18.06.2020 – Travelling within the Schengen area in relation to the extension of national visas

In connection with the current epidemiological situation, on 31 March 2020, the Act providing, inter alia, for extension of the period of validity of “D” national visas entered into force. The government of the Republic of Poland has notified the introduction of this solution to the European Commission and other countries so that foreigners with extended Polish visas can move around the Schengen area. However, until the position of individual countries is verified, this does not constitute a guarantee that visas will be recognized and that entering these countries’ territories will be possible.

Therefore, before starting a journey, it is necessary to make sure that entry into the territory of the country concerned will be possible by means of an extended visa. This applies, for example, to persons travelling in the course of their professional activities. The best source of information will be the border protection services of each country. Such a procedure will be necessary until the position of the Member States regarding the recognition of the extension of Polish visas is known.

Special solutions for foreigners, in force since 31 March 2020, include, inter alia, the extension by law of periods of stay and validity of national visas (entitling them to stay for a period exceeding 90 days, issued by Polish authorities, marked with a ‘D’). This extension was made conditional on whether the last day of the permitted stay of the foreigner specified on the visa sticker falls within the period of the state of epidemic emergency or state of epidemic. It will therefore be the period from 14 March 2020, when an epidemic emergency was declared. Then the period of validity of the visa will be extended by virtue of the law until the 30th day following the date of cancellation of the last such state.

Extension of the visa’s validity period will not involve placing a new visa sticker in the foreigner’s travel document.

Source: https://udsc.gov.pl/