Travelling to Kraków for WordCamp Europe 2026? Whether you need a visa depends entirely on your passport. Here’s the breakdown without the bureaucratic confusion.
In simple terms
Poland is part of the Schengen Area, which means 27 European countries share the same visa rules. If you can enter one Schengen country, you can enter Poland. If you need a visa for one, you need it for all of them.
EU/EEA citizens: No visa, no questions. Bring your passport or national ID card.
Visa-free countries: Citizens of the countries listed below can enter for up to 90 days without a visa.
Everyone else: You’ll need to apply for a Schengen visa before you travel.
Conference invitation letter
If you’re attending WordCamp Europe, the organisers can provide an official invitation letter for your visa application. The letter confirms your registration and participation, which strengthens your application.
Required reading before you proceed to the form:
- The deadline to request a Letter of Invitation is 10 May 2026.
- You must have a WordCamp Europe 2026 ticket in your name, with your registered email address assigned to the ticket, before continuing.
- WordCamp Europe organisers can provide invitation letters and answer conference-specific questions via the official website, but cannot assist with your visa applications beyond that.
- We recommend you review the specific application and entry requirements. You can read a summary on this page.
- Please apply for a tourist visa. We cannot assist with the documents required for work visas, as the event organiser is WordPress Community Support, PBC. , is not based in Poland.
- We can’t provide additional letters/forms/documents to support the application or change the format of our letters.
- We can’t contact the embassy on your behalf.
- If you have a valid ticket, you’ll receive the visa invitation letter at the email address used to purchase your ticket after a manual review by a team member. If we can’t find a ticket associated with the email address provided, we’ll notify you so you can update the email or purchase a ticket before resubmitting the request. Our team typically reviews requests within a few working days.
Visa-free countries (90 days within 180 days)
If your passport is from one of these countries, you can visit Poland without a visa:
Albania (biometric passports only), Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina (biometric passports only), Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, East Timor, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia (biometric passports only), Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao SAR, North Macedonia (biometric passports only), Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova (biometric passports only), Monaco, Montenegro (biometric passports only), Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia (biometric passports only), Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, St. Lucia, St. Pierre and Miquelon, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (passports with identity card number), Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine (biometric passports only), United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela.
Important note: Several countries on this list require biometric passports specifically. Check your passport type if you’re from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, or Ukraine. Regular non-biometric passports from these countries require a visa.
If your country isn’t on this list, you need a Schengen visa. Check the official website of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs at https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/visas for the most current information.
If you need a Schengen visa
Where to apply: At the Polish embassy or consulate in your country, or at a visa application centre that handles Polish applications. Some countries use VFS Global or similar agencies as intermediaries.
When to apply: Start at least 4-6 weeks before your trip. You can apply up to 6 months in advance, but no later than 15 working days before travel. Conference attendees should apply early because processing times vary. 🗓️
What you’ll need:
- Application form from the embassy website (you can start here: https://secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl/)
- Valid passport (must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your stay, with at least 2 blank pages)
- Two recent passport photos
- Travel insurance covering at least €30,000 in medical expenses across all Schengen countries
- Proof of accommodation (hotel bookings, conference venue address)
- Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements, sponsorship letters)
- Round-trip flight reservation (don’t buy the ticket until the visa is approved)
- Conference registration confirmation or invitation letter
Cost: The standard Schengen visa fee is €80 for adults, €40 for children aged 6-12, and free for children under 6. Some nationalities are eligible for reduced fees or exemptions under bilateral agreements. Payment methods vary by location.
Processing time: Official guidance says 15 calendar days, but it can take up to 30 days or even 60 days in exceptional cases. Apply early.
Duration granted: Usually matches your itinerary. If you apply for 5 days, you’ll likely get 5-10 days. First-time applicants rarely get the full 90 days unless they have a strong travel history.
Conference invitation letter
If you’re attending WordCamp Europe, the organisers can provide an official invitation letter for your visa application. The letter confirms your registration and participation, which strengthens your application.
Note: You must have a valid WordCamp Europe 2026 ticket in your name, with your registered email address assigned to it, before continuing. 🎟️
WordCamp Europe organisers can provide invitation letters and answer conference-specific questions via the official website, but cannot assist with your visa applications beyond that.
Want to know more?
Visa-free travellers can stay in the Schengen Area for 90 days out of any 180-day period. This counts ALL Schengen countries combined, not just Poland.
Arrived in Paris on May 1st? Left for Rome on May 15th? Went to Kraków on June 1st? All those days count toward your 90-day limit.
The 180-day window rolls continuously. If you spent 30 days in Spain in March, you only have 60 days left for your June trip to Poland.
Short-stay Schengen visa (Type C): This is what conference attendees need. Valid for tourism, business, conferences, or visiting friends and family. Maximum 90 days per 180-day period.
Airport transit visa (Type A): Required by some nationalities when changing planes in a Schengen airport. Check if this applies to you, even if Poland isn’t your final destination.
National visa (Type D): For stays longer than 90 days, such as work or study. Not relevant for conference attendees unless you’re planning extended stays.
That is a National visa (Type D): For stays longer than 90 days, such as work or study.
We cannot help you with documents required for this type of visa. You would need: (among other documents) “a Business Invitation Letter from the Polish company” and the event organiser, WordPress Community Support, PBC. is not based in Poland. Therefore, we are unable to provide an additional supporting letter or other documents.
UK citizens post-Brexit: No visa needed for short stays, but you’re now subject to the 90/180 rule like other visa-free countries. Your previous unlimited EU access ended January 1, 2021.
Residence permit holders: If you hold a valid residence permit from another Schengen country, you can travel to Poland (and other Schengen states) without an additional visa. Bring your residence card and passport.
Multiple entries: If you’re visiting other European cities before or after Kraków, make sure your visa allows multiple entries. Single-entry visas require you to enter and exit the Schengen Area only once.Digital nomads: Poland doesn’t yet have a specific digital nomad visa. If you plan to work remotely during your stay, you’re technically in a grey area. Tourist visas don’t permit work, even remote work for foreign companies. This rarely causes issues for conference attendees doing light email and calls, but extended working stays need proper documentation.
No, we can only provide the letter of invitation from WordPress Community Support, PBC, a subsidiary of the WordPress Foundation based in San Francisco, California.
We’re unable to amend or change the format of our letters.
No, we’re only able to provide the letter of invitation.
Our team consists of volunteers from across Europe who cannot contact embassies on your behalf.
What to have ready:
- Your passport
- Return ticket or proof of onward travel
- Hotel bookings or accommodation address
- Conference registration confirmation
- Travel insurance documents (if required for your nationality)
- Proof of funds (credit cards, bank statement, cash)
Entry stamp: Make sure border control stamps your passport. This proves your entry date for the 90/180 calculation. If arriving from another Schengen country by land or train, you might not see border control at all since internal Schengen borders don’t have routine checks.
Questions they might ask: Purpose of visit (conference), where you’re staying (hotel name or address), how long you’re staying (dates), how you’ll support yourself (job, bank account, cash on hand). Answer directly and have documents ready to show if asked.
General tips:
Don’t argue with border guards. They have wide discretion to refuse entry if they’re not satisfied with your answers or documentation.
Be honest about your purpose. “Attending WordCamp Europe conference in Kraków” is perfectly legitimate.
Have actual money available to show if asked. “Sufficient funds” for a week in Poland might mean showing €500-1000 in accessible funds, though this varies.
If you’re staying with friends rather than in a hotel, bring an invitation letter from your host with their contact details.
Who needs it: Everyone applying for a Schengen visa must have travel insurance. Visa-free travellers aren’t legally required to have insurance, but should anyway.
Coverage requirements: Minimum €30,000 medical coverage, valid throughout the Schengen Area, covering emergency medical treatment and repatriation. The policy must cover your entire stay.
Where to buy: Many providers offer Schengen-compliant policies specifically. Compare prices online. Expect to pay €1-3 per day for basic coverage.
Proof at border: Visa-free travellers usually aren’t asked to show insurance at entry, but border guards can request it. Have the policy on your phone or printed.
Visa rejection: You’ll receive a written explanation and have the right to appeal. Appeal deadlines are tight (usually 14 days), and success rates are low. Reapplying with better documentation is often faster.
Please contact our attendee services team with a full copy of the rejection letter provided for further assistance.
Entry denial: If you arrive visa-free but border control denies entry, you’ll be sent back on the next available flight. This is rare, but it happens when guards doubt your intentions or your documentation.
Common rejection reasons: Insufficient proof of accommodation, inadequate funds, doubts about intent to return home, previous overstays in Schengen, incomplete travel insurance, or suspicion of intent to work illegally.
Register if staying long: Technically, foreigners must register their address if staying more than 2 days. Hotels do this automatically. If staying with friends, they should register you at the local district office (urząd dzielnicy). In practice, this is rarely enforced for short conference visits, but it’s the official rule.
Extending your stay: Can’t be done on a tourist visa or visa-free entry within Schengen. If you need more time, you must leave the Schengen Area and return later (respecting the 90/180 rule).
Lost passport: Contact your embassy immediately. You’ll need a replacement before you can leave Poland or enter other countries. Keep copies of your passport and visa separately from the originals.
Your nearest Polish embassy: Find locations and contact info at https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/diplomatic-protocol
Please keep in mind that all embassies in Poland are located in Warsaw, which is approximately a 2.5-hour journey from Kraków; however, Kraków is home to around 70 consulates
If you have any questions or concerns regarding visa requirements or the Letter of Invitation process, please don’t hesitate to contact our Attendee Services Team.
See you in Poland
Visa requirements are annoying but manageable. If you need a visa, start the process early and prepare thorough documentation. If you’re visa-free, count your days carefully and keep basic proof of your plans available.
Thousands of people enter Poland for conferences every year without issues. The system works if you follow the requirements. Border guards care that you can support yourself, that you’ll leave on time, and that you have legitimate reasons for visiting.
Getting to WordCamp Europe 2026 might require some paperwork, but it’s worth it. Kraków in June is spectacular, and you’re coming for one of Europe’s best WordPress gatherings.
See you in Poland. 🇵🇱 Bring your passport. 📘✅