Student Zone

Health Insurance & Visa

The information listed below is intended as a guide for international students staying in Poland in terms of health insurance cover and legalization of stay.

Health insurance requirements and healthcare resources for students

International students staying in Poland are required to have a valid health insurance policy for emergency incidents and day-to-day healthcare. A student’s failure to obtain a health insurance policy absolves the University from responsibility for covering the cost of a their medical treatment in Poland.

All students are required to deliver a proof of holding a valid certificate of health insurance to the Dean’s Office.

Citizens of European Union and EFTA countries:

European Union citizens who hold the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a replacement certificate can receive free health care services from any doctor contracted by the National Health Fund (NFZ).

Non-EU students – how to sign your agreement for voluntary health insurance with the NFZ:

Presentation on health insurance by the National Health Fund (NFZ)

 

The following documents will be required to sign the agreement:

  • certificate of enrollment (request it at the Dean’s Office)
  • Identity document (passport or resident card)
  • At the doctor’s office:
    – students who have PESEL number can proof that they are insured through the electronic system eWUŚ;
    – students who do not have PESEL number can submit a statement about their insurance status (statement forms should be provided by the doctor) or present a copy of the agreement along with the last month payment sheet

The PESEL ID card may be obtained at the Poznan City Hall, Urząd Miasta. You are required to present a proof of residency, dowód zameldowania, a certificate issued to you by the same office in the Poznań City Hall, based on the student dormitory ID received by you from the dormitory administration, or based on a copy of the rental agreement signed by you and your landlord. The PESEL ID number is an absolute requirement for your free access to the family physician and different clinics, and also for getting prescriptions.

 

 

Step 1: signing an agreement with the National Health Fund. Monthly contribution for students.

Step 2: mandatory registration of the agreement with the Social Security Agency [Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych, ZUS] through submission of ZUS ZZA form filled in by the student within 7 days at the Social Security Agency competent for the place of domicile. Please remember to fill in field 01 in section VIII (of the ZUS ZZA form) with the following symbol of the National Health Fund office: 15R – National Health Fund, Provincial Branch of the Wielkopolska Province in Poznań

Step 3: monthly payment of contributions to the Social Security Agency’s account, until the 15th day of each consecutive month for the previous month, and sending the ZUS DRA settlement form to the Agency.

Termination of the agreement by the student can be completed through submission of a written statement at the NFZ office and filled in ZWUA form at the Social Security Agency – this is necessary as outstanding contributions are charged with interest for 30 days from termination of payments. Further information can be obtained at: phone no.: (+4861) 655 44 44, (+4861) 658 04 18 https://nfz-poznan.pl https://lang.zus.pl/en/

 

Polish citizens

Polish students can be insured by the University – please visit the Center for Medical Education in English to register.

 

Need to make a doctor’s appointment or use other health services? Visit this website for more information.

Visa requirements and resident permits

  1. All students with dual citizenship, if one is Polish, are required to obtain a Polish passport prior to arriving in Poland. The holders of a valid Polish passport will not need a Polish visa to enter and to stay in Poland. However, they should also bring their other foreign passport as well, since they must use it upon the return to their home countries.
  2. All other international students intending to study in Poland — who are planning to stay in Poland for a period longer than three months — are required to obtain a Student Visa from the appropriate Polish consulate before arriving in Poland.
  3. Prior to the visa expiration date, students must apply to the Polish authorities for a temporary stay card. This card is valid for a period of maximum 3 years with the possibility of extension.
  4. The application for a temporary stay card should be submitted to the Polish authorities no later than on the last day before the visa expires.
  5. An illegal stay in Poland may result in deportation and re-entry ban.

 

Procedures to be followed to obtain the temporary stay card

Presentation by the Immigrations Office

 

Contact information for the Immigrations Office:

Wielkopolska Voivodship Office in Poznań DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGNERS
Plac Wolności 17, ground floor entrance A
Poznan, Poland
Tel. + 48 61 850 87 77
cudzoziemcy@poznan.uw.gov.pl
https://migrant.poznan.uw.gov.pl/en

 

Office hours:
Monday 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday – Friday 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

 

Shengen zone requirements

Schengen Visas, with a C mark, authorize students to enter and stay in the Schengen member countries for no longer than 90 days within 180 days period.

The Polish visas with a D mark, issued by the Polish consuls will permit the entry and stay in Poland, but also to travel to Schengen zone countries for no longer than 90 days for tourist purpose only.  The Polish visas will remain valid until their expiration date (but no longer than number of days mentioned on the visa).

Citizens of the non-Schengen zone countries have to meet specific requirements in order to enter the Schengen zone states:

    1. Hold a valid travel document and a visa if it is required from the citizens of a given country
    2. Specify the destination country.
    3. Possess appropriate funds for the duration of the stay in Poland and for the return to the home country.
    4. The person who is planning to enter the Schengen zone must not be identified and listed in the The Schengen Information System (SIS) as an undesirable person or a person who poses a threat to the public.