Poland - Travel Advice & Visas

Summary

• Most visits to Poland are trouble-free.
  
  
• Holders of Dual Polish and British nationality should note that we may only be able to offer them a limited consular service.
  
  
• We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.
  
  
• There are risks of robbery on rail and bus journeys and driving can be hazardous.

Safety & Security

Crime
Violent crime is rare. You should be aware of street crime and pick pockets.

Take particular care to safeguard your passport and credit/ATM cards. You are advised not to lose sight of your credit cards during transactions.

A few tourists have been the target of a scam where people claiming to be plain-clothed policemen come to their aid, usually when another person has stopped them to ask for help or directions. The "policemen" then ask to see the tourists' ID and credit cards and to be given their PIN numbers. Under no circumstances should you give out your PIN numbers.

Where possible, avoid walking alone late at night in dark or poorly lit streets. There have been isolated incidents of muggings in towns popular with tourists. Busy streets, tourist sites, areas near main hotels, money exchange facilities, ATM machines and public transport are also popular with thieves.

There is a serious 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.

There have been problems in Warsaw, particularly at the airport involving 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). 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.

Theft of and from vehicles is common so do not leave documents or money in your vehicle. There have been cases of vehicles with foreign number plates being stopped by gangs posing as policemen, particularly in rural and tourist areas such as the Polish lake district. If you are flagged down, you should exercise caution, remain in your vehicle and ask to see identification.

Do not leave drinks or food unattended, or accept drinks from strangers. There have been a small number of reports of drinks being spiked and visitors having their valuables stolen whilst intoxicated.

Road Safety
Poland is a major east-west transit route for heavy vehicles. If you plan to hire a car, you should note that driving on Polish roads can be hazardous. 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. 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 dawn vehicles) are common in rural areas, even on main roads. If you can, avoid driving a right hand drive vehicle alone for long distances or driving long distances at night. In winter, you should equip your car for severe driving conditions. Between October and March, you must drive with your headlights on at all times. Seat belts must be used in both front and back seats. Using a mobile phone while driving (unless “hands free”) is banned.

Poland's rate of road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants is two and a half times as high as in the UK. Particular care should be taken on national holiday weekends, when there is usually a surge in road accidents.

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: Polish representation in the UK.

Please note that you require a visa to enter or transit Belarus. This includes anyone travelling by train on the Warsaw-Moscow route.

Health
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.

If you are planning to visit forested areas, you are advised to seek medical advice before you travel about inoculations for tick borne encephalitis.

As a British national, you can gain access to emergency medical treatment in Poland. The Form E111 is no longer valid. 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.

In general, medical facilities 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 seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on health, check the Department of Health’s website at: www.dh.gov.uk

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