I'm a South African from the UK. Do I need a visa to go to Poland?

lee1011:

I am a South African girl and I am currently living in the UK on a working holiday visa. Do I need a visa to go to Poland to visit a friend for a week or 2? If so how much does it cost and what do I need?

Also I have applied for a work permit in the UK. Would this allow me to travel europe or would I still have to go through a serious mission in order to go anywhere?

lee1011Threads: 1 Posts: 2 Joined: Sep 2, 08	Sep 2, 08, 07:49 / #
I am a South African girl and I am currently living in the UK on a working holiday visa. Do I need a visa to go to Poland to visit a friend for a week or 2? If so how much does it cost and what do I need? Also I have applied for a work permit in the UK. Would this allow me to travel europe or would I still have to go through a serious mission in order to go anywhere?

lee1011Threads: 1 Posts: 2 Joined: Sep 2, 08	Sep 2, 08, 08:13 / #
Tried googling and it brought me here.... hahaha For some reason all sights ive been on just cant answer my questions.. Or are just not clear. I gather i will need a visa but not sure. I know if you visiting poland for less than 90 days you dont need one. But is this applicable for South Africans?

andy bThreads: 7 Posts: 195 Joined: Nov 26, 07	Sep 2, 08, 08:21 / #
Poland is now part of the Schengen Zone, so if as a South African you need a visa for most Western European countries (which are part of Schengen), then you will also need one for Poland. I thought Australians needed a lot of visas, but I pity you poor South Africans, you need them almost everywhere.

ShelleySThreads: 18 Posts: 3,647 Joined: Jun 26, 07	Edited by: ShelleyS Sep 2, 08, 08:22 / #
this may help. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers/points/ lee1011: Also I have applied for a work permit in the UK. Just out of curiosity, did you have to go through the new points based system?

lee1011Threads: 1 Posts: 2 Joined: Sep 2, 08	Sep 2, 08, 09:03 / #
Not sure... I went through a company called visalogic and just gave them all info they needed. I think the new system starts end of sep because they told me the laws change so will have to have everything sorted by then.

miranda	Edited by: miranda Sep 2, 08, 09:14 / #
lee1011: I gather i will need a visa but not sure. I know if you visiting poland for less than 90 days you dont need one. But is this applicable for South Africans? Polish consulate will have the updated info. Polish forum is a forum not an information board.

dcchrisThreads: 11 Posts: 687 Joined: Oct 29, 07	Sep 2, 08, 09:27 / #
well england isnt in the shengen zone so therefore you would need some sort of visa unless you qualify under the free visa section. why not check the polish embassy?

noimmigration	Sep 3, 08, 07:14 / #
lee1011: I am a South African girl and I am currently living in the UK on a working holiday visa. Do I need a visa to go to Poland to visit a friend for a week or 2? If so how much does it cost and what do I need? Also I have applied for a work permit in the UK. Would this allow me to travel europe or would I still have to go through a serious mission in order to go anywhere? Yes because you are not an EU citizen you cannot freely travel throught europe.

davThreads: - Posts: 2 Joined: Sep 5, 08	Sep 5, 08, 10:39 / #
if you dont have uk work permit it might be though,you should wait and get the work permit first then it will be easy,

ShelleySThreads: 18 Posts: 3,647 Joined: Jun 26, 07	Sep 12, 08, 07:04 / #
Wonder if lee got his visa?

LizaThreads: 4 Posts: 163 Joined: Oct 28, 07	Edited by: Liza Sep 27, 08, 10:10 / #
noimmigration: Yes because you are not an EU citizen you cannot freely travel throught europe. At the risk of surprising you, just because you're not an EU citizen, doesn't mean you can't travel freely in Europe. I'm not an EU citizen, but I can travel almost anywhere in Europe without any issues. Actually I think Romania is the only problem for me. However Saffas do suffer greatly because of their former political issues, and yes, you will need a visa. The only hint I can give her is send along a travel insurance policy for 12mths annual insurance, and you might strike it lucky if someone gives you a long Schengen visa; SA housemate did this, and got a 9mth visa. As for your work permit, it doesn't help you with travelling in Europe. It only helps you with your employment in the UK. You still have to abide by the arrangements for South Africans in Europe, which is mainly Schengen visas. Sorry to deliver such a depressing reply.

smallyThreads: - Posts: 1 Joined: Sep 23, 08	Sep 23, 08, 18:04 / #
yes u need a visa to get into poland and i wish you best of luck