Health Insurance for Polish Visa & Karta Pobytu • What You Actually Need

If you're applying for a Polish visa or a temporary residence permit (Karta Pobytu), health insurance isn't optional — it's a legal requirement. But the regulations are confusing, the terminology is inconsistent across voivodeships, and picking the wrong policy can result in a rejected application. After 30+ years of helping foreigners navigate insurance in Poland, we've seen every mistake in the book. Here's what you need to know.

Why Health Insurance Is Required for Polish Immigration

Polish immigration law (the Act on Foreigners, ustawa o cudzoziemcach) requires proof of health insurance for virtually every type of stay. The logic is straightforward: Poland doesn't want residents who can't cover their medical costs. But the specific requirements differ depending on whether you're applying for a Schengen visa, a national visa (type D), or a residence permit.

The key legal references are:

• Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Visa Code) — for Schengen visas, requiring minimum €30,000 coverage
• Art. 114, 127, 142 of the Polish Act on Foreigners — for temporary residence permits, requiring health insurance that covers treatment costs in Poland
• Art. 68 of the Polish Constitution and the NFZ Act — governing public health insurance enrollment

Schengen Visa (Type C) — Insurance Requirements

For short-stay Schengen visas, the rules are the most clear-cut:

• Minimum coverage: €30,000 (or equivalent)
• Must cover all Schengen states
• Must include emergency medical treatment, urgent hospital care, and repatriation
• Valid for the entire duration of stay
• No deductible (or a very low one) — consulates often reject policies with high excess amounts

Travel insurance policies from companies like PZU, Warta, Allianz, Generali, ERGO Hestia, and UNIQA are routinely accepted by Polish consulates. International policies can work too, but they must explicitly state coverage in the Schengen area.

Common Rejection Reason

We regularly see visa applicants turned down because their insurance policy doesn't cover the full travel period or starts after the stated entry date. Always add a buffer of at least one extra day on each end.

National Visa (Type D) — What Changes

For national (long-stay) visas, such as work visas or study visas, the requirement shifts. You need health insurance covering treatment in Poland specifically. This can be:

• A private insurance policy issued by a Polish or EU insurer
• Proof of future NFZ enrollment (e.g., employer confirmation)
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you're an EU/EEA citizen

Students often rely on voluntary NFZ enrollment, which costs approximately PLN 55.80/month (as of 2024/2025). However, you typically can't enroll in NFZ until you have a PESEL number and are physically in Poland, which creates a gap. A private travel or health policy covers that initial period.

Karta Pobytu (Temporary Residence Permit) — The Strictest Check

When applying for Karta Pobytu at the voivodeship office (Urząd Wojewódzki), the health insurance requirement is non-negotiable. Urzędnicy (clerks) specifically check for:

• ZUS confirmation (ZUS ZUA/ZCNA) — if you're employed, your employer registers you with ZUS, which automatically enrolls you in NFZ. This is the simplest path.
• Voluntary NFZ insurance — for self-employed individuals, students, or family members. Requires a separate agreement with your regional NFZ branch.
• Private health insurance — must cover treatment in Poland with no major exclusions. Policies from Signal Iduna, Inter Polska, PZU Zdrowie, Compensa, or UNIQA are commonly accepted.

NFZ vs. Private Insurance for Karta Pobytu — Which Is Better?

If you're employed full-time in Poland, you don't have a choice — your employer must enroll you in NFZ via ZUS contributions. The health insurance premium is 9% of your gross income, deducted automatically.

For self-employed individuals, freelancers, or those on civil-law contracts (umowa zlecenie without ZUS), private insurance is often more practical. Here's how they compare:

• NFZ: Covers virtually all public healthcare — GP visits, specialists, hospitalization, prescriptions. Long waiting times. No cost for emergency care. Accepted by all urzędy without question.
• Private insurance: Faster access to specialists, shorter queues, wider choice of facilities. Must meet minimum coverage thresholds for immigration purposes. Some urzędy are picky about specific policy wording.

In our experience, voivodeship offices in Łódź, Warsaw, and Wrocław occasionally question private policies that lack explicit mention of hospitalization coverage. Always ensure your policy clearly states it covers inpatient treatment (leczenie szpitalne).

Coverage Amounts — How Much Is Enough?

For Schengen visas, the €30,000 minimum is codified. For Karta Pobytu, there's no legally fixed minimum sum insured — but in practice:

• Policies below €30,000 / PLN 120,000 may raise questions
• Annual policies with €50,000+ coverage rarely face scrutiny
• Policies that exclude chronic conditions, dental emergencies, or pregnancy complications can be problematic if the clerk reads the fine print

Approved Providers — Who Do Immigration Offices Accept?

There's no official "approved list" published by immigration offices, which is part of the problem. However, based on years of working with applicants, the following insurers are consistently accepted:

• PZU — the largest Polish insurer, universally recognized
• UNIQA — strong health insurance products for foreigners
• Warta — well-known, accepted across all voivodeships
• Compensa (VIG Group) — popular among foreign workers
• Signal Iduna — specializes in health and travel insurance
• ERGO Hestia / Inter Polska — good individual health plans

We generally advise against using obscure foreign insurers. Even if the policy technically meets requirements, an unfamiliar company name on the certificate can slow down processing or trigger additional document requests.

Practical Tips From Our Experience

• Get the policy before your appointment. Some urzędy check insurance at submission, others at the decision stage — don't gamble.
• Bring the original policy document, not just a confirmation email. Include the Polish-language version or a certified translation.
• Ensure continuity. If your previous policy expires before the new Karta Pobytu is issued, renew it. Gaps in coverage can delay decisions.
• Keep ZUS RMUA printouts if you rely on employer-provided NFZ coverage. These prove your insurance was active during the relevant period.

How Magro Ubezpieczenia Can Help

At Magro Ubezpieczenia, we work with over 20 insurance companies in Poland. We help hundreds of foreigners every year find policies that are not just affordable, but actually accepted by immigration offices. Whether you need a Schengen travel policy, a private health plan for Karta Pobytu, or advice on NFZ enrollment — we'll match you with the right option and make sure the paperwork is airtight.

Contact us for a free consultation. Visit our office in Łódź or reach out online — we respond in English, Polish, and Ukrainian. Don't risk your visa application on the wrong insurance policy.