Just days into the new year, Polish consular posts on five continents began charging higher prices for almost every service. The updated tariff—published as an annex to the Foreign Affairs Ministry regulation of 29 October 2025—entered into force on 1 January 2026 and lifts most categories by roughly a quarter. A D-type national visa issued in Chicago now costs USD 218, while a temporary passport processed outside office hours has climbed to USD 118.
Warsaw says the increase simply reflects a decade of inflation and rising logistics costs for secure documents. Some fees had not been updated since 2013. Consular officials insist that the extra income will finance cybersecurity upgrades, additional staff and better appointment-booking systems, ultimately shortening queues for visa applicants and expatriates.
For global mobility programs the timing is awkward: many budgets were finalised before Christmas. A family of four applying for national visas will now pay €800 instead of €540, not including expedited-processing surcharges. Employers picking up the tab for large trainee cohorts or seasonal-worker intakes face immediate cost overruns.
![Polish Consulates Worldwide Raise Most Fees by 20-25 % under New 2026 Tariff]()
To navigate these sudden pricing shifts, many organisations turn to professional visa facilitators. VisaHQ, for example, keeps an up-to-the-minute database of Polish consular fees and lets applicants complete secure forms online, then dispatch supporting documents through one coordinated channel (https://www.visahq.com/poland/). By consolidating multiple travellers in a single dashboard, the platform gives mobility managers instant visibility over total costs and reduces the risk of under-funded applications.
Practically, mobility managers should audit all pending visa submissions to confirm which fee table applies; the determining factor is the date of application, not the appointment date. Where possible, companies may wish to consolidate filings in lower-cost jurisdictions within the Schengen area, although Polish consulates retain exclusive competence for national visas.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has hinted at rolling out a new e-payment gateway later this quarter that will accept multi-currency corporate cards, reducing the need for applicants to show up with exact cash. Until then, travellers should verify payment options with the individual consulate to avoid rejected applications.
Warsaw says the increase simply reflects a decade of inflation and rising logistics costs for secure documents. Some fees had not been updated since 2013. Consular officials insist that the extra income will finance cybersecurity upgrades, additional staff and better appointment-booking systems, ultimately shortening queues for visa applicants and expatriates.
For global mobility programs the timing is awkward: many budgets were finalised before Christmas. A family of four applying for national visas will now pay €800 instead of €540, not including expedited-processing surcharges. Employers picking up the tab for large trainee cohorts or seasonal-worker intakes face immediate cost overruns.
To navigate these sudden pricing shifts, many organisations turn to professional visa facilitators. VisaHQ, for example, keeps an up-to-the-minute database of Polish consular fees and lets applicants complete secure forms online, then dispatch supporting documents through one coordinated channel (https://www.visahq.com/poland/). By consolidating multiple travellers in a single dashboard, the platform gives mobility managers instant visibility over total costs and reduces the risk of under-funded applications.
Practically, mobility managers should audit all pending visa submissions to confirm which fee table applies; the determining factor is the date of application, not the appointment date. Where possible, companies may wish to consolidate filings in lower-cost jurisdictions within the Schengen area, although Polish consulates retain exclusive competence for national visas.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has hinted at rolling out a new e-payment gateway later this quarter that will accept multi-currency corporate cards, reducing the need for applicants to show up with exact cash. Until then, travellers should verify payment options with the individual consulate to avoid rejected applications.
