Regulations

Asylum applications should be submitted to the Border Guard (SG) which will then transfer them to the Head of the Office for Foreigners. If the application is lodged at the border or in detention the relevant authority receiving it is the SG unit responsible for the border check point or the detention facility. Under the Law amending the Law on Protection which entered into force on 13 November 2015 if the application is lodged in the territory, it should be submitted to any SG unit. There is also a possibility to declare a will to apply for asylum by post for i.e. elderly persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, persons in hospitals or imprisoned.

The Head of Office for Foreigners is competent to examine the claim, so the SG cannot refuse to accept the application.

When applying for asylum, the asylum seeker has to surrender their travel document (e.g. passport) to the SG. Travel documents are kept by the Head of the Office for Foreigners. Asylum seekers are issued a temporary ID document entitling them to stay on the territory of Poland. The document is initially valid for 90 days (10 days in case of Dublin returnees), then for 6 months and can be prolonged every 6 months by the Head of the Office for Foreigners until the end of the asylum procedure.

When asylum seekers are already on the territory and express the intention to apply for asylum to the SG unit in Warsaw, in practice it happened that they were asked to come back in a few days, notably when there is a need to provide interpretation in a language other than Russian or English. Moreover, it is often the case that when an NGO lawyer representing a client wants to assist with the application, they are asked to schedule a meeting in advance (e.g. two-three days). In 2014 and 2015 HFHR received information from Ukrainian asylum seekers that registration can approximately take 7 days. The Border Guard Headquarters presents the opinion that it is max 2-3 days and such delays should not be considered as a rule. This issue will be monitored in the frame of the internal control carried out by the Border Guard Headquarters. From 13 November 2015 this practice is reflected in the law. The SG is entitled to inform an asylum seeker that it is impossible to apply for asylum on a day when said individual came to the SG unit and instead to set a date and place when it will be possible.

How to to seek asylum?

Here are some tips to eliminate guesswork from everyday situations you may encounter during your trip to Poland while using public transport or your own vehicle.

Public transport tickets

Where to buy?

Tickets are sold at newsagent kiosks. One ticket is used for all means of public transport and is valid for buses, trams and the underground. In some towns you can buy tickets from the driver (at a surcharge), from ticket machines on board or at underground stations.

Ticket inspections may be frequent and the failure to produce a valid ticket may lead to a fine. The transport company inspectors are ununiformed but they carry an ID card which they are obliged to present to the passenger.

What types of tickets are available?

Not all cities have the same type of tickets. In some, you can buy tickets which are valid for a specific length of time - 15 minutes, 30 minutes, one hour, one day, 24 hours etc. Such tickets can be used to travel by any means of public transport within the allocated time. When the ticket is stamped in the machine on board, the time is printed on the ticket. The ticket should only be stamped once. In some cities also single journey tickets are available.

Rail tickets

The best place to buy rail tickets is the station. Express / IC InterCity / EC EuroCity trains are charged extra for seat booking.Vist the information desk to enquire about timetables, prices and special offers. If you happen to be too late to buy a ticket at the station, you can still board the train and, as soon as possible, ask the guard to sell you a ticket (at a surcharge).

Visas - general information

There are many countries whose citizens can visit Poland as tourists without visas. These include all European Union countries.

Visa free travel to Poland is available to citizens of many countries outside the European Union.

Countries whose citizens can travel to Poland for up to 90 days without a visa:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao (SAR), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican, Venezuela.

Detailed information on rules covering entry and stay in Poland can be obtained from Polish embassies and consular offices.

Using your own transport

Headlights

All vehicles are required to use headlights, night day and and all year round.

Seatbelts

The use of seat belts is compulsory for front and rear-seat passengers.

Roads and motorways

The condition of Polish roads could be described as relatively good. In the vicinity of the larger cities road surfaces are improving every month. Secondary roads can be qualified as being in a satisfactory condition.

Conditions on the roads

Apart from these motorways there are many dual carriageways and single-lane roads. The surface of some of these roads has been deformed by ruts cut into the road surface during the summer by TIR trucks. In general drivers have to be a little more vigilant in Poland when driving along the minor roads in this country.

Speed limits

  • built-up area - 50 km/h
  • outside built-up area - 90 km/h
  • dual carriageway - 120 km/h
  • single-lane road - 100 km/h
  • twin lane carriageway with at least two lanes per direction - 100 km/h
  • motorway - 140 km/h


Road use charges

In Poland there is a toll on motorways (A1, A2, A4 and A8). These tolls are collected using two systems:

  • open system: The tolls are collected at toll booths situated on motorways. The toll depends on the type of vehicle.
  • closed system (viaTOLL system): The tolls are collected at toll booths situated on access roads, on junction roads and additionally on the final sections of motorways. The toll depends on the type of vehicle and the distance covered.

viaTOLL is an electronic toll collection system that charges road users for using selected sections of toll road network. Vehicles required to pay electronic tolls are the motor vehicles or combinations of vehicles with maximum permissible weight of over 3.5 tonnes and buses regardless of its maximum permissible weight.

viaTOLL system covers caravanning. Vehicles have to be equipped with little on-board units (so called viaBOX) which communicate with transmitters in toll gantries. Each time a vehicle equipped with viaBOX technology passes beneath the gantry the driver is charged for that particular section of toll road.

Alcohol & Cigarettes

Poland has no specific laws regulating alcohol consumption. There are, however, certain restrictions as to the age and venues where people are permitted to drink alcohol. It is also worth remembering that being under the influence of alcohol is not a mitigating factor if an offence has been committed. While smoking tobacco is going out of fashion in Poland, it is not prohibited to smoke in public places.

Drinking in public places

In Poland, it is prohibited to drink alcohol in public places, with the exception of properly licensed designated places, such as bars, restaurants, open air café gardens, etc.


Underage drinking

It is strictly prohibited to sell or offer alcohol to young people under the age of 18 years. Likewise, underage drinking is not allowed in licensed bars and restaurants.


Drinking & driving

In Poland, the legal limit of blood alcohol content is 20 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. Driving while under the influence of alcohol (between 20 mg and 50 mg) is an offence punishable by a fine. Driving while being above the 50 mg limit is a serious offence which leads to criminal conviction and possible seizure of the vehicle. Offenders face a possibility of immediate arrest and up to two years’ imprisonment.


Smoking in public places

Although in Poland it is not illegal to smoke in many public places, there are also regulations aiming at protecting non-smokers. With an increasing number of Polish people preferring a healthy lifestyle, smoking is no longer generally acceptable. The anti-smoking lobby is gaining popularity not only by promoting a healthy lifestyle for smokers, but mainly by protecting passive smokers. A nationwide campaign has been launched to declare 31 May a ‘Non Smoking Day’.


Because of these concerns, smoking is now prohibited in many places. Many such places may have, however, designated smoking areas. Therefore, in restaurants, pubs, on trains, in theatres, colleges, etc. you may only smoke in such designated areas. Smoking is strictly prohibited in places marked with special signs (a cigarette crossed with a red line).