Study in Poland from Nepal and India

Poland student visa at a glance

Visa fee

NPR 33,824

INR 21,120

Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Money to show a year

PLN 12,120

Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Work in term

See guide

Work during studies

Source: zielonalinia.gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Stay after study

9 months

Job-search permit

Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Short answer: To study in Poland you apply for the National (type D) visa for studies, followed by a temporary residence permit for studies. The main visa fee is INR 21,120 (about NPR 33,824). You must also show PLN 1,010 per month: money that stays yours. Eligible bachelor's and master's graduates can get a post-study work stay of up to 9 months (rules and longer stays for some degrees below).

How much does it cost to study in Poland?

Two different kinds of money: fees you pay (gone once paid) and funds you show as evidence (they stay in your account). Never add them together.

What do I need for the Poland student visa?

Where to apply (India)India

In person at a Visa Application Centre (VFS) after booking via e-Konsulat; New Delhi covers northern/eastern states, Mumbai covers southern/western states. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Core documents

Original university admission certificate, proof of tuition payment (or confirmation that study is free), legalised/apostilled certificates, accommodation proof with monthly cost, funds proof and a one-way flight reservation. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Language

Certificate at the level the university requires and not lower than B2, from the list in Journal of Laws 2025 item 1045; IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 79 / CAE 176 are 'highly recommended' extras. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

School-certificate recognition (first-year bachelor/long-cycle)

A NAWA recognition statement (free, via SYRENA) or a Polish education superintendent decision is required; without it the visa is refused. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Health insurance

Travel medical insurance from an approved insurer, valid in Schengen for the whole stay, minimum cover EUR 30,000 including emergency treatment and repatriation. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Timing and processing

Lodge no more than 6 months and normally at least 15 days before travel; decision usually within 15 days, up to 30 days in justified cases. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Visa validity

The D visa is valid for up to one year; for longer study you apply for a temporary residence permit in Poland. Source: study.gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Residence permit for studies

First permit for first-year students is 15 months; later permits cover the study period plus 3 months, up to 3 years. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Residence permit filing

Since 27 Apr 2026 study residence-permit applications are filed electronically via the MOS portal with an online annex completed by the university. Source: study.gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Approved universities only

Non-public universities must hold Interior Ministry (MSWiA) approval to admit foreigners from 1 Jul 2026; public universities are exempt. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I work while studying in Poland?

Work during studies

Full-time (stacjonarne) students at a university approved by MSWiA or exempt from approval may work without a work permit. Source: zielonalinia.gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Part-time students

Extramural, evening and other non-full-time students are not covered by the permit-free rule. Source: zielonalinia.gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Hours

No weekly hour cap is stated on official pages; NAWA notes studies must come first. Source: study.gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Internships

Internships required by the study programme are exempt from work-permit rules. Source: zielonalinia.gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I stay and work after graduating?

Job-search permit

A temporary residence permit for 9 months to seek work or start a business, granted only once, applied for directly after graduation while legally in Poland. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Who qualifies

Holders of a Polish bachelor, engineer, master or doctoral diploma (first-cycle, full-time second-cycle, postgraduate or doctoral school). Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Working after graduation

Graduates of full-time studies at a Polish university may work without a work permit. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

What is different for Nepali and Indian students?

What are the top universities in Poland?

Compare universities across countries

What do international students study in Poland?

The most-studied fields, from official enrolment statistics. No official breakdown for Nepali or Indian students is published, so these figures cover international students.

What has changed recently?

1. 1 Jun 2025

   Act of 4 April 2025 to eliminate irregularities in the visa system entered into force. Source: api.sejm.gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

2. 1 Jul 2025

   First-year bachelor/long-cycle visa applicants must present a NAWA recognition statement (or superintendent decision); more universities, including non-public ones, need MSWiA approval. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

3. 1 Aug 2025

   Regulation listing accepted language certificates for study entered into force; visa checklist requires at least B2. Source: api.sejm.gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

4. 20 Nov 2025

   New labour regulation: permit-free work only for full-time students at MSWiA-approved or exempt universities. Source: zielonalinia.gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

5. 1 Jan 2026

   National visa fee raised to EUR 200 (INR 21,120 in India). Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

6. 27 Apr 2026

   Study residence-permit applications must be filed electronically via the MOS portal. Source: study.gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

7. 1 Jul 2026

   Transition ended: newly covered non-public universities without MSWiA approval can no longer admit foreign students. Source: gov.pl (opens the official website in a new tab)

Check these yourself

We could not confirm these on an official page when we last checked, so we do not state them as facts.

• Whether Nepali citizens can lodge Polish D-visa applications at a VFS centre in Kathmandu, or must go to New Delhi.
• VFS service charge in India.
• How Nepal-issued documents must be legalised for Poland.
• Residence card fee: the Office for Foreigners says PLN 100, NAWA says PLN 50 — confirm when you apply.
• Whether your university is on the Interior Ministry (MSWiA) approved list — check before paying any fees.
• Dependants/family members of students.

Official sources for Poland

Government and official pages we use for this guide, checked 22 Oct 2026.

1. 1Office for Foreigners (UdSC) – graduate job-search permitimmigration_authority · 9-month post-study permit; graduate work rights
2. 2Embassy of Poland New Delhi – D-type national visa – studystudent_visa · Where to apply, jurisdiction incl. Nepal, processing, insurance
3. 3Polish national visa – study checklist (India)student_visa · PLN 1,010/month, PLN 2,500 return, B2, TMI EUR 30,000
4. 4Embassy New Delhi – educational documents noticestudent_visa · RAC + MEA apostille, superintendent recognition
5. 5Embassy New Delhi – consular feesfee · National visa INR 21,120 (from 1 Jan 2026)
6. 6Embassy of Poland in Israel – new consular fees 2026fee · National visa EUR 200 (MFA regulation 29 Oct 2025)
7. 7UdSC – stamp duty and residence card feesfee · Stamp duty range PLN 340–640; card PLN 100
8. 8Podlaskie Voivode – studies (residence permit)funds · PLN 1,010/823 per month; return-trip amounts; permit durations
9. 9MFA – student visas 2025 (Embassy in Iraq page)change · NAWA recognition required from 1 Jul 2025
10. 10MSWiA – approval of units admitting foreignerschange · Approved-university regime; transition to 30 Jun 2026; lists
11. 11Act of 4 April 2025 (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 622) – Sejm ELI APIlaw · Visa-system reform act; in force 1 Jun 2025
12. 12Regulation of 30 July 2025 (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1045) – language documentslaw · Accepted language certificates; in force 1 Aug 2025
13. 13Zielona Linia – foreign students and work permitswork · Permit-free work for full-time students at approved/exempt universities
14. 14Study in Poland (NAWA/MNiSW) – visa applicationnational_portal · Visa types, PLN 340 stamp duty, MOS since 27 Apr 2026
15. 15Study in Poland – tuition feestuition · ~EUR 2,000/yr typical; 2,000–6,000 range
16. 16Study in Poland – cost of livingliving · PLN 1,500–2,000/month
17. 17Study in Poland – work and internshipswork · No hour cap stated; graduates work without permit
18. 18NAWA – recognition statement for secondary school certificaterecognition · Free statement via SYRENA
19. 19NMC – FAQs on FMGL Regulations 2021regulator_india · Indian MBBS-abroad rules