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Poland

General Information

Capital City:
Warsaw
Population:
38.18 million
Area:
120,728 square miles
Language:
Polish
Electricity:
220V AC 50Hz
Direct Dial:
48
Driving:
Driving is on the right. International Driving Permit recommended if driving licence is not in English, French or German. UK driving licence accepted
Currency:
Zloty (PLN 1 = 100 Groszy)

Business Hours

Bank:
0800-1800 Mon-Fri (some banks open till 2000/2100)
Office:
0800-1600 Mon-Fri
Shops:
1100-1900 Mon-Fri (0800-2200 some shopping centres)
Public Holidays:
<b>2012</b> 01 Jan : New Year's Day 09 Apr : Easter Monday 01 May : Labour Day 03 May : National Day 17 May : Ascension 07 Jun : Corpus Christi 15 Aug : Assumption 01 Nov : All Saints' Day 11 Nov : Independence Day 25 Dec : Christmas 26 Dec : Second day of Christmas

Business and social hints

General:
Business is conducted in Polish, however many executives speak a second language. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, punctuality is appreciated. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. There may be some restrictions on photography. The minimum drinking age is 18 years
Tipping:
When there is no service charge tips are around 10-15%
Clothing:
Light to mediumweights for summer months. Heavier clothing required for the winter. Rainwear recommended throughout the year
Emergency Services:
Police: 997. Fire: 998. Ambulance: 999
Hotel Classification:
Membership of the Polish Hoteliers' Association (ZHP) is obligatory. Hotels are classified using the standard system from 1 star up to 5 star.

Climate

Winters tend to be cold with a decrease in temperature towards the east and in the southern mountains. The coastlands on the Baltic Sea are slightly milder with cooler summers. Rainfall is spread throughout the year although summer is marginally wetter. Snow is common in winter. Summers are warm (25-35 Celsius) with little variation throughout the country as a whole

Warsaw

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum Temperature °C 0 0 6 12 20 23 24 23 19 13 6 2
Minimum Temperature °C -6 -6 -2 3 9 12 15 14 10 5 0 -3
Average Humidity (mornings) % 90 89 90 85 80 82 86 90 92 93 93 92
Average Humidity (afternoons) % 84 80 70 61 56 59 63 63 64 73 83 87
Average Rainfall 27 32 27 37 46 69 96 65 43 38 31 44

Customs

Import Allowances:
For persons of 17 years of age or older: 1) Travellers entering from non-EU countries (including Canary Islands, Channel Islands & Gibraltar): a) 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250gr of tobacco b) 1 lit of spirits of more than 22� proof or 2 lit of up to 22� proof c) 2 lit of still wines & 5 lit of Beer d) 50gr of perfume & 0.25 lit of eau de toilette e) Other goods to the value of EUR 175 2) Travellers entering from EU countries (goods obtained duty & tax paid - guidance levels): a) 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars & 1 kg of tobacco b) 10 lit of spirits, 20 lit of fortified wine, 90 lit of wine (of which, a max of 60 lit of sparkling wine) & 110 lit of beer
Contraband:
No works of art produced before 1945 and certain other items can be exported without permission

Health

Participant of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC scheme) which allows visitors on short-term stays to other member countries to use the public health care sector for free or reduced-cost medical treatment and emergency care. EHIC replaces the E111 form. <b>Please note:</b> The EHIC scheme is not an alternative to travel insurance. It will <b>not</b> cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as mountain rescue in ski resorts repatriation to the UK lost or stolen property etc. For full details on eligibility and how to apply for a card visit www.nhs.uk or click<a href="https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do"> here</a>

Compulsary Vaccinations
None.
Recommended Immunisations
Tetanus. <b>In addition:</b> Hepatitis A, Tick-Borne Encephalitis, Rabies, Hepatitis B & Diphtheria are also recommended to those travelling to Poland frequently or intending to spend extended time here.
Risks
None. <b>GENERAL INFO FOR ALL TRAVELLERS:</b> Details listed can occasionally change at very short notice and it's recommended that all travellers seek advice from their Practice Nurse, GP or Travel Clinic when planning a visit to Poland. It should be noted that some vaccinations and treatments may require one or more visits and should be planned well in advance of travel. Primary courses and boosters should always be up to date as recommended for life in the UK. This should include vaccines given to special groups due to complications or risk exposure such as Hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly etc.

Immigration and Passport

Passports and passport replacing documents must be valid for the **period of intended stay. Exemptions:- 1) Polish nationals may enter with passport/passport replacing documents valid on arrival. 2) Nationals of EEA Member States & Switzerland may enter with passports valid on arrival. 3) Those residing in Poland may enter with valid travel documents on arrival. 4)** Visitors who require a visa (see visa section) must hold passports with a validity of at least 6 months after arrival, however a validity of 3 months may be allowed if holder already resides in an EU Member State.

The following DO NOT require a visa: 1) Nationals of Poland. a) Holders of a residence permit or re-entry permit issued by Poland. b) Irrespective of nationality, holding a residence permit issued by Monaco or a Schengen Member State. 2) For an unrestricted length of stay by: a) Nationals of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep of), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden & Switzerland. b) Holders of British passports endorsed "British Citizen". c) Holders of Identity Cards issued by Gibraltar endorsed "Validated for EU travel purposes under the authority of the United Kingdom". 3) For stays up to 90 days by: a) Nationals of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR China passports), Israel, Japan, Korea (South), Macao (SAR China passports), Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, St Kitts-Nevis, Uruguay, USA, Vatican City & Venezuela. b) Holders of British passports endorsed "British National (Overseas)", providing the passport contains the holders Hong Kong (SAR China) Identity Card number. c) Holders of British passports endorsed "British Overseas Territories Citizen" or "British Subject" containing a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode issued by the UK. d) Holders of Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) passports providing the passport includes an ID card number. e) Holders of biometric passports issued to nationals of Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Macedonia (FYROM) & Montenegro. f) Holders of biometric passports issued to nationals of Serbia providing the passport is not issued by the Coordination Directorate (Koordinaciona uprava). .

Entry requirements may change from time to time and should be checked with the Polish Embassy or Consulate.

Useful Contacts

Embassy

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland Consular Section 73 New Cavendish Street London, W1W 6LS tel: +44 20 7291 3914 fax: +44 207 3232 320 e-mail: london.visa@msz.gov.pl website: online visas: https://secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl website: consulate: www.londynkg.polemb.net/index.php?document=45 hours: 0900 - 1400 Mon-Wed & Fri / 1300-1800 Thur

Airports

  • Bydgoszcz
  • Gdansk Rebiechowo
  • Katowice International Airport
  • Krakow-Balice John Paul II International
  • Lodz Airport Wladyslaw Reymont
  • Port Lotniczy Rzesz�w
  • Poznan-Lawica Airport
  • Szczecin-Goleniow Airport
  • Warsaw Frederic Chopin
  • Wroclaw

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