In a consular notice published on 5 April 2026, the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka announced that it will cease to represent Poland in Schengen-visa matters as of 15 April. Until now, Bangladeshi nationals whose main destination was Poland could lodge short-stay (C-type) applications via Sweden’s visa section and outsourcing partner VFS Global. After 15 April, travellers must file directly with Polish consular authorities once Warsaw designates an alternative location—likely the Polish Embassy in New Delhi or a new outsourced centre in Dhaka. The change reflects a broader realignment of ‘representation agreements’ within the Schengen area. Smaller EU missions in high-demand markets have struggled with soaring application volumes since pandemic-era restrictions were lifted. According to Sweden’s foreign ministry, Schengen visa filings in Dhaka jumped 42 % year-on-year in 2025, driven largely by Bangladeshi students and IT professionals heading to Poland’s growing tech hubs in Kraków, Wrocław and the Tri-City.
![Sweden’s Embassy in Dhaka Will No Longer Process Schengen Visas for Travel to Poland]()
Applicants who want expert assistance navigating this transition can turn to VisaHQ, which offers real-time updates, document checklists and application support for Polish visas worldwide (https://www.visahq.com/poland/). By monitoring consular policy shifts as they happen, VisaHQ helps travellers and the companies sponsoring them adapt quickly—whether that means securing one of the final Swedish-handled appointments or redirecting files to a new Polish submission point.
For Polish employers who recruit in South Asia, the switch means longer lead times in the short term. The Polish foreign ministry has yet to confirm whether it will open its own biometric collection point or contract an external provider. Industry sources say a gap of even a few weeks could disrupt onboarding schedules for the summer hiring peak. Companies are therefore urged to identify candidates who have not yet secured visas and accelerate document gathering so they can submit before the 15 April cut-off. The notice does not affect long-stay national (D-type) visas such as the Poland Business Harbour scheme or intra-company transfer permits; these have always required direct submission to Polish posts. However, many travellers begin their journey on a Schengen C-visa before converting status in Poland, so the pipeline effect could still be felt. Immigration advisers expect appointment wait times in neighbouring missions—particularly New Delhi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur—to lengthen as Bangladeshi applicants are redirected. Looking ahead, observers see the move as part of Poland’s ongoing effort to digitalise its visa network. Warsaw has piloted an e-Visa portal for certain categories and hopes to align its processes with the upcoming EU European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) by late 2026. Recruiters should stay alert for Polish consular updates, budget extra processing time, and consider remote or phased starts for employees awaiting their travel documents.
Applicants who want expert assistance navigating this transition can turn to VisaHQ, which offers real-time updates, document checklists and application support for Polish visas worldwide (https://www.visahq.com/poland/). By monitoring consular policy shifts as they happen, VisaHQ helps travellers and the companies sponsoring them adapt quickly—whether that means securing one of the final Swedish-handled appointments or redirecting files to a new Polish submission point.
For Polish employers who recruit in South Asia, the switch means longer lead times in the short term. The Polish foreign ministry has yet to confirm whether it will open its own biometric collection point or contract an external provider. Industry sources say a gap of even a few weeks could disrupt onboarding schedules for the summer hiring peak. Companies are therefore urged to identify candidates who have not yet secured visas and accelerate document gathering so they can submit before the 15 April cut-off. The notice does not affect long-stay national (D-type) visas such as the Poland Business Harbour scheme or intra-company transfer permits; these have always required direct submission to Polish posts. However, many travellers begin their journey on a Schengen C-visa before converting status in Poland, so the pipeline effect could still be felt. Immigration advisers expect appointment wait times in neighbouring missions—particularly New Delhi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur—to lengthen as Bangladeshi applicants are redirected. Looking ahead, observers see the move as part of Poland’s ongoing effort to digitalise its visa network. Warsaw has piloted an e-Visa portal for certain categories and hopes to align its processes with the upcoming EU European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) by late 2026. Recruiters should stay alert for Polish consular updates, budget extra processing time, and consider remote or phased starts for employees awaiting their travel documents.
