Europe

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• The UEFA Euro 2012 Championships will be held in Poland and Ukraine in June 2012. If you plan to attend, organise your travel and accommodation well in advance. Distances between venue cities are significant. Please check our Euro 2012 page for specific travel advice in the run up to the tournament.
  
  
• Approximately 350,000 British nationals visited Poland in 2010. Most visits are trouble-free.  See General - Consular Assistance Statistics.
  
  
• If you need to contact the emergency services in Poland call 112.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public places, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. 
  
  
• Driving in Poland can be hazardous.  There are risks of robbery on rail and bus journeys.   See Safety and Security - Local Travel.
  
  
• If you intend to travel by train on popular routes such as Warsaw-Moscow you will need to obtain the appropriate transit visa for Belarus before travelling. See Travel Advice for Belarus and Entry Requirements.
  
  
• If you hold dual Polish and British nationality, you should note that we may only be able to offer a limited consular service.   
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.
  

Safety and Security - Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public places, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime

The vast majority of visitors to Poland experience no difficulties.   Be alert to the possibility of street crime and petty theft and be aware that foreigners may appear to be lucrative targets. Keep valuables and cash out of sight, especially in crowded areas and tourist spots, where pickpockets and bag snatchers operate.

There is an increased risk of robbery at main rail stations and on all train services, especially on overnight sleepers. You are most at risk while boarding and leaving trains.

Unregulated taxi drivers operate at Warsaw airport and elsewhere. They commonly overcharge. Use official taxis, which have the name and telephone number of the taxi company on the side of the door and on the top of the taxi (beside the occupied/unoccupied light). They will also show a rate card on the window of the vehicle. Taxis with a crest but no company name are not officially registered taxis.

Do not leave drinks or food unattended and beware of accepting drinks from casual acquaintances. There have been a small number of reports of drinks being spiked and visitors having their valuables stolen whilst intoxicated.

See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel

Public transport tickets must be punched before travelling. Tickets must be validated at the start of a journey at the yellow machines at the entrance to the metro stations or on board buses and trams. You will be fined on the spot if you are travelling with an invalid ticket, usually 180zl (around £36). Tickets can be bought at most newspaper stands and kiosks with a sign reading “Bilety”.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel

There is a zero tolerance policy for drink driving in Poland.  If you drive and have been drinking (even a single unit of alcohol) you can be charged.  If you break Polish Driving Regulations you should be prepared to pay an on the spot fine in cash in Polish currency to the Police. Foreigners who are settled in Poland and have a permanent address may be fined with a credit ticket that can be paid later.

A new system of toll collection was implemented on selected sections of motorways, expressways and national roads.

in July 2011. Detailed information on the new system is available here.

Driving on Polish roads can be hazardous. Poland is a major east-west transit route for heavy vehicles. There are few dual carriageways and even main roads between major towns and cities can be narrow and are often poorly surfaced. Streetlights, even in major cities, are weak. You must drive with your headlights on at all times. Local driving standards are poor: speed limits, traffic lights and road signs are often ignored and drivers rarely indicate before manoeuvring. Slow moving agricultural vehicles (and horse drawn vehicles) are common in rural areas, even on main roads.

In 2010 there were 3,907 road deaths in Poland (source: DfT). This equates to 10.2 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 3.1 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2010.

According to EU law, driving licences issued by any EU member state are mutually recognised in other EU member states.  If you are a resident of Poland and wish to change your driving licence for a Polish licence you may do so but there is no requirement to do this.

It is a legal requirement to carry original vehicle-registration papers, ownership documents and insurance papers at all times.    You will be required to present these documents if you are stopped by the police and when crossing borders.  This also applies to rental vehicles.  If you do not have these papers when stopped by the police they have the right to impound your vehicle and charge you for this.  

Seat belts must be used in both front and back seats.  

Using a mobile phone while driving (unless “hands free”) is banned.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Rail Travel

Rail in Poland is being modernised in preparation for EURO2012.  This has significantly lengthened journey times. Check with Polish railways before travelling.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel

The revised EU-wide security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 are also being implemented in Poland. For more details about this see Airline Security.

Safety and Security - Political Situation

Poland Country Profile

Polish police take a strict approach to public drunkenness and if found to be drunk in a public place you may be taken to a drying out clinic where a doctor or nurse will medically assess you. You will not be released until you have sobered up and this may necessitate an overnight stay. You will be required to pay for the cost of the stay.

Jay-walking is an offence. You should cross at recognised crossing points. If caught by the police you will be fined.

See our Your Trip page.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity

You must hold a valid passport to enter Poland. For stays of up to three months your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay; you do not need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

For stays of longer than three months, see the website of the Embassy of Poland in London.

Entry Requirements - Visas 

British citizens visiting Poland do not require visas. Other categories of British passport holder such BN(O)s and BOCs do require visas and should check the regulations with the Polish Embassy in London. There are no restrictions on British nationals working in Poland.

Entry Requirements - Dual nationals 

Under Polish law, a Polish passport holder must be treated as a Polish national while in Poland, even if he or she holds another country’s passport. The Polish authorities, therefore, require dual Polish/British nationals to enter and exit Poland on a Polish passport. Check with the Polish Embassy in London if in doubt.  

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter or leave the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. They may want to see birth certificates, a letter of consent from the other parent and some evidence as to your responsibility for the child. Polish authorities do not normally require such evidence, but if you have concerns please check with the Consulate General of the Polish Embassy in London. Please note that you require a visa to enter or transit Belarus. This includes anyone travelling by train on the Warsaw-Moscow route.

In general, medical facilities in Poland are of an equivalent standard to those in the UK. Private medical facilities are comparatively inexpensive and of a good standard. Polish doctors and nurses are well qualified but English is not always widely spoken and UK patients may face communication difficulties.

You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Polish nationals. You will not be covered for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. See our EHIC page.

Tick-borne encephalitis is common to Poland, especially in forested areas during the summer months.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 27,000 adults aged 15 or over in Poland were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.1% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

Seek medical advice before travelling to Poland and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of  NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. See our Travel Health page.

General - Insurance

You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check for any exclusions and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Dual nationals   

If you are a dual national of Poland and the UK and are arrested or detained in Poland, you will be deemed to be Polish by the Polish authorities. You will have the same rights as any other Polish citizen in these circumstances (including the right to legal representation), however the British Embassy may only be able to offer you limited consular assistance.

General - Consular registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Passports

From the 1st April 2010, the Embassy in Warsaw ceased to issue British passports for British Citizens in Poland.  Passports will be processed and printed centrally in the regional Passport processing Centre in Dusseldorf.

Since July 2010 Warsaw has issued Emergency Travel Documents (ETD). The ETD is a secure emergency document of restricted validity, which can only be issued during office hours.

General - Customs Regulations

If you travel within the European Union (EU) you can bring an unlimited amount of most goods. For example, you can bring in any alcohol, tobacco, meat and dairy products - as long as they are for your own use and transported by you. If you are bringing in alcohol and tobacco goods and the Customs officer may have reason to suspect they may be for a commercial purpose, an officer may ask you questions and make checks. This refers to travelling into Poland and/or entering the UK.  See the website of HMRC (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/arriving/arrivingeu.htm).

General - Money

The majority of Polish businesses, hotels and banks do not recognise Scottish bank notes and you will face difficulties in trying to change money.

Legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU applies in all Member States including Poland.  Any person entering or leaving the EU has to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to 10,000 Euros or more; this includes cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders, etc. This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country, as long as the original journey started outside of the EU nor to those travelling within the EU.

If you have no money, or your money is lost or stolen, contact your relatives or friends for help. They will be able to transfer money to you via commercial money-lending services. The British Embassy in Warsaw cannot give you money to help with travel, accommodation or pay your bills.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics

Most visits to Poland are trouble-free.  76 British nationals required consular assistance in Poland in the period 01 April 2010 – 31 March 2011 for the following types of incident: 25 deaths; 16 hospitalisations; and 26 arrests, for a variety of offences.