This guide covers the UK visa from Poland in 2026: the ETA now required of Polish citizens, current fees, the work routes that still need a visa, and the rules for non-EU residents of Poland. Poland has one of the largest diasporas in Britain — around 700,000 Polish-born residents, and Polish is the most spoken language in England and Wales after English. Since Brexit, Polish travellers need a £20 ETA approved before boarding.
UK Visas from Poland
UK Visa from Poland 2026: Fees, ETA Requirements & How to Apply
Travelling to the UK from Poland: Entry Requirements
Polish citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to six months, but they do need an ETA (£20, valid two years) obtained through the UK ETA App. Non-EU residents of Poland need a Standard Visitor visa instead. For work, study, or family stays, Polish nationals apply for the relevant visa and give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App — no visa centre visit.
The Polish-British bond was forged in the Second World War — the Polish 303 Squadron was among the highest-scoring units of the Battle of Britain, and the Polish government-in-exile sat in London. After Poland joined the EU in 2004, migration surged, leaving a 700,000-strong community across the UK. Since Brexit, though, travelling to the UK from Poland means facing the same ETA system as other visa-exempt nationals — and it must be approved before boarding, as it is checked at check-in.
- A valid passport: covering the duration of the stay.
- An approved ETA: £20, valid two years, via the UK ETA App.
- Evidence of return or onward travel.
- Accommodation details: a booking or a host's address.
- Enough funds: to support the visit without working.
- Genuine intention to leave within six months.
At the border, officers may ask about your plans, accommodation, and funds, though detailed questioning is rare for Polish visitors. Keeping your booking and return ticket on your phone speeds things up. Travellers from elsewhere in the region face the same system, including those covered by our Germany ETA guidance.
Do Polish Citizens Need a Visa for the UK?
It depends on your nationality, not your residence. Free movement between the EU and UK ended on 31 December 2020, so Polish citizens are now visa-exempt nationals for short visits — they can visit without a visa but cannot work, study courses over six months, or access public funds. According to the official gov.uk ETA guidance, Polish citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025, with a 99.6% issue rate in the latest Home Office figures — approval is effectively automatic for eligible travellers.
The full rules, exemptions, and how the scheme works across nationalities are covered in our guide to the UK ETA. The same ETA route applies to Romanian citizens travelling to the UK.
UK Visa Cost from Poland 2026
Polish citizens pay only £20 for an ETA. Poland uses the złoty, but UK visa fees are set in pounds and displayed in euros on the official calculator — there is no separate złoty schedule. The figures below match the eurozone rate applied across the EU, and fees are non-refundable.
UK visitor and short-stay fees from Poland (2026)
| Visa Type | Fee | Max Stay Per Visit |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (Polish citizens) | £20 | 6 months |
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | €164 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | €615 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (5 years) | €1,097 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (10 years) | €1,371 | 6 months |
| Marriage Visitor | €164 | 6 months |
| Direct Airside Transit (DATV) | €50 | Airside only |
| Visitor in Transit | €91 | 48 hours |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as displayed in euros; ETA per GOV.UK.
UK work, study and family visa fees from Poland (2026)
| Visa Category | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Student | €678 |
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years) | €995 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | €1,966 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | €394 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | €413 |
| Partner / Family visa | €2,508 |
| Adult Dependent Relative | €4,417 |
| Priority service | +€608 |
| Super Priority service | +€1,215 |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as displayed in euros.
The Immigration Health Surcharge
Any visa over six months also carries the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged in pounds at £1,035 a year — students and Youth Mobility participants pay £776. It is paid on top of the visa fee and is not converted to local currency. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt.
UK Tourist Visa from Poland
Travel to the UK from Poland is straightforward for Polish passport holders — no tourist visa exists or is needed, only the £20 ETA. It covers tourism, family visits, business meetings and negotiations (never paid work), short courses up to 30 days where study is not the main purpose, private medical treatment, and transit. A non-EU national living in Poland must instead apply for a Standard Visitor route, regardless of how long they have lived there.
An ETA covers visits only. Polish citizens cannot work, paid or unpaid, claim public funds, or stay beyond six months on it. Working without the correct visa can lead to removal and a re-entry ban. To take a job, you need a work visa before starting.
For repeat trips, the multi-year visit visa allows unlimited entries over two, five, or ten years while still capping each stay at six months — it spreads the cost for frequent travellers.
UK Work Visa for Polish Citizens
Since Brexit ended free movement on 31 December 2020, Polish citizens cannot simply move to the UK and find work. The upside is convenience: as an EU national, you verify your identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check App rather than attending a visa centre, and UK visa grant rates for Polish applicants are high across all routes.
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker route is the main path for Polish nationals taking UK employment. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a salary meeting the general threshold of £41,700, with lower thresholds for some roles. The fee is €995 for up to three years or €1,966 beyond that, plus the health surcharge, and it leads to indefinite leave to remain after five years.
Youth Mobility, Student and Family Routes
Polish citizens aged 18 to 35 can apply under the Youth Mobility Scheme to live and work in the UK for two years; the fee is €413. For courses over six months, the Student visa costs €678 and allows part-time work; after a degree the Graduate route gives two years' post-study work. Polish nationals joining a British or settled partner can apply for a partner visa (€2,508), with a minimum income requirement of £29,000. Those settled before Brexit may hold status under the EUSS.
UK Visa from Poland for Non-EU Residents
Poland hosts large Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Indian communities, many of whom travel to the UK. Unlike Polish citizens, they must obtain a visa for any UK trip, regardless of purpose or length — the six-month Standard Visitor visa costs €164, applications go through the visa centre in Warsaw, and processing takes about three weeks. The Karta Pobytu does not grant visa-free access, but settled life in Poland helps demonstrate a clear reason to return.
Polish Residence Strengthens Your Application
Legal residence in Poland — especially permanent residence — helps a UK visitor application by showing strong ties and a clear reason to return. Include your Karta Pobytu, employment contract, and evidence of settled life such as property, bank accounts, or family in Poland alongside the standard documents in our UK visa supporting documents checklist.
If a relative is hosting you, our guide to the sponsor letter shows what to include. If a visit was refused before, our guides on why UK visas are refused and the odds of success when reapplying explain how to strengthen a fresh application.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from Poland
Polish citizens have an advantage: as EU nationals they can use the ID Check App to apply without visiting a visa centre. Non-EU residents of Poland use the Warsaw centre for biometrics. For an ETA there is no form beyond the app itself — download it, scan your passport, take a photo, and pay £20.
- Complete the online application and pay the fee at gov.uk.
- Polish citizens: give biometrics via the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home.
- Non-EU residents: book biometrics at the Warsaw visa centre.
- Upload your supporting documents.
- Wait for the decision — about 3 weeks standard, 5 days on priority.
- Receive your eVisa or a vignette in your passport.
Processing Times and Delays
Standard processing is about three weeks for non-settlement visas and up to twelve weeks for settlement routes; ETAs are usually decided within minutes. If a decision runs late, our guide on delayed UK visa decisions explains how to chase it, priority and super-priority services can speed things up where available, and you can track timelines with our guide to decision times after biometrics.
For official confirmation, use the gov.uk visa checker and the Standard Visitor visa guidance. Neighbouring guides cover the UK visa from Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia. Sources: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule; GOV.UK ETA guidance. Figures verified August 2026 against the 8 April 2026 fee schedule.
Frequently Asked
Questions about UK Visas from Poland
No visa is needed for visits up to six months, but Polish citizens must hold an ETA before travelling. It costs £20, lasts two years, and is obtained through the UK ETA App. The requirement has applied since 2 April 2025 and is enforced at boarding — without an approved ETA, carriers will not let Polish travellers board transport to the UK. For work or study, the appropriate visa is required.
Yes, since Brexit. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€995–€1,966), needing sponsorship from a licensed UK employer and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Polish nationals aged 18–35 may also use the Youth Mobility Scheme. The ETA covers tourism and business meetings only — not paid employment.
Polish citizens need a valid passport and an approved ETA (£20) before boarding, plus evidence of return travel, accommodation, and funds. The ETA is checked at check-in, so apply via the UK ETA App before leaving Poland. Non-EU residents of Poland need a Standard Visitor visa (€164) instead, regardless of their Polish residence status.
Polish citizens pay £20 for an ETA, not a visa. Non-EU residents pay €164 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa. Work visas range from €394 (Health and Care) to €1,966 (Skilled Worker over three years), the Student visa is €678, and a partner visa €2,508. Fees are charged in pounds and shown in euros on the calculator, and are non-refundable.
A Polish citizen with an ETA can stay up to six months per visit for tourism, family, or business. There is no annual cap on visits, but frequent or very long stays may prompt questions about whether you are a genuine visitor. Working, studying long-term, or settling all require the relevant visa with its own conditions.
Yes. Polish and other EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals applying for UK work, study, or family visas can verify their identity through the ID Check App from home, so no visa centre visit is needed. You scan your passport chip with your phone's NFC reader and take a photo to complete identity checks.
Standard processing is about three weeks for visitor and other non-settlement visas, and up to twelve weeks for settlement visas such as partner routes. Priority service (€608) targets five working days for visitor visas, and super priority (€1,215) aims for the next working day where available. ETAs are usually decided within minutes, up to three working days.
Yes. Ukrainian nationals resident in Poland apply for a Standard Visitor visa (€164) through the Warsaw visa centre, using their Ukrainian passport and Polish residence documents. Polish residence, including temporary protection, does not grant visa-free UK access. The UK also runs separate Ukraine schemes with their own rules for those joining family or relocating.
Nie — przy wizytach do sześciu miesięcy wystarczy ETA za £20, ważna dwa lata, uzyskiwana w aplikacji UK ETA. Obowiązuje od 2 kwietnia 2025 r. i jest sprawdzana przy odprawie. Praca, studia powyżej sześciu miesięcy lub osiedlenie wymagają odpowiedniej wizy; osoby ze statusem EU Settlement Scheme nie potrzebują ani ETA, ani wizy.
ETA na wizyty kosztuje £20. Pełne wizy: Skilled Worker €995 (do 3 lat), Health and Care Worker €394, wiza studencka €678, Youth Mobility €413, a wiza partnerska €2,508. Opłaty wnosi się online przy składaniu wniosku, a obywatele polscy potwierdzają tożsamość w aplikacji UK Immigration: ID Check — bez wizyty w centrum wizowym.