A national visa and a Schengen visa are two separate documents, governed by two different laws. In this post, we compare them from three perspectives: how long you can stay under each, how long the visa is valid, and for what purpose it is issued. We base our analysis on regulations, not opinions.
Two documents, two legal acts
National Visa This is the visa described in the Act on Foreigners. Schengen Visa (in the regulations: uniform visa) is based on the Visa Code, i.e., European Union Regulation No. 810/2009. The first is a Polish law; the second is an EU regulation. This alone makes it clear that they cannot be treated as two names for the same document.
A Schengen visa applies to the Schengen Area. According to the European Commission, it consists of 29 countries: The 25 member states of the European Union, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Bulgaria and Romania will be full members of the zone as of January 1, 2025.
Length of stay: up to 90 days or longer
The first difference concerns how long a foreign national may stay on a visa.
- Schengen Visa: The Visa Code applies to visas for stays not exceeding 90 days, calculated within any 180-day period (Article 1(1) of the Visa Code).
- National visa: Under the Act, this refers to a continuous stay or several stays totaling more than 90 days, all of which fall within the visa’s validity period (Article 59(1) of the Act on Foreigners).
Pay attention to the word „in total.” For a national visa, the total number of days from all stays during the visa’s validity period is what counts. That is why the 90-day limit distinguishes between the two types of visas: a Schengen visa applies to stays of up to 90 days, while a national visa applies to stays longer than 90 days.
Validity period of a national visa
The period of stay and the validity period are not the same thing. The validity of a visa refers to the time during which the visa is „valid,” while the period of stay refers to the number of days spent in Poland during that time. For a national visa, the law specifies an upper limit: a national visa is valid no longer than 1 year (Section 59(3)).
The law therefore allows for two types of stays: one continuous stay or several shorter stays, all of which must fall within the visa’s validity period. The aforementioned 1 year is the maximum duration that the validity period may not exceed, not a fixed duration for each visa.
The types of national visas available to citizens of specific countries are described in the post titled National visas for citizens of Ukraine and Belarus in Poland.
Purposes of a National Visa
The Act on Foreigners lists the purposes for which a national visa is issued (Article 60(1)). These include, among others:
- tourist destination,
- visits,
- conducting business activities,
- work,
- college.
The list in the law is longer and includes several options under the category „work.” If you plan to work, check the page about work and residence, how the stay relates to employment.
Student visa available only as a domestic visa
One of the differences is very specific. A student visa is issued only as a national visa (Article 60(2)(3) of the Act on Foreigners). For the purpose of studying, the Act therefore provides only for a national visa.
If this applies to you or to a family member who is about to begin their studies in Poland, please read the page about Legalizing Residency During and After College.
Summary
- Legal basis: National visa – the Act on Foreigners; Schengen visa – the Visa Code (810/2009).
- Length of stay: National visa – a continuous stay or several stays totaling more than 90 days; Schengen visa – stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
- Validity period: National visa – no more than 1 year.
- Education: A student visa is issued exclusively as a national visa.
Why It's Important to Know the Difference
Choosing the type of visa starts with two questions: how many days you want to spend in Poland and the purpose of your visit. If your stay is to last more than 90 days in total, the regulations require a national visa. If the purpose of your visit is to study, the law provides exclusively for a national visa for this purpose. When the answers aren’t obvious, it’s better to clarify them before submitting your documents rather than after.
Terms That Shouldn't Be Confused
When reading documents, it's easy to confuse a few terms. National Visa that's not Schengen visa. A visa isn't just temporary residence permit, which is a decision by the provincial governor, nor residence card, which is the document issued following such a decision. Each of these terms means something different, so when contacting the agency or us, it’s important to use the correct term.
Also, keep in mind the division of roles: the consul decides on visas, while the provincial governor decides on residence permits. This text describes the regulations and does not prejudge the outcome of any case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are a Schengen visa and a national visa the same thing?
No. A national visa is described in the Act on Foreigners, while a Schengen visa is described in the Visa Code (810/2009). Among other things, they differ in terms of the length of stay: a Schengen visa applies to stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, while a national visa applies to stays that, in total, exceed 90 days.
How long can a national visa be valid?
The Act on Foreigners sets an upper limit of 1 year (Article 59(3)). The specific duration in a given case is determined by the visa issued by the consul.
Is a Schengen visa sufficient for studying?
The law states that a student visa is issued only as a national visa (Article 60(2)(3) of the Act on Foreigners). Therefore, when planning to study in Poland, the term “national visa” is used.
How many countries are part of the Schengen Area?
According to the European Commission, the Schengen Area consists of 29 countries: the 25 member states of the European Union, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Bulgaria and Romania have been full members since January 1, 2025.
Not sure which type of visa fits your plans? Get in touch via form or by calling 737 737 736. The ECOC team will help you organize your visa documents; the consul makes the final decision on the visa itself.
