohibited from entering the territory of the Republic of Cyprus

The length of stay cannot exceed 90 days in any 180-day period. There is an exception to this rule, which applies to citizens of the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan, who need to obtain a national Cypriot visa to visit Cyprus.

Is it possible to travel to the UK with a Polish residence card?

A residence card issued by Poland does not give the right to enter countries outside the Schengen area . The UK is not part of Schengen, so a Polish residence permit does not give you the right to enter the UK. To be able to enter the UK, you must first obtain a British visa from the embassy of this country.

Under what conditions can I travel to other Schengen countries using a residence card?

These conditions are set out in points a, c, d and e, Part 1, Article 6 of EU Regulation 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on the Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code).

In accordance with these standards, the holder of a Polish residence card can travel to other countries of the Schengen area if:

he has a valid travel document entitling the holder to cross the border and meeting the following criteria:

it is valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States (in justified urgent cases this criterion may be omitted);

has been issued within the last 10 years. a foreigner can justify the purpose and conditions of the planned stay;

has sufficient means of subsistence or the opportunity to obtain them legally; is not considered to pose a threat to the public policy, internal security, public health or international relations of any Member State and, in particular,

has not been flagged for the purpose of refusing entry into the national databases of Member States on this basis; the foreigner's data is not included in the national warning list for the purpose of refusing entry into a given Member State. In practice, due to the lack of constant border controls, certain aspects may not be checked upon entry. However, you need to be aware that the legislation requires the described conditions, and during any inspection they may be required to confirm them.

At the same time, on the basis of Part 5, Article 6 of the above Regulations, a foreigner from third countries may be allowed to reside in a Schengen country whose residence permit he has, even without fulfilling the specified conditions, if he is transiting through another country in the Zone or for humanitarian reasons.

How much money do you need to travel to other countries with a Polish residence permit?

The exact numbers must be clarified in the country of desired entry. Summarized data is provided in Part 4, Article 6 of the Regulations: Subsistence is assessed depending on the length and purpose of the stay, as well as the average cost of inexpensive food and accommodation in the Member State or Member States concerned, multiplied by the number of days of stay. The basic amounts established by Member States must be communicated to the Commission. Cash, traveler's checks and credit cards in the possession of a third-country national can serve as the basis for assessing the adequacy of subsistence. Statements of sponsorship, where such statements are required by national law, and letters of guarantee from the host, as required by national law, if a third-country national resides with the host, may also serve as evidence of sufficient means of subsistence.

Do I need travel insurance to travel to other countries using a travel card?

As can be understood from the above conditions, insurance is not indicated as a mandatory requirement. However, its absence may correspondingly increase the amount of funds required. In addition, in most cases there will be a fee for visiting medical institutions. NFZ insurance available in Poland can be used in other EU/EFTA countries, but most of them require special proof of insurance - an EHIC card (or in Polish EKUZ), which can be issued in the Republic of Poland free of charge, but this must be done in advance ( before the trip).

Is it possible to work with a residence card in another Schengen country?

No .

With a residence card received in Poland, you can travel to another Schengen country for tourist or guest purposes (and in 90/180 mode). Each country has its own rules for employing foreigners, which, if necessary, should be studied in advance. However, the EU long-term resident card provides certain rights under certain conditions . However, this issue should be carefully considered before planning employment outside Poland.

Is a residence card considered a residence permit?

This is one of the main legal aspects. There are several types of residence cards, and European standards directly indicate a residence permit. Are these concepts equivalent? In European legislation, there is a document Schengen Handbook (full name - Practical Handbook for Border Guards), Appendix 22 of which defines the types of residence permits for each country, recognized by all states of the Union.

Let's summarize . Most common types of residence cards give the right to travel and stay in other Schengen countries for 90 days in a six-month period. However, foreigners holding a Polish residence permit must meet certain conditions, and the purpose of the trip must not be related to the generation of income (which may require a separate permit).

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