Poland

TRAVEL INSURANCE

TheDepartment of Foreign Affairs strongly recommends that comprehensive travel insurance, including medical insurance, is obtained before travelling to Poland. 

Travellers should note that the Irish government does not provide funds for emergency medical repatriation or for repatriation of remains.

Please note that reception at casualty in Polish public hospitals may not accept VHI or other private insurance cards and may require cash if an EHIC card is not produced.  The EHIC card is readily recognised and accepted. However, the Department still strongly recommends that additional medical insurance is obtained before traveling as the EHIC card covers emergency treatment only.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

EU citizens do not require a visa to travel to Poland.  Please note that you will require a visa to enter or transit Belarus. This includes anyone travelling by train on the Warsaw-Moscow route.

CRIME

Visits to Poland are relatively free of trouble.  However, as with travelling to any country, we would advise people to use their common sense and be very careful of their passports, cash, ATM and credit cards.  Robbery with violence is not common in Warsaw but pickpocketing is a problem in public areas and on public transport to or from Warsaw Airport and at the main railway stations, especially in crowded situations. It is recommended that you leave your passport in a safe place in your accommodation and bring a photocopy of it when you go out. We would also advise that you bring another form of identification with you to Poland, such as a driving licence. The loss or theft of a passport must be reported to the police as a statement of loss is required for the issuance of a new passport or emergency travel documents.  Please note that only the Embassy in Warsaw is authorised to issue replacement travel documents.

It is also worth noting that outside tourist areas in the major cities, English is little spoken. Even in tourist areas, English speaking may be limited.  In the west and north in areas which were German for hundreds of years until 1945, travellers may find German rather than English a useful second language.

There have been reports in Warsaw, particularly at the airport, of overcharging by non-regulated taxi drivers. You should 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). Taxis with a crest but no company name are not officially registered taxis. On arrival at Warsaw Airport, you should ignore all offers of taxis inside the arrivals hall and go instead to the rank outside.  Otherwise in Warsaw, it is preferable to telephone taxis for service rather than to use parked or passing taxis which can charge a good deal more.  Service by the companies using telephone service is usually prompt and reliable. 

LOCAL LAWS & CUSTOMS 

Please note that while in Poland, Irish citizens are subject to Polish law, which may differ in some areas to Irish law. In particular, public drunkenness (ie. in the streets, on public transport etc.) may be dealt with very severely by the Polish authorities who have the right to detain people in detoxification centres if they believe them to be very drunk. We would strongly advise Irish citizens who are travelling to Poland to avoid drinking in public areas which is against the law, and to avoid any appearance of being drunk. There have been recent negative press reports on the conduct of stag and hen parties in Krakow in particular. Irish people are well regarded in Poland but are not immediately recognisable to Poles as Irish and may receive unfriendly treatment because of the stag/hen party phenomenon. The Embassy is aware of instances where English-speaking tourists in Krakow, including Irish, have been subjected to violent attacks. Visitors should be extra vigilant for pick-pocketing and other petty crime.

ROAD SAFETY

If you plan to drive in Poland, you should note that roads are often of poor standard and driving can be dangerous. Last year there were two serious car accidents involving Irish citizens, with one fatality. Conditions are hazardous, therefore, especially in winter when you should equip your car for the severe climate. Since April 2007, you must drive with your headlights on at all times all round the year. Seat belts must be used in both front and back seats. The use of a mobile phone while driving (unless it is “hands-free”) is banned. Your Irish driving license is valid in Poland. You are also legally required to carry the original vehicle-registration papers, ownership documents and insurance papers at all times. Please note that there is a zero tolerance of drink driving in Poland. Car theft and the theft of documents from vehicles are common.

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 nationals to enter and exit Poland on a Polish passport.  If you are a dual national of Poland and Ireland 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 Irish Embassy may only be able to offer you limited consular assistance.

DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR MISSIONS IN POLAND 

If you intend to stay in Poland for an extended period of time, you are encouraged to register your presence with the Irish Embassy in Warsaw.  Contact details for all Irish Missions (including Honorary Consuls) in Poland are available here. (Opens in new window)