This visa allows Doctors, dentists, nurses, obstetricians, and paramedics from non-EU countries who want to live and work in Poland. Poland has made it easier for healthcare workers to settle in the country
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this visa, this is what you need to do.
- A diploma of at least 5 years of study.
- Be legally capable (you’ll need to provide a hand-signed statement).
- Show you’re in good health (you’ll need a certificate from an authorized doctor).
- Demonstrate impeccable ethical conduct (another hand-signed statement is needed).
If you are eligible, you should apply for consent from the Minister of Health to practice as a doctor or dentist in Poland.
Also, you must get approval from a regional medical authority for the conditional right to practice.
You must get approval from the Minister of Health to work.
If approved, your practice rights will be limited unless you apply to the Minister of Health for permission to provide telehealth or work at clinics not designated as COVID-19 hospitals.
Furthermore, you’ll be required to work under the guidance of a seasoned doctor. This conditional right to practice will be valid for five years and may not be extended or renewed under the same conditions and circumstances.
At the end of the five years, you will have to meet other requirements, including the validation of your diploma or having passed the Medical Verification Examination, completing an internship, and passing the Final Medical Examination. These modifications are aimed at facilitating the employment of qualified staff from non-EU countries to work in healthcare services in Poland. If you are a medical practitioner or a dentist with qualifications gained within a country outside the EU and:
- Hold a doctor’s or dentist’s diploma confirming completion of at least 5 years of study,
- Possess a diploma confirming the title of specialist,
- Have full legal capacity (confirmed by a hand-signed statement),
- Demonstrate good health (verified by a certificate from an authorized doctor),
- Exhibit good ethical conduct (confirmed by a hand-signed statement)
They can apply for consent from the Minister of Health to practice as a doctor or dentist in Poland. They must also apply to the regional medical authority for the conditional right to practice, particularly during the announcement of a state of epidemic. Obtaining consent from the Minister of Health will serve as the basis for their visa application to work in Poland.
Once granted the conditional right to practice, doctors or dentists will practice under supervision for the first 3 months. They won’t be allowed to practice outside a medical facility providing health services to COVID-19 patients without additional consent from the Minister of Health.
The conditional license to practice as a doctor or dentist is valid for 5 years from the date of issuance and expires under specific rules outlined in the Act. It cannot be extended or renewed under the same conditions after 5 years.
After this period, doctors or dentists can practice in Poland once they meet other requirements specified in regulations, such as diploma validation, completing or recognizing postgraduate internship, and passing the Final Medical Examination organized by the Medical Examinations Center in Łódź.
If a doctor or dentist, who acquired their professional qualifications outside the EU, additionally fulfills the following conditions:
- Submits a declaration affirming their proficiency in Polish to carry out professional activities (self-signed declaration by the doctor/dentist),
- Obtains a certificate from a healthcare institution in Poland outlining the planned period of employment and professional activities aligned with their specialist title,
- Possesses a minimum of three years of specialist or dentist experience within the past five years,
- Holds a specialist title diploma issued in a non-EU country,
- Completes specialization training equivalent to that in Poland (documented specialization training program)
They can apply for consent from the Minister of Health to practice as a doctor or dentist in Poland. Additionally, they can seek permission from the regional medical authority to practice for a specified period and scope of professional activities within a medical institution. During the first year, they must work under the supervision of a mentor who holds a second-degree specialization or specialist title.
Once granted consent from the Minister of Health, they can apply for a work visa in Poland. The license issued under these conditions remains valid for up to five years and expires under the rules in the Act. It cannot be extended or renewed after five years.
Subsequently, the doctor or dentist can only practice in Poland after having their diploma recognized or by passing the Medical Verification Examination, completing or recognizing a postgraduate internship, and passing the Final Medical Examination.
When applying for permission to practice, the doctor’s or dentist’s diplomas and specialist title diplomas must be properly authenticated and legalized by the relevant authorities.
For nurses or obstetricians who obtained their professional qualifications outside the EU and meet the following criteria:
- Hold a nurse or obstetrician diploma,
- Possess full legal capacity (confirmed by a hand-signed statement),
- Demonstrate good health (verified by a certificate from an authorized doctor),
- Exhibit good ethical conduct (confirmed by a hand-signed statement)
They can apply for consent from the Minister of Health to practice as a nurse or obstetrician in Poland. Additionally, they can seek conditional permission from the district council of nurses and obstetricians to practice during an epidemic or epidemic threat. Obtaining consent from the Minister of Health will serve as the basis for their visa application to work in Poland.
Nurses or obstetricians who obtain conditional permission to practice in Poland will only be allowed to work within healthcare facilities providing services to COVID-19 patients unless they obtain additional consent from the Minister of Health. They will also work under the supervision of another nurse or obstetrician.
If nurses or obstetricians with conditional permission have at least three years of professional experience in the field within the past five years, they will work under supervision for the first three months of employment in Poland.
The conditional permission to practice as a nurse or obstetrician is valid for 5 years from the date of issue of the conditional permission and expires after the term specified in the Act and cannot be extended or renewed beyond 5 years after the termination. After 5 years, the nurses or the obstetricians may practice only on condition that their diploma is recognized, or they finish first-cycle studies in the field of nursing or obstetrics.
A nurse or obstetrician with professional qualifications obtained outside the EU must meet the following conditions:
- Submits a declaration demonstrating proficiency in Polish necessary for their professional duties,
- Acquires a certificate from a healthcare entity detailing the planned employment period and professional activities consistent with their education,
- Possesses a minimum of three years of professional experience as a nurse or obstetrician within the past five years before obtaining the certificate from a healthcare entity in Poland
They are eligible to apply for consent from the Minister of Health to practice as a nurse or obstetrician in Poland. Additionally, they can request permission from the district council of nurses and obstetricians for specific professional activities, duration, and location of employment within a healthcare facility. Obtaining consent from the Minister of Health is crucial for their visa application to work in Poland.
For the first year, nurses or obstetricians with this permission must work under the supervision of another nurse or obstetrician designated by the head of the medical unit where they are employed.
Moreover, nurses and obstetricians granted this permission cannot practice in any other medical facility in Poland except for the one that issued their certificate, except as specified by law.
This permission to practice as a nurse or obstetrician remains valid for up to five years from the date of issuance and expires as outlined in the Act. It cannot be extended or renewed after five years. After this period, nurses or obstetricians can only practice in Poland after their diploma is recognized or after completing first-cycle studies (bachelor’s degree) in nursing or obstetrics.
When applying for permission to practice as a nurse or obstetrician under this procedure, their diploma or its duplicate must be certified and legalized by the consul or affixed with an apostille by the relevant authority of the state where the document was issued. If the authentication or legalization process is excessively difficult or impossible, the Minister of Health may waive this requirement.
If a paramedic, who obtained professional qualifications outside the EU, meets the following conditions:
Demonstrates full legal capacity (confirmed by a hand-signed statement submitted by the paramedic),
Shows an appropriate state of health (confirmed by a relevant certificate from a doctor authorized to conduct medical examinations of employees),
Holds a diploma confirming the title of a professional paramedic or provides documents proving at least three years of professional experience as a paramedic within the last five years before seeking consent
They can apply for consent from the Minister of Health to practice as a paramedic in Poland. Obtaining this consent will serve as the basis for their visa application to work in the country.
During periods of an announced state of epidemic threat or epidemic, the Minister of Health may grant consent to individuals with at least one year of professional experience to practice as paramedics.
The consent to practice as a paramedic issued in this manner remains valid for up to five years from the date of issuance and expires as stated in the Act. It cannot be extended, nor can a new consent be issued on the same terms after five years. After this period, paramedics can practice in Poland following the provisions of the State Medical Rescue Act.
You should send the needed papers to the Ministry of Health, or the consulate where you’re applying for the visa. Having all the documents complete will help speed up the decision-making. Check the Ministry of Health website for the list of documents you need.
If you qualify as a doctor, dentist, nurse, obstetrician, or paramedic in Poland, Below is our guide to getting your visa:
Decide How to Apply: Directly apply at the Polish consulate in your home country or a Visa Application Center (VAC) if there’s one. Visit the consulate’s website for step-by-step instructions under “Consular information” → “Visas” → “D-Type national visa”.
Schedule an Appointment: Use the e-konsulat system to schedule an appointment at the consulate for visa application. If applying through a VAC, book an appointment via the call center or website as per consulate instructions.
Prepare Your Documents: Gather the required documents listed on the form, depending on the profession you’re applying for. The consulate will forward them to the Minister of Health to consider your application for practicing your profession in Poland.
Submit Required Documents: During your appointment, submit the necessary documents along with a signed visa form
Additional Documents: Bring a recent color photograph, a valid passport with sufficient blank pages, and proof of travel medical insurance
Financial Resources Confirmation: Provide evidence of financial resources to support yourself until you commence work in Poland. This could include bank statements or credit card limits.
To apply for a visa, Pay the visa application fee on the website and it is non-refundable.
Additional fees may apply If you want to legalize your documents like a diploma.
After Payment, wait for the visa decision, It takes about four working days and sometimes longer.
You can request a reexamination of the consulate decision within 14 days of receiving it if, your visa is refused.
Make sure to comply with the consulate or VAC’s instructions, and ensure that everything is complete and submitted