Poland’s €200 Student Visa Fee: What Changed and Why
Poland’s national (Type D) student visa fee rose to €200 on 1 January 2026 — more than double the €80 rate that applied before June 2024. The increase came in two stages. From 1 June 2024, the MFA Regulation of 21 May 2024 (Journal of Laws 2024, item 774) lifted the fee from €80 to €135. A second increase from 1 January 2026 brought it to €200. The short-stay Schengen C visa remains at €90.
This article explains the timeline, what your complete upfront payment looks like, and what the change means specifically for African applicants considering studying in Poland.
How the fee changed: a timeline
| Date | National (Type D) student visa fee | Schengen C visa |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1 June 2024 | €80 | €90 |
| From 1 June 2024 | €135 (MFA Regulation, JoL 2024 item 774) | €90 |
| From 1 January 2026 | €200 (current) | €90 |
Why this matters for research: the old €80 figure is still quoted on a large number of agency websites, comparison tools, and YouTube channels covering study in Poland. If you see €80 or €135 quoted as the current Polish student visa fee, that source has not been updated. Always verify on the official Polish embassy page for your country (e.g., for Nigerian applicants: gov.pl/web/nigeria-en/consular-fees).
The increase to €200 brings Poland broadly in line with the general national-visa fee applied to non-EU nationals for other purposes — and slightly above the Schengen C fee, reversing the previous anomaly where a long-stay visa was actually cheaper than a short-stay one.
Your full upfront payment picture
The €200 visa fee is not the only amount you pay before or shortly after arriving. Here is a complete view of the mandatory fees for a first-year non-EU student in Poland:
| Payment | Amount | When paid |
|---|---|---|
| National (Type D) student visa fee | €200 | At consulate or VFS, before departure |
| VFS/VAC service fee | Varies by country | At time of visa application |
| Temporary Residence Permit (stamp duty) | 340 PLN (~€79) | At Voivodeship Office, within visa validity after arrival |
| Student card fee (TRP) | 50 PLN (~€12) | Same application as TRP |
| TRP total | 390 PLN (~€91) | After arrival |
| Health insurance (NFZ voluntary student contribution) | 55.80 PLN/month (~€13/mo) | Monthly after arrival |
| Travel insurance for visa (€30,000 Schengen cover) | Varies | Before visa application |
PLN amounts converted at June 2026 rates (€1 ≈ 4.28 PLN — volatile; re-check before you pay).
On top of fees, you must show proof of funds when applying for your Temporary Residence Permit. The statutory minimum is 776 PLN per month for a single person × 15 months (the first TRP period) = 11,640 PLN in living funds, plus tuition for the full academic year and the next semester, plus 2,500 PLN for return travel (from a non-European country). In practice, consulates often expect applicants to show closer to 2,000–2,500 PLN per month.
Why is Poland raising fees?
The official MFA announcement references fee increases for national visas broadly — the move aligns Poland’s long-stay national visa cost with the general direction of EU consular-fee policy and reflects administrative cost recovery. Poland raised the fee in two steps (2024, then 2026) rather than one jump, which softened the impact slightly but did not change the trajectory.
The fee increase coincides with a wider shift in Polish immigration policy. From 2024, Poland introduced a 50% cap on foreign students per university and increased scrutiny of visa applications following concerns about visa misuse. Nigeria has been named among the nationalities facing the highest rejection rates in the Polish system. The combination of a higher fee and tighter scrutiny means the cost of an unsuccessful application has risen significantly.
How does €200 compare to other EU destinations?
| Country | National (Type D) student visa fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | €200 | From 1 Jan 2026 |
| Germany | €75 | Waived for DAAD scholarship holders |
| Malta | €100 (D-visa) + €50 (e-Residence) | Two-stage; total €150 |
| Hungary | €110 (abroad, covers entry visa + permit) | All-in single fee |
| Ireland | €60 (single) / €100 (multi-entry) | €0 for some nationalities incl. Zambia |
| UK | £558 (student visa) | Plus IHS and maintenance evidence |
Poland’s fee is now the second-highest in our destination set after the UK — and unlike the UK, it does not include a residence permit in the price (you pay the TRP separately).
What this means for Nigerian and Ghanaian applicants in particular
Poland has explicitly named Nigeria among the nationalities with the highest visa rejection rates. Paying €200 for an application that is refused is a real risk. Before applying:
- Ensure your financial evidence (bank statements) is in good order and clearly covers the 776 PLN/month minimum plus tuition plus return travel.
- Ensure your university acceptance letter is from an MFHEA-licensed (or in Poland’s case, accredited) institution.
- Be aware that Poland does not process visa applications for African nationals through VFS in all locations — confirm the local application procedure and appointment availability at your nearest Polish consulate.
Ghanaian applicants should note that Ghana is not eligible for the NAWA Banach scholarship, which is the most accessible government-funded Master’s scholarship for African students in Poland. Nigerian and Kenyan students are eligible for Banach; Ghanaians are not (as of June 2026 — re-verify each cycle at nawa.gov.pl).
Does the fee affect scholarship holders?
The NAWA Banach scholarship covers tuition waiver and a monthly stipend of 2,500 PLN/month — it does not explicitly waive the consular visa fee. Scholarship holders should budget for the €200 visa fee unless their specific award documentation states otherwise. Confirm with NAWA and the relevant Polish consulate when you receive your award letter.
The German DAAD scholarship explicitly waives the German visa fee (€75) — Poland’s NAWA does not have a matching policy confirmed in the public-facing documentation.
Practical checklist before you apply
- ✅ Confirm the current fee on the Polish embassy page for your country — fees may be updated again.
- ✅ Add the VFS/VAC service fee (varies by location) to your budget.
- ✅ Have bank statements ready showing funds well above the 776 PLN/month statutory minimum.
- ✅ Budget separately for the 390 PLN TRP fee after arrival.
- ✅ Check whether your home country requires an apostille or consular legalisation on your documents (Nigeria: apostille, joined Hague Convention 2025; Kenya and Ghana: check current status before lodging).
How World Study Africa helps
We review your documents before you apply, advise on the right Polish university for your background, and flag rejection risks early — so you do not lose €200 on an avoidable refusal. Our advisory service is free for most students (funded by a 15–25% university referral; no upfront fee to you for placement support).
Check your eligibility for Poland, explore the full Poland visa guide, or message us on WhatsApp to ask a specific question about your application.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Polish student visa (Type D) cost in 2026?
The national long-stay visa (Type D) — the one students use — costs €200 as of 1 January 2026. This is paid at the Polish consulate or, where applicable, at a VFS visa application centre. Many posts add a separate VFS service fee on top of the €200; check the specific embassy’s consular-fee page for the total. The short-stay Schengen C visa (90 days or less) remains at €90.
Is the €200 Poland visa fee the same for all African nationalities?
The national (Type D) visa fee is set centrally by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and applies regardless of nationality. What can differ is the VFS or visa application centre service fee, which varies by country. Individual embassies may also have different appointment processes and waiting times — Nigeria, for example, has been named among nationalities facing closer scrutiny and longer processing.
Do I pay the visa fee again when I get my residence permit in Poland?
Yes. The visa fee covers entry only. Once you arrive in Poland you apply for a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) for studies at the local Voivodeship Office. The TRP costs 390 PLN total (340 PLN stamp duty + 50 PLN student card fee). The visa and the residence permit are two separate fees.
Does the NAWA Banach scholarship waive the Polish student visa fee?
No waiver is published for the Banach scholarship. The NAWA scholarship covers tuition and a monthly stipend of 2,500 PLN, but the consular visa fee is typically the applicant’s responsibility. Confirm with NAWA and the relevant Polish embassy when applying.
What happened to the old €80 and €135 Poland visa fees?
The €80 fee applied before 1 June 2024. It was replaced by €135 under MFA Regulation of 21 May 2024 (Journal of Laws 2024, item 774). From 1 January 2026 the fee rose again to €200. The “€80” and “€135” figures still appear widely on agency websites and blog posts — treat any site quoting these figures as out of date.
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