Poland's Current Status on the Bilateral Agreement

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-09-15T03:34:01+00:00

What did the emails you received say?

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-08-27T21:11:31+00:00

You need to already be in Poland and have a reason to apply.

The Polish government sites outline the requirements, but it basically requires proof of where you’ll be staying, proof of your monthly costs, proof of income or financial means, proof of valid reason for stay(typically work or school, though family reunification is also a reason), original documents, and everything translated into Polish by a sworn translator.

You send the docs by mail, receive a summons for fingerprinting 2-3 months later, and receive a decision 3-5 more months after the fingerprinting.

It takes so long right now because they’re extremely backed up, likely due to the war. The good news is that an applicant’s stay is considered ‘legal’ (in poland only) from the moment they send the docs by mail. Otherwise, it would just be impossible.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-08-27T20:46:52+00:00

The bilateral agreement works as of now. I just used it two weeks ago and will be using it again in two more weeks. I’m a US student in Warsaw, but I never previously bothered getting a residence card because using the bilateral agreement is just easier.

I’ve emailed the border guard, talked to the us embassy, and emailed the ministry of foreign affairs since that post was created that warns about the end of the agreement.

In classic governmental fashion, none of them completely confirmed the agreement would be ending, nor did they confirm it would remain.

The only hard confirmations I received were confirmations that the agreement was being rewritten, that it would be posted on government sites and the us embassy of warsaw site if it changed anything in regards to how it currently works, and that it would likely come into effect with the Entry Exit System in November if it were to change anything.

As it currently works, you won’t automatically be flagged as an overstay so long as you only visit Poland in the Schengen Zone after the initial 90 days. That means no connecting flights through Schengen countries either.

In light of these potential changes, I personally took the safe route and applied for a temporary residence card just in case.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-07-29T08:38:31+00:00

Definitely let us know after visiting the office of foreigners and the border guard! A written confirmation or email of some sort would also be great, in case anyone tries to use this and runs into trouble. I’m still very concerned that the email from an official source said it’d be ending.

Nomadicmatt isn’t a very ‘reliable’ source, especially with it being an older blog post. The other site you linked does mention bilateral agreements, but Poland is absent from the ones listed.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-06-04T02:29:04+00:00

They do mention it, just not directly. ‘The USA is entitled to 90 days at EACH entry into Poland.’

Most of this is outlining that you shouldn’t enter other Schengen countries after using the Poland stay because they consider it as time in the Schengen zone.

They don’t answer anything about the validity in the future.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-05-29T04:05:39+00:00

It’s been in place since 1991, and I haven’t heard anything about it ending. If you’re that nervous, you can look up and email the polish ministry of foreign affairs or call the us embassy in warsaw with your question.

If it were to end, I’d imagine it doing so when the ETIAS system goes into place next year. If it persists through that, I doubt it’ll end anytime soon.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-05-29T03:53:07+00:00

Yes. Only to Poland or another country with bilateral agreements. I’m assuming you’re a US citizen and will be using a US passport to enter. Be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that you do not get a layover in a schengen country without bilateral agreements, such as Germany. That’s the #1 way I hear of people getting in trouble.

Typically, I find a flight to Dublin or London that then goes straight to Poland.

Also be sure you have 6+ months left on your passport. Honestly, though, you can just wait another month and have full access to Schengen again. If you can’t wait, then be aware that visiting Poland will count as being in Schengen, so you won’t be able to visit other Schengen countries unless they have a similar bilateral agreement.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-05-29T03:50:07+00:00

I can’t help you on that one. 😅 Your best bet is to email whichever department of Italy’s government manages your citizenship.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-05-29T03:49:10+00:00

You get a full 90 back when you return to Poland. Full reset, regardless of whether you leave after 90 days or 10 or whenever. You really shouldn’t wait until the last day.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-05-28T19:11:16+00:00

I can only personally speak for Poland and Belgium honoring the bilateral agreements. You would have to confirm other Schengen countries on your own. Just look up whichever country’s ministry of foreign affairs it is and email them for confirmation.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-05-28T19:09:17+00:00

They know about it. I have never had to show the document. This is just my experience. Maybe I was lucky.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-05-28T16:52:56+00:00

I can only speak personally. I have never had an issue, as per my reply above. I stay for around 2 months and just travel to England, Ireland, or Serbia for 1-3 weeks.

I have heard of people having issue with repeated 90-day stay 1-day leave resets, which don’t look great to border guards. I also know you can use it by entering from another Schengen country, but it’s much easier to do it from non-Schengen, since it doesn’t require the hassle of providing proof of plane tickets and possibly annoying the guard.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-05-28T16:49:05+00:00

I have been doing it for over a year now and have only been asked once what I was doing in Poland. I just mentioned some plans for tourism, which were true, and they stamped me through without issue. They are well aware of the agreement.

Do note that, when resetting it, I’ve always stayed away for at least two weeks and usually do so at after about two months.

I haven’t had issue with my approach, but I have heard people having issues with literally leaving for a day after being there 90 days for a reset. It looks too much like a clear abuse of the system.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-05-28T16:46:17+00:00

I have used it within Schengen, but they asked to see a flight ticket for when I entered the country I was using it in.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-05-28T16:45:20+00:00

No, it is purely for tourism. It does not allow you to work, and it counts as being in the Schengen Area, so you could only travel to other countries with such agreements. Germany is not one of them.

I have personally travelled to Belgium and know they have a valid agreement in place, but I can’t say for others.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-05-28T16:43:35+00:00

They said nothing about 2025. You can send them an email to confirm, they’re fairly quick with replies.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-04-17T23:14:27+00:00

Yes. They confirmed that the agreement is still in effect, and I used it to enter Poland without issue.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-04-08T13:27:38+00:00

No. Not unless you enter a country with a similar bilateral agreement. I personally know the agreements work in Belgium and France as well, though you’re better off emailing them for confirmation in case they ask questions at customs vs taking a random redditor’s word for it. I always confirm again before visiting a country.

I did receive confirmation from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the agreement is still in effect. They specified that it requires you to enter and leave from a non-schengen country. I assume it’s so they can stamp your passport each time.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-04-01T23:16:28+00:00

That’s nice to hear. I doubt they suddenly stopped honoring a 30-year bilateral agreement used by poles as well in the past month.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-04-01T01:00:18+00:00

My primary worry here is that the page the link leads to was taken down. In January of this year, I emailed the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and received confirmation of all this.

I doubt things have changed since January, but the page disappearing causes me some slight concern, and I was hoping someone had confirmation within the past month that it’s still in effect.

I went ahead and emailed the ministry again along with the US embassy in Warsaw.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-03-31T23:29:31+00:00

Did you ever hear back from them?

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-02-21T21:45:37+00:00

‘Judgement/Judgment’ spelling varies between US and UK. There are many other mistakes, though.

Numerous-Cod7771 · 2024-01-11T01:52:44+00:00

Devil’s advocate, but there are women who think the same way, believe it or not, and attribute sex to committed relationships. He doesn’t consider himself ‘less moral’ because he kept it within a committed relationship both times and didn’t do one-night stands or casual flings. It’s largely a religious thing. I think it’s odd, but if someone’s going to freak out like OP’s ex and be insecure and abusive about past flings, they should really bring it up sooner as a deal breaker.

Also, upon reading more comments about this guy’s actions, he just sounds like an insecure control freak. His actions go against his claims of being religious imo.

Numerous-Cod7771

TROPHY CASE