23 March 2021
There's a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You can’t leave Australia unless you have an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs, or are travelling to a destination that is exempt from the ban.
Our global travel advice remains at 'Do not travel' due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel. Some destinations were already set at Do Not Travel prior to COVID-19 due to the extreme risk to your safety.
If you’re overseas and wish to return to Australia, be prepared for delays and read our advice on trying to get home.
When you arrive in Australia you must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities in your port of arrival, unless you have an exemption or are travelling on a quarantine-free flight from a green zone destination. At this time, vaccination against COVID-19 does not change this quarantine requirement. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. View State and Territory Government COVID-19 information for information about quarantine and domestic borders.
If you're staying overseas, make plans to stay for an extended period. Follow the advice of local authorities and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know you're safe.
Our network of embassies and consular posts around the world will provide you with up-to-date local advice and support throughout this difficult period. Be aware consular services may be limited due to local measures.
For the latest information, read and subscribe to our news and travel advice. Also see our COVID-19 information pages.
Call 112.
Call 112.
Call 997.
Do not travel to Poland.
Do not travel overseas due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Violent crime is rare in Poland, but petty crime is common.
Muggings, carjackings and theft from vehicles happen in large cities, including Warsaw.
Take care in the tourist areas of large cities. Pickpocketing is common. Thieves often work in small groups.
Watch your belongings:
Regularly check your bank card statement. Report any suspicious items to your bank.
Thieves target central railway stations at:
Thieves can target passengers on:
Ask the price of drinks before you order in bars and nightclubs, particularly those that lure you in with special deals. Check the bill amount and currency carefully.
Be careful of drink spiking and theft. To stay safe:
There's an increasing number of reports where travellers are being scammed with drink spiking and credit card overcharging in venues frequented by tourists, particularly those that entice you in with special deals. People have been lured in and overcharged for drinks on credit cards while under the influence.
If you're a victim, report the incident to police, and contact your bank immediately.
LGBTI people
There have been recent reports of violence on LGBTI people. Avoid public displays of affection to avoid any possible confrontation or discrimination.
More information:
Public protests and events can draw large groups of people. Avoid protests and large public gatherings as they may turn violent. Monitor local media and follow instructions of local authorities.
More information:
Terrorists have staged attacks in European cities.
While there have been no recent terrorist attacks in Poland, they can still happen.
To stay safe:
If there's an attack, leave the area as soon as it's safe. Avoid the affected area in case of secondary attacks.
Terrorism is a threat worldwide.
More information:
Poland can experience very low winter temperatures. Snow and ice can be dangers.
In the cities, roads are quickly cleared of snow, but black ice is hazardous.
Snow can block highways and roads in rural areas for extended periods.
Heavy snowfalls can disrupt train travel.
Severe flooding can occur in Poland, particularly in spring. If there's flooding or severe weather:
Register with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System to receive alerts on major disasters.
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. A ban on overseas travel from Australia remains in place. You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.
Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. Consider whether you may be in a vulnerable category for COVID-19.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least eight weeks before you leave.
More information:
Not all medications available over the counter or by prescription in Australia are available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Poland. Take enough legal medication for your trip.
More information:
COVID-19 remains a risk in Poland. If you have symptoms of respiratory illness or a fever, seek medical advice from the National Health Fund 24 hour info line: (+48) 800 190 590 and press 6 for English. If it is an emergency, call 112.
A 1.5 metre social distance rule is enforced (excluding young children and carers). Follow the advice of local authorities.
For information on Poland's COVID−19 vaccination program, refer to the Ministry of Health Website (Polish). You should consult your local health professional for advice on vaccine options, including assistance that may be available locally. The Australian Government cannot provide advice on the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines that have been approved for use outside of Australia's regulatory process.
More information:
Tick-borne encephalitis is a risk in forested areas.
Ticks are common in country areas. They're active from spring to autumn.
Regularly check your body for ticks during and after visits to forest areas.
If a tick bites you:
More information:
Measles cases can routinely occur in Poland, with the country currently experiencing an increase in measles activity. Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date before you travel.
More information:
Air pollution levels can be very high.
Get medical advice if you have a pre-existing heart or lung condition.
H1NI (swine flu) (World Health Organization) has been reported. Get the annual seasonal flu shot to lower your risk.
More information:
Public hospitals are reasonable in large cities. Services are limited in rural and border regions.
Most doctors and hospitals will need payment up-front or evidence of medical insurance before treating you, even in an emergency. If you're a dual citizen, don't presume you're covered for medical costs. Check with the Polish Social Insurance (ZUS).
If you're seriously ill or injured, you'll need medical evacuation to a place with better facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Penalties for drug offences are severe. They include mandatory prison sentences.
More information:
There are strict alcohol laws in Poland. They are stricter than in Australia.
There's zero tolerance for drink driving. The blood alcohol limit is 0.02%.
If you drink and drive, you face up to two years in jail. Drink drivers involved in accidents face up to eight years in jail.
It's illegal to be drunk in public. You may be arrested or taken to a facility to sober up. Expect to pay for the cost of your stay.
Drinking alcohol in public places is illegal. This includes parks and picnic areas.
It's illegal to take photos of some buildings.
Look for signs on buildings that forbid photos. If you're not sure, check with local authorities.
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Poland doesn't recognise dual nationality.
If you're a dual national, this limits the consular services we can give if you're arrested or detained.
By law, Australian-Polish dual nationals must enter and exit Poland using their Polish passport.
More information:
Poland is a part of the Schengen area. Once COVID-19 travel restrictions are no longer in place, this means you can enter Poland without a visa in some cases.
In other situations, such as for working, studying or staying long term, you'll need a visa.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Poland for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
Poland is accepting certificates issued by other EU member states under the EU Digital Certificate Scheme.
You can travel to Poland if you're a citizen of the EU and Schengen Area, or if you're travelling from a low risk country. You may however need to quarantine unless you meet one of the exemption conditions, such as carrying proof of: a negative COVID-19 test result, vaccination or recovery from COVID-19. You can use the EU COVID Digital Certificate as proof for these exemption conditions.
If you're arriving from a red/high-risk zone within the EU or Schengen Area, you may need to test on arrival and undertake a period of self-isolation or quarantine.
If you're arriving from outside the EU or Schengen Area, you will be subject to 10 days quarantine and may be released after 7 days if a negative test result is produced.
Expect possible long delays at the airport. Heavy fines apply for breaking quarantine. See the Republic of Poland Coronavirus website for a list of current exemptions.
Staying in Poland
While restrictions will ease, they are subject to change at short notice. Check the latest restrictions on the official government website here: Poland's full list of latest restrictions.
If you're staying in Poland:
If you're staying in private accommodation, you must register with the local registration office.
You'll need proof of registration if you apply for a visa extension.
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for six months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than six months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
The currency of Poland is the Zloty (PLN).
You can easily change all major currencies.
If you're travelling between Poland and any non-EU country, declare currency amounts equivalent to 10,000 euros or more. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.
If you don't declare currency or give incorrect information, you'll be fined.
You should check with local authorities in the countries you are leaving, entering or passing through whether you must declare higher amounts of currency.
Carry your passport when crossing borders, even within the Schengen area. Be prepared to show your passport to authorities at any time, so ensure it is accessible.
If you're travelling by road or train, allow extra time for any disruptions or delays.
You can drive in Poland for six months if you have both:
Get your IDP before you leave Australia.
If you want to drive for longer than six months, you must get a Polish licence.
Poland has one of the highest road fatality rates in the EU.
There is a high rate of motor vehicle accidents in Poland.
Drink driving is a major cause of road accidents. Stay below the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.02%.
Hazards for drivers and pedestrians include:
Many highways are not dual-carriageway or are under construction. Overtaking lanes are rare.
Severe weather in winter can make driving more dangerous. Some roads are closed in winter.
If you drive in winter in mountain or rural areas:
By law, you must always have your headlights on when driving.
Children shorter than 150cm must use a safety seat. Check with your car rental company or the police.
Poland's road rules are different from Australia. Know the rules to avoid fines and insurance issues.
Check the vehicle rental company rules before hiring a car or motorbike. You must meet both Polish and Australian vehicle operating and licence laws (eg. hold the appropriate licence for the vehicle you drive).
More information:
Only use official taxis. They have the name and number of the taxi company on the door and on top of the taxi, next to the light.
Taxis with a crest but no company name are not official taxis.
Unofficial taxis often overcharge passengers.
Pre-book taxis using a reputable taxi company or an English-speaking app, such as Free Now.
You can also ask staff at hotels, hostels or tourist areas to book you an official taxi.
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Poland's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 112.
Call 112.
Call 997.
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
If you need consular assistance, contact the Australian Embassy in Warsaw.
3rd Floor, Nautilus Building
ul. Nowogrodzka 11
00-513 Warsaw, Poland
Phone: (+48 22) 521 3444
Fax: (+48 22) 627 3500
Website: poland.embassy.gov.au
Email: ambasada.australia@dfat.gov.au
Facebook: Australia in Poland, Czech Republic and Lithuania
Twitter: @AusAmbPoland
Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.