Whether to go to live in Poland. Obtaining a visa to Poland: the subtleties of the process. Heavy work schedule

Note to travelers information about a trip to Poland in 2019: prices, how to get a visa, how to get to Poland by car, plane, train, bus, what to see and what food to try.

Despite past ups and downs, today Poland is a country with a developed tourism infrastructure. She opens her arms wide to meet all who wish to get to know her better. And she has something to brag about: virgin Belovezhskaya Pushcha, sharp mountain peaks and wandering sand dunes on the coast of the Baltic Sea, churches, Teutonic castles and much more.

How to get to Poland?

Avia

The easiest way to get to Poland is by plane: there are direct and connecting flights from LOT, Aeroflot, Austrian, Lufthansa, Easyjet, Air Baltic and others from St. Petersburg and Moscow. Travel time is 2-3 hours, and the cost varies from 8 to 11 thousand rubles there and back. Wizz Air flies cheaply (with a change in Budapest), the ticket price is 5-8 thousand rubles.

Train

You can come to Poland by train: the Polonaise train runs daily on the Moscow-Warsaw route. A round-trip ticket costs about 230 euros. This option costs about the same as air travel, but takes much more time - 18 hours. There are also passing trains that can take you to Poland.

Bus

Buses also run to Poland - the Lux Express company offers travelers to use its services. This is a fairly budget way (although air travel can cost even less), but it takes a lot of time. The cost of a one-way ticket from Moscow and St. Petersburg - from 5 thousand rubles. You can also travel on Ecolines buses. Carriers often arrange profitable promotions and sales, for example, Lux Express has them - we report on such promotions in the rubric, as well as in ours. Subscribe to keep up to date with the news.

Trip to Poland from Kaliningrad

Trips to Poland from Kaliningrad will cost the residents of the city mere pennies: by bus for 500 rubles you can get to the city of Gdansk, for 750-1000 rubles - to Warsaw. From Kaliningrad you can get to Warsaw on comfortable Ecolines buses: travel time is about 8 hours, ticket price is about 2250 rubles in both directions. Usually there is a 20% discount for round-trip purchases.

Traveling to Poland by car

If you have planned a trip to Poland by car, then you must present the following documents at the Polish border: a passport with a valid visa, an international driver's license, a registration certificate and a green card - an international policy of compulsory insurance of civil liability of vehicle owners. Sometimes they may require a valid insurance policy and proof of the purpose of the trip (hotel reservation, invitation, etc.). Also, don't forget to put up a sign that indicates the state in which the car is registered. The lights in the vehicle must be in good working order. Be sure to have a reflective vest, warning triangle, fire extinguisher and spare tire/repair kit. The windshield must be free of cracks. A radar detector in a car is not allowed.

Rent a Car:

You can rent a car using Skyscanner Car Hire, a popular service that allows you to book your desired car online.

(photo © BiLK_Thorn / flickr.com)

Visa for travel to Poland in 2019

How to get a visa to travel to Poland in 2019? You can apply for a visa either at the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Moscow, or through the Visa Application Centre. In the first case, you need to fill out a visa application form on the website, otherwise the application will not be accepted.

Required documents for a trip to Poland:

• completed visa application form;
• international passport (valid for at least 3 months from the end of the trip) and a copy of the first page;
• two color photographs 3.5 x 4.5;
• visa fee (consular fee - 35 euros, service fee at reception points - 19.5 euros);
• confirmation of accommodation reservation;
• travel document;
• medical insurance valid in the Schengen countries;
• financial resources at the rate of at least PLN 100 for each day of stay and proof of their availability: traveler's checks, account statement, etc.;
• copy of internal passport.
• Samples of a visa application form, a list of accredited travel agencies and the address of the Polish Embassy in Moscow can be found here:. On the site you will find information about the addresses of visa centers.

Travel accommodation. Look for hotels on Roomguru.ru - the service finds great deals among several booking systems. An alternative to hotels is Airbnb, a popular private accommodation rental service. Try to find an apartment or house for your trip. It is much more comfortable and often cheaper (especially if you travel with a company or family).

Shopping trips to Poland

It's no secret that many people go to Poland not only for the sake of relaxation - shops offer tempting discounts on clothes of famous brands during sales days, especially in Warsaw there are many shopping centers that offer a wide range of world brands. The most popular are Blue City, Arkadia, Galeria Mokotow and Złote Tarasy.

Shopping trips to Poland are popular with residents of neighboring countries. From December 20, Christmas sales begin in Poland - discounts reach 20-50%, and after Christmas they reach up to 80%. However, shopping in Poland is best arranged in mid-January and mid-June, when most stores arrange total sales of old collections.

However, if you didn’t manage to visit Poland during the discount season, don’t be sad, because outlets and night sales are held in the country throughout the year. And in Bialystok, home to such giants as Auchan, Alfa and Galeria Biala, you can find anything you want. In addition, thanks to Tax Free, you can save up to 22% VAT.

Food in Poland: what to try?

In Polish cuisine, as in German, much attention is paid to cabbage and meat, which is reflected in such a famous dish as bigos - stewed cabbage with meat. Also popular are red and white borscht, zhurek, pickle, perogi - a dish similar to dumplings, sorcerers, and dumplings. Desserts are also loved in Poland: sernik, poppy seed pie, charlotte, mazurka.

Poles consume beer no less than their German neighbors (maybe more). Poland, just like Poland, is famous for its ancient beer traditions - a foamy drink was known in the country already in the tenth century. The variety of Polish beers is impressive. To taste Polish beer, we recommend visiting one of the many beer festivals held in Poland, for example, Chmielaki Krasnostawskie.

In addition to beer, other alcoholic drinks are also common in Poland: vodka, various tinctures (zubrovka, starka) and fruit liqueurs, honey, gzhanets.

Food prices in Poland are reasonable, but they naturally fluctuate depending on the status of the restaurant. You can eat very cheaply in the so-called milk bars, where prices are often three or even four times lower than restaurant prices. These bars are popular among the locals as they offer traditional dishes.

By the way, two Polish cities - Warsaw and Krakow - are in the top ten according to the Price of Travel portal. In turn, Poland is among the five.

(photo © warcuy / flickr.com)

A trip to Poland: what to see?

No matter how trite it may sound, but Poland is rich in historical and architectural monuments, and because of the glacier, which either advanced or retreated again, the country has a bizarre relief. What should be paid attention to when traveling to Poland?

Warsaw

In Warsaw, the historical center that was rebuilt after the Second World War, you should visit the cozy Old Town: the Palace Square with the Royal Castle, the Cathedral of St. Yana and the church of the Jesuit Fathers, the Market Square, from where the smallest street of the capital - Kamenny Skhodki begins. Do not forget about the Krakow suburb, Lazienki, the Royal Route and the Palace on the Water.

Outside the Old City, alas, you will be disappointed: being the center of the country, the city is moving forward by leaps and bounds, so skyscrapers rise here and there, and due to Soviet influence in the city you will find many dull high-rise buildings.

Krakow is by far the most visited city in Poland by tourists. And no wonder: so many churches, monasteries and chapels are concentrated here! And the Soviet building almost did not touch the city, so nothing will overshadow your eyes. Kazimierz, the Wawel architectural complex and, of course, the Old Town, where you will find a lot of interesting things, as well as the Market Square with the Sukiennice shopping arcade are a must to visit.

(photo © Around the World in 480 Days / flickr.com)

Lodz

Lodz, an industrial city, now attracts tourists with beautiful facades of merchants' and manufacturers' houses, adjacent to industrial buildings. The city is rightfully considered a cultural center: the world-famous School of Cinematography is located here.

Lublin

Lublin, which is not as popular as Krakow and Warsaw, nevertheless has something to see: the authentic Old Town is not inferior to Krakow. Many people like this city also because of the lack of crowds of tourists. Speaking about Lublin, it is difficult to forget about the sad glory of Majdanek - the death camp, which was located on the outskirts of the city. Now it houses a memorial.

Other cities in Poland

Wroclaw, this Polish Venice, is remarkable for over 200 bridges. With a mixture of Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture, the city has no shortage of tourists.

In cities such as Malbork, Pachkov, Frombork, Ujazd, buildings that belonged to the knights of the Teutonic Order have been preserved, and around Krakow there was a whole defensive complex.

In addition to architectural delights, Poland also shines with natural attractions: the famous Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the Narwyansky and Biebrza national parks, the purest Masurian lakes ... And on the Baltic Sea coast, travelers are waiting for the resorts of Sopot, Busko-Zdrój, Rebal, Leba, Ustka, etc.

For those who love outdoor activities, Poland has also prepared a surprise: Poland is framed by such massifs as the Sudetes, Beskydy, Tatras, Pohlala, Gorce, Pennines and Bieszczady - there is where to ride! In a word, you don't need to limit yourself to Zakopane - you need to explore others.

(photo © PolandMFA / flickr.com)

Intro image source: © iwona_kellie / flickr.com.

Modern realities, namely the sharp depreciation of the national currency, force Ukrainians to seriously consider the option of leaving to work in Poland in order to find a decent wage.

Why exactly Poland? Main criteria:

• Relatively easy to get permission
• Not far to go
• Easy-to-understand language of the Slavic group
• The level of remuneration (salary in Ukraine - from 100 Euro / in Poland - from $ 700 Euro)

GDP in Poland shows a record growth among European countries - over 4%. Compare with other countries - in France this figure is 3.7%, in Italy - 0.8%, and in Germany, which is considered the strongest economy in Europe - 0.9%.

Another factor that made us look towards Europe is the need to obtain a patent for work from January 1, 2015 for “migrant workers” who went to work in Russia (and this is about 6 million of our compatriots), and the depreciation of the Russian ruble played an important role. In a word, it has become profitable to earn abroad and spend at home.

"To go or not to go?" - that is the question

Since 2007, the registration procedure has been simplified. Citizens of other countries are required to obtain a work permit, and for Ukrainians, an invitation from an employer is sufficient. In addition, today Poland is the only country in the European Union that issues work visas and legally accepts workers from Ukraine.

Neither the Czech Republic, nor Germany, nor Canada, and even more so the United States, are waiting for labor migrants from our country, unless you are an outstanding scientist or a specialist of the highest class. Want to make sure? Just call the Ministry of Social Policy and specify to which EU country how many work visas were issued by our fellow citizens over the past year and all questions will disappear by themselves.

Today, everyone who has been affected by the crisis is traveling from Ukraine to Poland – both middle managers and leaders and teachers, everyone needs work. And here lies the first unpleasant surprise. If you have worked in an office in your home country, this does not mean that you will get a similar position in Poland. Work in the specialty is the lot of technical specialists (programmers, turners, drivers), where knowledge of the language is not the main requirement.

The first job in Poland for a humanitarian or office worker is a laborer or any other job that does not require high qualifications (factories, warehouses, etc.).

However, if you are not used to physical labor, it will be difficult for you at first, and many simply cannot cope with the “sense of self-importance” and return. You should not judge life and work in Poland by videos from social networks, in fact everything is much more prosaic. If you are not ready for drastic changes in your life - think again, maybe you should not be disappointed and it is better to look for good luck at home.

Important! Without knowledge of the language and experience, earning above the minimum wage (PLN 8-10 per hour) will be very difficult, if not impossible. Yes, there are exceptions, but it's better not to count on them.

Reviews about earnings in Poland:

I have decent experience in earning money abroad, I have visited many places: Italy, Germany, Poland. However, the best option for me was to work in Poland on road construction. The work cannot be called easy, but the salary is decent - more than 4,000 zlotys per month (although you had to pay about 600 zlotys separately for accommodation and meals). Working day - from 6 am to 4 pm. I will definitely go again next season. Andrey, 44 years old, Rivne

Who better not go to work in Poland?

Let's face the truth! If you have been sitting in the office all your life and are afraid of physical labor, if you are waiting for a miracle in the form of a well-paid job where you can “not strain”, immediately upon arrival, Poland is not for you.

Poland is waiting and will not disappoint those who want and love to work. Here we welcome those who will work and develop, invest in themselves, their education and future. I hope these lines will help you make the right decision and prevent another negative review from appearing on the Internet.

How to go to Poland for work?

To officially leave for Poland to work, a Ukrainian must, which gives the right to stay and work on the territory of the state for 180 days in a year 180/365 (or 90 days in a half year).

There are few options for obtaining such a visa:

Option 1. Departure by invitation to work

To obtain a visa to the consulate or embassy of Poland in Ukraine, you must provide an invitation to work from a Polish employer with a mark from the voivode.

You can get this permission:

• By contacting an intermediary (recruitment agency for finding work abroad)
• By independently contacting an employer in Poland and convincing him to send you an invitation

Option 2. Obtaining an annual visa D (360/360) based on the POLE'S CARD

It is no secret that a significant percentage of the population of Ukraine (especially those from the western and central regions) and Belarus are of Polish origin, that is, their close relatives (parents or grandparents) were Poles by nationality.

If you can confirm the fact of having Polish roots, according to the law, you have the right to receive the so-called POLE CARD (KARTA POLAKA), and on its basis a long-term national visa free of charge.

In addition, the Pole's card makes it possible to obtain permanent residence under a simplified procedure and subsequently Polish citizenship.

Read more : and is it possible to get such a card without Polish origin?

These are not all ways to go to work in Poland, but the options given are the least expensive in terms of finances and time.

Where to go to work in Poland?

There are enough vacancies for our compatriots. There are offers, both for qualified employees, and the opportunity to get a job that does not require qualifications. The Poles are happy to hire Ukrainians - because they have to pay less than the local population. The Polish workers themselves go to Ireland, Sweden, Austria, where wages are higher.

Here is a list of the most popular vacancies with working conditions, requirements and average salaries -

What documents for a visa to Poland you may need?

When booking a tour to Poland, you will need to apply for a single-entry tourist visa, for which you must provide the following documents:

• Foreign passport (valid for three months from the end of the foreign trip);
• General passport;
• Two photos (in color, using a white background, with a size of 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, with 70% for the face image);

Important: photos must be no older than six months at the time of applying for a visa!

• Complete personal data (the form is possible, but it is more convenient to fill out the questionnaire online at the link: secure.e-consulat.gov.pl) ;
• Confirmed sufficient solvency of the departing tourist in the form of bank statements or an up-to-date certificate from the place of work, with the correct indication of such information as the actual official salary, or copies of bank cards with additional confirmation from the bank about the cash balances on the linked accounts;
• For people of retirement age - confirmation of the fact of having a valid pension certificate;
• For a child traveling with one of the parents, the presence of a previously mandatory power of attorney, certified by a notary, and received from the second parent, is no longer required;
• For a child traveling on their own, it is not necessary to have a mandatory power of attorney certified by a notary, for independent travel from each of the parents is not necessary, such permission from one of the parents is sufficient.

Refinements and nuances

Before proceeding with the execution of documents, you should carefully study the rules, including the possibility of new changes and clarifications.

For example:

1. Passports must be signed. This clarification concerns the rule for minors aged 14-18 years, according to which they are required to sign in their passport.2. One color photo (size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm) must be pasted on the application form with a signature. Photo requirements: faces not covered by hair, gaze directed into the lens, neutral expression, mouth closed; the eyes are clearly visible, without the reflection of flashes in the lenses, without the use of lens tinting, with glasses whose thin frames do not cover even part of the eyes; without headwear.
2. When scanning internal passports (starting from the age of fourteen), the pages that contain all the information about the biometric data of the applicant, as well as marks regarding the issuance of foreign passports, confirmation of marital status, as well as official registration in Russia are required in the copy. This means that if you have an issued second passport, you need a copy of the page with a stamp confirming this fact. And if you have a marriage stamp, you need to make a copy of the page that is marked with the “marital status” column.
3. For applicants with third-country citizenship, an additional confirmation of the legality of their stay in Russia is required, which is fully consistent with federal law (in the form of a residence permit, long-term visas or registration with the FMS), which will remain valid for (minimum) three months after the scheduled return of the applicant from the Schengen area. You can also get by with documents confirming the fact of official submission of documents for the renewal of confirmation of legal stay.
4. Citizens of the Russian Federation with temporary registration in the Kaliningrad region are limited by the validity of visas, which are tied to the period of such temporary registration.
5. Tourists must have a special voucher or a confirmed reservation of a place in a Polish hotel, paid at least 50%, and when planning a trip to other countries of the Schengen zone, it is necessary to pay in full (in the amount of 100%) the time spent in these countries.
6. The original certificates issued from the place of actual work of tourists differ in their actual status:
   • Employees submit certificates from their place of work, drawn up using company letterheads, which indicate the details of the employer company, the actual position of the tourist, his length of service, as well as the confirmed monthly salary and other income for the last six months (the validity of such a certificate is not more than one months);
   • Entrepreneurs submit originals and copies of documents confirming the registration of their company with authorized local authorities (certificates of the form 2NDFL and 3NDFL).

Traveling with minors

Registration of the trip of minor children must be completed in the visa folder with the following documents:

1. Complete personal data;
2. Two color photos, 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, with a white background;
3. Birth certificate of the child;
4. His mother's civil passport;
5. , with notarization.

About multiple entry tourist visas

As for multiple-entry tourist visas, with a validity period of six months to one year (with a maximum stay of 90 days), applicants with the following parameters will be able to possess such documents:

• In the last two years, they had at least two Schengen visas that were used correctly, without any violation of laws, and at least one of them was issued in a Polish consular office, and subsequently used in accordance with the purposes specified in writing in the official an application submitted for such a visa;
• The rules for both entry, stay and exit from the territories of all visited EU member states were not violated;
• They can show all documents that confirm the existence of permanent legal sources of income, or they will familiarize them with the latest current statement of their any bank account, or with an extract issued by an ATM confirming the presence of sufficient financial assets in the client's account with the banks of the applicant;
• It is possible to present receipts of payment for a stay in a Polish hotel, which will be at least six (for the entire period of the last two years) days, before submitting an application for such a visa. Checks of hotels for independent visits, checks from a Polish travel agency for payment for the provision of travel services, checks from Russian travel companies for travel services are suitable. Such checks must necessarily coincide with the periods in which visas were issued. And confirmation of the actual payment is made by checks or payments from the bank on the fact of transferring funds for certain travel services to the bank accounts of legal entities from Poland, or official confirmations from hotels (with their full details and signatures certified by "wet" seals).

Additional documents for tourists applying for multiple visas include application-petition Consul of the Republic of Poland on the issuance of a multi-visa (can be completed at the tourist office).
Since November 1, 2012, the visa center of the Consulate General of Poland has been operating, where to the base price of the visa (35 euros). the cost of the visa center service is added, equal to 19 euros.

For children under the age of six, as well as for the disabled, the provision of visa center services is free of charge.

Opening a Polish business visa

In order for the opening of a business visa to be successful, and the procedure for obtaining it without any delay, you will be required to carry out a certain procedure when providing the following documents:

1. The original invitation from a Polish legal entity, issued on the letterhead of this organization, with the obligatory certification of the signature with the original imprint of the company's seal, as well as indicating the most complete information (both about the company and its type of activity). In addition, this invitation must contain information about the specific invited person, where his full name, date of birth, passport details, purposes and dates of the trip will be indicated, with mandatory information on determining the party who bears full financial responsibility for all the expenses necessary for such a trip. leaving.
2. A questionnaire filled out in Latin, which you can find on the website of the consulate.
3. Lastly, you must submit your documents in person.

A well-executed invitation from the host party serves as the basis for a guaranteed receipt of this type of visa.

One should not forget about this decisive role of the invitation in the process of obtaining a business visa, as well as the varying requirements for it in different consulates. For example, in addition to the standard sample, you may need to provide an eight-digit identification number of an electronic invitation or the original invitation from the host, where, in addition to a detailed description of the company's activities, goals and duration of stay, it is necessary to indicate the position of the invitee and the sources of covering the financial costs associated with this invitation. In the event that the invitation does not contain information about financial responsibility, an official letter from the company must be attached to cover such travel expenses.

In some cases, any of the countries that issue business visas to Russians, including Poland, may require additional information confirming the declared purpose of the trip, additional proof of financial support, or proof of family ties in Russia.

On local border traffic (LBC) for residents of Kaliningrad

For residents of Kaliningrad, the possibility of crossing the border is always relevant, so they are more likely than other residents of Russia to issue special border visas.

What do Russians need to know about WFP?

All persons who need a special permit to cross the border, acting on the basis of the Border Traffic Agreement, can register with their applications by going to the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, using the benefits of the e-konsulat system. This type of procedure coincides with the rules for filling out Schengen visa applications. When filling out an application, you should correctly fill out the proposed forms of questionnaires, so that later, with a common set of documents, deliver them to the Consulate at the exact time set for this visit, which will be written on the application itself.

And you should know that documents for MPP can also be submitted both personally and by close relatives, for example: a wife has the right to submit these documents for her husband, a father - instead of his own children who have not reached the age of majority.

Please note that applications not registered on the official website will not be considered.

The following administrative units are classified as special Polish territories of the WFP zone:

• For the Pomeranian Voivodeship: the cities of Gdynia, Sopot and Gdansk; as well as powiats: Novodvorsky, Gdansk, Puck and Malbork.
• For Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship: the cities of Olsztyng and Elbląg; as well as the powiats: Elbląg, Giżycki, Braniewski, Mragowski, Lidzbarski, Bartoszycki, Olsztynski, Węgorzewski, Kętrzyński, Olecki and Goldapski.
• The Russian Federation includes the entire territory of the Kaliningrad region.

Full list of documents for MPP:

1. Confirmed place of permanent residence in the border area (not less than a period of three years) - both the original and copies.
2. Application for obtaining a permit for MBT (with the convenience of registration when electronic registration is carried out on the website e-konsulat.gov.pl).
3. Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, with a marked registration of a certain place of residence in one of the settlements located in the border zone.
4. A travel document recognized by both parties as an identity document and giving the right to cross certain points on state borders (excluding diplomatic passports, service passports, as well as sailor's passports) - both in the original and in the copy.
5. Temporary identity card of a citizen of the Russian Federation, with a marked registration of a specific place of residence in one of the settlements located in the border zone.
6. Certificate of registration at the place of residence in one of the settlements located in the border zone.
7. An extract from the house book, which is certified by the authorized bodies for registration and registration of citizens of Russia, which must certify the fact of residence in one of the settlements that are located in the border zone.
8. A residence permit for a foreigner or for a stateless person, it must indicate the registration of a place of residence in one of the settlements that are located in the border zone.
9. Stay card.
10. Certificate from the competent Polish authorities about the place of actual residence.
11. A letter of justification for the reasons for frequent crossings of the Polish-Russian state border, including factors supporting family relations, or social and cultural contacts that are not legally related to either entrepreneurship or work.
12. A color photo in compliance with all requirements for a visa, with dimensions of 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm.
13. Identification.

All of the above data is entered in a specific questionnaire, in accordance with the requirements of detailed instructions, and a document with errors is not accepted.

Obtaining such a permit gives the unconditional right to residents of the border areas of one of the states to enter, as well as stay in the border areas of another state specified in this permit for the MCP. However, at the same time, each stay cannot be more than 30 days, with the established moment of entry, and in total for the total stay, never exceed ninety days in each of the six-month periods, which is counted from the moment of the very first visit to the country under such a permit.

An interview with our friend Alexander, who recently returned from working in Poland, all about working conditions and salaries, the life of visitors and life in Poland.

A (Alexander): To speak like our people's deputies, or to tell you honestly?

AS (Adyu Scoop): No, we have a normal audience of the site, we need to publish insider material.

A: I know what an insider is (laughs).

AS: Sasha, the first question, where did you start?

A: Life forced me - I worked in the restaurant business, and after all the well-known events, this segment fell sharply ...

AS: More specifically, how did you find a way to leave?

A: I lived in Lvov, Poland is nearby, almost everyone talks about working in Poland. I thought - why not? Just hit the search engine How to move to Poland, read the forums, called the first five companies from the search. I did not like the first three on an intuitive level, probably because of the rude attitude. Then he came to one, talked, then to another, where the director of the company (that he was the director, I learned later) immediately endeared me. Then we came to Kyiv, I checked two more companies in Kyiv…

AS: Agencies?

A: Yes, yes! The price turned out to be 60 percent more than what was announced to me in Lviv, and I opted for the company where there was a normal director.

AS: And what budget did you need?

A: To be honest, I don’t remember, I think we paid 550-600 dollars for two.

AS: Did you take any money with you?

A: This is the total amount, of which we left 100 dollars and 50 euros for expenses.

AS: Listen, I was interviewing about working and living in the US, so I was told that I need to get to the States, and then look for a job. Did you do the opposite?

A: It turned out that I don’t know the language and I don’t know the country, so the bulk of the budget went to the selection of a vacancy and an invitation.

AS: And how did the agency's promises come true?

A: Yes, in principle, everything we agreed on, everything was the same and even better, but everything changed at the last moment. According to the documents, we went to pick berries, but we said that we would not deal with such nonsense and we were sent to work in a warehouse.

AS: How did it happen?

A: Look, you can get to work in Poland officially and unofficially, often our companies do not send directly to a specific employer. That is, invitations are issued for you, in which you go to pick berries in a provincial province, but in reality you go to earn money for another employer as a builder, for deboning meat or someone else.

Read also: Working abroad without knowing the language, even illegal, has advantages

A: Initially, we had to go to one warehouse, that is, we agreed that it would be a warehouse, and not some kind of production, not canned food, not meat, not rural work.

AS: And how are the conditions there?

A: There were conditions for me, I don’t know what to say. We were brought by bus to an office the size of a large housing office, two young Poles came out to us and began to say something in an incomprehensible language (laughs). First, the driver translated for us. But since the language is very similar and almost all young Poles speak English, we understood them. We were divided into two groups. One went to work in Poznan at an industrial warehouse, and the second group went to Gdansk.

Since I was with my soulmate, I had the main requirement that we have a private room, we were sent to Poznań. And the working conditions were different. In Gdansk, people received depending on the output, and in Poznań there was a fixed rate. We received PLN 8 for the day shift and PLN 9 for the night shift. Naturally, in an hour.

AS: A question about money - what salary can a person expect?

A: The fixed salary of unskilled workers from the CIS, in warehouses, varies from 8 to 10 zlotys, and piecework - from 9 to 12 per hour. This is if day shifts, if night shifts - a little more. The schedule is as follows: eight working hours, a five-day week, two days off.

NOTE:
In terms of dollars, the approximate salary is as follows:
Fixed salary per week - 85-105 dollars
Piecework payment per week - $ 90-125

AS: How much do you spend on food?

A: About $100 per person per month.

AS: Is it okay to eat?

A: Yes, you have everything.

AS: What about your free time, did you go for a walk somewhere?

A: Yes, I have two days off, and due to night shifts, there were three. I walked - there are beautiful cities, there is something to see, transport is really expensive - everywhere it costs 3 zł one way. In a cafe, a cup of coffee costs 3-4 zlotys, bank cards are accepted almost everywhere.

AS: What if you get sick?

A: which you draw up before leaving for Poland, covers only severe cases, and if you have a runny nose or a temperature, solve the problem yourself. The Poles are also not doing well with healthcare, there are private clinics everywhere, medicines are not cheap, but not expensive either.

AS: Did you have any cases?

A:, Mmmm... yes, one guy ate something and crushed the root of the tooth, he got a full tooth for 390 zł ( approx - 100-105 dollars). And so, when you have a runny nose or a cold, you go, buy medicines for 30-40 zlotys, lie down and that's it.

Read also: Everything about family reunification in Poland for foreigners

AS: What about living conditions?

A: The employer always rents an apartment or provides a hostel for you, you have to pay for it from your own money. In a hostel it costs PLN 100-200 per month, if you rent a 2-3-room apartment (three people live in a room), it costs up to PLN 450. Plus, you need to consider the cost of travel to work. Sometimes housing is far away.

But I was lucky - I got into a company that did not take money for housing and they provided travel. It was even that they bought us a bicycle, but when it got colder they bought us travel cards. By the way, a monthly pass in almost all cities costs 100-150 zlotys, and at another place of work we were given a minibus with a driver.

AS: What does your employer do?

A: The company specializes in domestic and international transportation, cleaning and warehouse maintenance.

AS: What are your impressions from Poland?

A: It is surprising that the CIS has a country with normal living conditions, normal clean transport, not rude sellers, everything is for people. I had an interesting story when I applied for a card in a Polish bank.

By that time, I more or less learned Polish, plus I know English. They took me to a separate office, water, coffee - everything was issued, and then they ask: what address should I send a bank card to? And we lived in a house that didn't have a mailbox. In addition, I did not know the employer's phone number, my address, and even the numbers of the guys with whom I lived in the neighborhood.

I asked that the card be sent to the bank branch, and I will pick it up. The card was supposed to arrive in 10 working days, I came to the branch, and they tell me that they do not have the card. We called the central office, they told us that the card was sent to their branch, which is central in Gdansk.

Since the branch was located in a bank that had branches of other banks, we decided that the postman mixed up and put the card in the wrong box. I was offered to wait another 10 days, but I refused, because the card was needed urgently. The bank offered to make a card for a quick procedure, for a day, but it will cost 50 zlotys. Since the account was already opened, but there was simply no plastic card, I was offered to put this amount into the account to pay for the express service, but then they will return this money to me.

In 2019, a considerable number of Russians were able to travel to Poland by car. Located in the very center of Europe, the republic has a land border with the Russian Federation. Namely, with the Kaliningrad region. It is not surprising that many of our compatriots prefer to travel around the Polish territory by private transport. We will find out all the nuances of traveling to Poland by car.

In 2019, the Central European country continues to be popular among tourists from Russia. Visitors from the Russian Federation enter Poland both by air and by land, including by private vehicle. The latter option is preferred by residents not only of the neighboring Kaliningrad region, but also of regions far from the border. Guests from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and even Vladivostok come to the European state in their own car.

To come to Poland by car, you will need to obtain a visa in advance. In this sense, a trip to a European country is no different from arriving by plane, train or bus. It is impossible to visit the territory of the country without an entry paper.

Usually, motorists and their fellow travelers issue tourist Schengen visas. Each visitor, including children, will need their own document. Polish Schengen allows you to stay in the state for a maximum of 3 months within a six-month period. You will learn how to get a tourist visa to Poland from the article on our website.

Where to enter Poland

Of all the regions of the Russian Federation, Poland borders only on the Kaliningrad region. Therefore, it is possible to enter the republic from Russia by personal transport only through this region. There are special checkpoints at the border. Passing by car is allowed only through these checkpoints.

The second option for starting a Polish auto-trip is to enter Poland through Belarus. Citizens of the Russian Federation are allowed into the fraternal republic with a Russian passport. In this case, the route is built like this:

1. Leave Moscow or another Russian city to the Belarusian Brest.
2. The path to Brest lies along the M1 highway (Smolensk road).
3. Get to the border crossing. You can enter through the largest checkpoint Brest - Terespol or try the Domachevo crossing (50 km south of Brest).

Gift: 2100 rubles for housing!

When registering via the link in AirBnB, you will receive 2100 rubles to your account.

For this money you can rent good apartments for 1 day abroad or in Russia. The bonus only works for new accounts.

The main nuances of crossing the border

When planning a car trip to Poland from Kaliningrad or Brest, drivers and passengers should consider several factors:

• When you must present a passport with a Polish visa. The validity of the passport is at least 3 months from the date of return home.

• Travelers have the right to be required to present funds as financial guarantees. The minimum amount for 1 day of stay is PLN 300. The equivalent in foreign currency (about 100 US dollars) is allowed. Both cash and credit cards are allowed.
• The import of foreign currency is not limited, but a declaration in excess of the allowed amount of 10,000 euros is required.
• If guests of Poland enter the country with pets, you will need a certificate from the veterinary service. It must contain marks on all vaccinations given to animals, including vaccination against rabies.

What can be asked at the border

• Purpose of the trip.
• Travel itinerary planned to visit the city.
• Scheduled tour dates.
• What is imported into Poland, do you have alcohol and cigarettes with you. The established norm for 1 person is 2 packs of cigarettes, 1 liter of strong alcohol or 2 liters of wine.

Documents for crossing the border by car

For passengers

• Passport with visa.
• Medical insurance:
  • For the whole trip.
  • Valid throughout the Schengen area.
  • Covered from 30 thousand euros.
• Sometimes they are required to present:
  • Financial guarantees.
  • Reservation of a hotel room or a place in a campsite or the presence of another address of residence in Poland.
  • An invitation from a local individual or legal entity.

For the driver

1. Passport with visa.
2. Medical insurance.
3. Sometimes they require to present the same additional documents as for passengers.
4. Driving license (no special requirements).
5. Vehicle registration certificate (vehicle registration certificate). It is important that the document is issued to the driver. Handwritten powers of attorney are not accepted.
6. Valid green card.

What is a green card for a car

When traveling by car to Poland, a green card is purchased without fail. In fact, this is an analogue of our OSAGO. The document is issued not for the driver, but for the vehicle. This means that any participant in the trip can drive the car. Of course, provided that he has a driver's license.

A green card for a trip to Poland must be of an international format and be valid throughout Europe. It is not allowed to issue a document in any insurance company. A limited number of organizations have the right to implement this type of insurance service. Among them:

• Rosgosstrakh.
• Alfa Insurance
• "RESO-Guarantee".
• "Alliance".
• ERGO Rus.

Important! You can buy an insurance policy no earlier than 30 days before the start of its validity and the date of travel.

How much to pay for a green card

The cost of a green card to Poland depends primarily on the type of vehicle and the duration of the insurance contract. Approximate amounts:

Key vehicle requirements

• Full technical serviceability of the machine.
• Serviceability and one hundred percent working condition of lighting devices. It is advisable to stock up on light bulbs in order to change them at the border if necessary.
• Clean and without conspicuous cracks windshield. Only cracks of 2-3 centimeters and small chips are allowed.
• The vehicle must contain:
  • First aid kit.
  • Spare wheel or repair kit.
  • Fire extinguisher (before the trip it is recommended to check its expiration date).
  • Warning triangle.
  • Reflective vests for all participants of the trip.
• Child car seats (when traveling with children under 12 years old).
• Foreign motorists traveling on Polish roads in their car must place on it a sign of the state where the car is registered. For Russians, this is the “RUS” sign in a white oval. Driving without a sticker is not allowed.

Main road rules in Poland

• Maximum allowable driving speed (in km/h):

• When driving, the low beam headlights always turn on. Time of day and weather conditions do not play a role.
• Studded tires are prohibited. The use of winter tires is voluntary.
• It is forbidden to equip vehicles with radar detectors and similar devices. Even an unused radar detector cannot be transported.
• The maximum possible alcohol content in the blood of a motorist is 0.2 ppm. Driving under the influence of alcohol will result in the driver's license being revoked. In addition, the violator faces imprisonment for up to 8 years.

Penalties for traffic violations

Parking in Polish

Polish drivers and motorists visiting from other countries are allowed to park cars only in specially designated places. It is also forbidden to leave the car in parking lots intended for people with special needs. For this, a fine of PLN 800 is provided.

There are not as few free parking lots in the centers of Polish cities as in other countries of Central Europe. They are focused:

• At large retail outlets (Ikea, Auchan and others).
• Close to historical centers.
• In courtyards and next to residential buildings.
• Close to restaurants, cafes and shops.

Paid parking lots are also present. They are on all main streets, near attractions and in places that are in the greatest demand. Finding a parking spot is easy. It is enough to focus on the blue signs with the letter "P".

Important! In large Polish cities, parking is paid only on certain days (usually on weekdays) and hours (usually from 9:00 to 17:00). The rest of the time they are allowed to stop for free.

The cost of parking depends on their proximity to the center, significant objects and crowds of people. For example, an hour of parking in the center of Gdansk will cost 3 PLN.

Parking is paid through the parking meter. As a rule, these devices are located near the parking lot. On the display of the parking meter, you need to select the parking time and pay for the service (in small change or large bills).

The machine will issue a check - a parking ticket. It must be placed on the dashboard of the car - so that the controllers can see the paper through the windshield.

If you run out of gas...

Self-service is accepted at Polish gas stations. The driver fills the tank and then pays for the fuel at the cash register. Drivers are allowed to carry up to 20 liters of fuel in cans. It is worth considering that there is no 92nd gasoline at local gas stations. And the 95th comes in 2 types - with and without lead.

At the beginning of 2017, the average cost of gasoline and diesel fuel in Poland was:

• 1.07 euros (95th gasoline).
• 1.13 euros (98th gasoline).
• 1.05 euros (diesel).
• 0.5 euros (LPG).

At the same time, prices at gas stations located along highways can be 10-20 euro cents higher than at gas stations near large shopping malls.

Toll tracks

Polish motorways A1, A2 and A4 are paid. The fare depends on the distance travelled.

Calculation of payment on specific sections of roads is made in different ways. Usually, the fare is paid both in cash and by bank transfer, in the national currency, euros and US dollars. However, it is recommended to pay with local money. Change is also always given in złoty.

By car through Poland: rules of transit

People enter Poland via Kaliningrad or Brest by personal transport not only for the sake of car travel in the Central European Republic. Many of our fellow citizens only pass through the Polish lands, choosing other states as the main goal of the auto-tour. The following documents are submitted for a transit Schengen visa for a trip through Poland:

• :
  • It is filled in completely and certified by a personal signature.
  • It is advisable to fill out the form on a computer, but handwriting is allowed.
  • Information is entered legibly, with a pen with blue or black ink (when filled out by hand).
  • Information is written in Russian, Polish or English.
  • Items No. 1-5 are filled in Latin letters, strictly as in the passport.
  • For a minor child entered in the parental passport, a separate form is filled out. It is signed by the parent.

• Visa of the state of destination (original and copy). In case of its absence, the following shall be submitted:
  • Or a fully paid hotel reservation.
  • Or documents for the ownership of real estate (a contract of employment, a contract of sale, etc.).
• International passport:
  • Copies of the first page and Schengen visas for 3 years (if available).
  • With 2 free sheets.
  • The validity period of the document is from 3 months after returning home.
  • The validity of the passport is not more than 10 years.
• Russian passport. Page copies:
  • First.
  • With registration.
  • Pages 18-19 (about previous passports).

When crossing the border, the same papers are presented as for road trips directly in Poland. It is important to remember that if a foreigner already has a valid Schengen visa, there is no need to make a separate document for transit.

Polish tracks are considered to be among the safest in Europe. The vast majority of drivers treat all road users with respect. Pedestrians and cyclists have priority on the road. Almost all highways are equipped with CCTV cameras and radars and are carefully monitored by the police. Therefore, when traveling around the republic by car, you should strictly observe traffic rules.