Current rules and restrictions

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As of 13 June 2020, Poland has restored full border traffic within the internal borders of the European Union, and travellers have regained the right to free entry, exit and transit through the territory of the Republic of Poland. Importantly, they do not have to quarantine. International rail traffic within the EU’s internal borders has also been resumed, and from 17 June 2020, international flights have been partially resumed.

Our country’s borders that are also the EU’s external borders, remain closed. They may be crossed only by:

• Polish citizens,
• foreigners who are spouses or children of citizens of the Republic of Poland or remain under the constant care of citizens of the Republic of Poland;
• holders of a Polish identity Card,
• diplomats,
• people who have the right of permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Poland or a work permit,
• in particularly justified cases, the commander of the Border Guard post, after obtaining the consent of the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard, may allow a foreigner to enter the territory of the Republic of Poland in accordance with the procedure specified in the Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 35),
• foreigners who run a means of transport designed for the transport of goods
• citizens of European Union Member States, European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) Member States – parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation and their spouses and children, when traveling through the territory of the Republic of Poland to their place of residence or stay
• foreigners with a permanent residence permit or a long-term resident’s European Union residence permit, in the territory of other European Union Member States, a Member State of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) – parties to the agreement on the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation and their spouses and children, when traveling through the territory of the Republic of Poland, to their place of residence or stay.

Do I have to perform a mandatory 14-day quarantine after entering the territory of the Republic of Poland?

The obligation to undergo a 14-day quarantine is imposed on persons crossing the borders of the Republic of Poland that are also the external borders of the EU, when traveling to their place of residence or stay.

Persons crossing the borders of the Republic of Poland that are internal EU borders, do not have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Are international flights and international rail traffic operating normally?

As of 17 June 2020, international flights from airports located on the territory of a member state of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) – parties to the agreement on the European Economic Area, Switzerland or a member state of the European Union, except for Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Sweden and Portugal have been resumed.

International rail traffic has been restored within the internal borders of the European Union. However, traveling by international trains to destinations outside the EU’s external borders is still suspended.

What is the basis for closing the borders to foreign citizens?

The borders are closed pursuant to Article 46(4)(1) of the Polish act on preventing and combating infections and infectious diseases among people, which allows for temporary restrictions on a specific mode of travel when the state of epidemic threat is announced.

source: gov.pl