How does a business visa work in Poland and can you extend it at all?
A business visa is usually a Schengen or national visa with a “business” purpose. It can be extended only once, under strict conditions and for a limited period.
Schengen visa versus national visa with a business purpose
A Schengen C visa usually allows you to stay up to 90 days within 180 days in the Schengen area. A national D visa allows a longer stay only in Poland, up to one year. In both cases a “business visa” is simply a visa with a purpose related to business activity or business meetings.
Legal basis for extending a business visa
The rules on visa extensions are set out in the Polish Act on Foreigners. The act allows the extension of a national visa and a Schengen visa on the territory of Poland, with a limit of one extension for a national visa. The total stay on the extended visa cannot exceed the maximum stay allowed for that visa type.
When will the authority even examine your application?
The office will examine your application only if you submit it on time. The deadline is the last day of your legal stay shown on the visa. An application filed after that date is left without examination, which may lead to an irregular stay.
When does extending a business visa make sense and when is a temporary residence permit better?
Extending a business visa makes sense if you need a short, exceptional extension of your stay. For real business plans in Poland it is usually smarter to apply for a temporary residence permit.
Typical situations when it is worth extending a visa
- you need a few extra weeks to finish a project or negotiations,
- investment talks or due diligence unexpectedly take longer,
- you must stay longer for important meetings with partners or authorities,
- you are waiting for a business decision after which you will leave Poland.
When is a temporary residence permit better than a business visa?
If your company genuinely operates in Poland, you should consider a temporary residence and work permit or a permit for business activity. Such a permit gives you a much more stable status than coming to Poland only on a business visa. For long-term plans it is usually a safer and more flexible solution.
How does Progress Holding help you choose the right path?
At Progress Holding we analyse your business model, revenue and investment plans. Based on this we recommend whether it makes sense to extend your business visa or move straight to a temporary residence permit. We can also run visa and residence procedures in parallel so you avoid gaps in legal stay.
Which authority receives your application to extend a business visa?
You submit your application to extend a business visa to the voivode competent for your place of stay in Poland. You can send it by post or submit it in person, but the date of receipt or posting in a Polish post office is crucial.
The voivode as the authority competent for visa extension
A voivode, not a consulate, is responsible for extending a national or Schengen visa in Poland. You choose the office according to the voivodeship where you actually stay on the day of application. For example, a foreigner staying in Białystok applies to the Podlaskie voivode.
How to submit the application and what is the deadline?
You can submit the application in person at the voivodeship office or send it by post. The latest deadline is the last day of your legal stay in Poland. If you send the application via Poczta Polska, the posting date in the Polish post office counts.
Table: where does your business visa extension application go?
| Your situation | Competent authority | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Short business stay in one voivodeship | Voivode for your place of stay | Apply no later than on the last day of legal stay |
| Frequent travel in Poland, base in one city | Voivode for the city where you actually live | Use your real place of stay, not only a hotel address |
| Limited company with a seat in another voivodeship | Voivode for your place of stay, not the company seat | Your home address and company address can be different |
| Family in one voivodeship, work in another | Voivode for the place where you actually sleep | Prepare documents confirming your real place of stay |
How to extend a business visa in Poland step by step in 2026?
The process of extending a business visa consists of several clear steps. The most important are submitting the application on time, paying the fee and proving serious business reasons for your stay.
Stages of extending a business visa
- Download the current application form for extending a national or Schengen visa from the voivodeship office website or the government portal.
- Fill in the form clearly, in line with the data in your passport and current visa.
- Prepare documents confirming your business purpose, financial means and health insurance.
- Pay the stamp duty and keep the payment confirmation to attach to the application.
- Submit the application to the voivode before the last day of your legal stay, in person or by post.
- Wait for a request for additional documents or a decision. If approved, you receive a new visa sticker in your passport.
How to prove the business purpose of your stay?
Attach invitations from business partners, a schedule of meetings and commercial contracts to your application. Documents showing company registration, investment plans or negotiations with Polish partners are also useful. The stronger your business evidence, the higher your chance of a positive decision.
Progress Holding support during the whole process
Progress Holding can prepare a complete business visa extension application for you. We help you choose the right business evidence, draft the justification and correctly fill in all forms. We can also act as your attorney before the voivode, which saves time and reduces stress.
Which documents do you need to extend a business visa?
The list of documents depends on whether you have a Schengen visa or a national visa. In every case you must prove your identity, business purpose, financial means and health insurance.
Basic documents required for a business visa
- a valid passport with the current visa and copies of the data and visa pages,
- a completed and signed visa extension application form,
- a photograph that meets visa requirements,
- documents confirming the purpose and conditions of your business stay,
- documents confirming sufficient funds for stay and return,
- health insurance covering the planned period of stay,
- proof of payment of the stamp duty.
Additional documents for a Schengen visa with a business purpose
When extending a Schengen visa, the authority requires especially strong reasons. These may include important personal reasons, force majeure or humanitarian grounds. For a business visa, key documents show that unexpected events require your longer presence in Poland.
Table: documents versus type of business visa
| Visa type | Mandatory documents | Particularly helpful documents |
|---|---|---|
| National D visa – business | Passport, form, photo, fee of 406 PLN, insurance, financial means | Contracts with partners, company documents, meeting schedule |
| Schengen C visa – business | Passport, form, photo, insurance of at least 30,000 EUR, financial means | Evidence of force majeure or important personal reasons, meeting confirmations |
How much does it cost and how long does it take to extend a business visa in Poland?
Extending a business visa involves a stamp duty and a waiting time that depends on the office. The fee is usually fixed, but processing time depends on your documents and the workload of the authority.
Fee for extending a business visa
The stamp duty for extending a national visa is 406 PLN, payable when you submit the application. For a Schengen visa extended due to serious personal reasons, the fee is the equivalent of 30 EUR. For a Schengen visa extended due to force majeure or humanitarian reasons, there is no fee.
Duration of the visa extension procedure
The law does not guarantee a specific time limit, but offices aim to finish the case before your current visa expires. If you apply on time, the office may put a stamp in your passport confirming legal stay while you wait. The real waiting time depends on the voivodeship, the season and how complete your file is.
How does Progress Holding help reduce costs and time?
We prepare your application to minimise the risk of requests for additional documents, which delay the case. We check the stamp duty payment and the completeness of your business documents. This helps your company plan meetings and contracts with more certainty.
How does extending a business visa affect your business plans in Poland?
Extending a business visa gives you some extra time for decisions and actions. It does not replace a stable residence status if you plan a serious entry into the Polish market.
Business visa and company registration
A business visa allows you to come to Poland, sign a company deed and arrange bank formalities. If you plan to manage the company from Poland on a daily basis, the authorities may expect a more stable residence title. At Progress Holding we often combine visa extension with building the full company structure and planning a temporary residence permit for managers.
Business visa and contracts or investments
An extended business visa can save an important contract when you suddenly need a few more weeks. It gives you time to finalise negotiations, due diligence or investment agreements. From the beginning it is important to plan your business calendar according to the maximum stay allowed on your visa.
How does Progress Holding support your market entry strategy?
We do not offer just a “visa extension”, but a full entry plan for the Polish market. We combine visa issues with tax advice, company registration, VAT and ongoing accounting. Thanks to this, the business visa becomes part of a wider strategy, not only an emergency fix.
How does it work in practice? Progress Holding experience
Based on over 200 visa and residence cases for business clients at Progress Holding, we see clear patterns. The most important lesson is to plan your stay and your business together, not separately.
Most common mistakes when extending a business visa
- filing the application at the last moment, with no time to correct mistakes,
- treating a business visa as a tool for permanently running a company in Poland,
- mismatch between the visa purpose and your real activities in Poland,
- weak documentation of business goals and funding sources,
- no parallel plan for a temporary residence permit when the company starts to grow.
How do we work with business clients?
We start with a short consultation to understand your visa and business situation. Then we prepare a scenario: extend the business visa, apply for a temporary residence permit or immediately register a company with a plan for the management board. We make sure every visa decision fits your real market strategy.
Why is it worth integrating visa, taxes and business?
When you treat visa, taxes and company structure separately, you often end up with conflicts and gaps. We have seen situations where the company grew fast but the owner had only a short business visa and risked a break in legal stay. This is why Progress Holding designs a full market entry model, including a migration plan for key people.
Frequently asked questions
Can I extend a business visa in Poland more than once?
No, as a rule a national visa can be extended only once and for a limited period. A Schengen visa can also be extended only once and only in exceptional, well-documented situations.
Is extending a business visa in Poland always possible?
No, visa extension is an exception, not a standard solution. You must show important reasons, meet all financial and formal conditions and apply on time. In many cases the office may suggest applying for a temporary residence permit instead.
Can I stay legally in Poland while waiting for the decision?
If you apply for a visa extension on time, the office may place a stamp in your passport confirming legal stay. The stamp protects your stay until the decision is issued, but it does not always allow travel in the Schengen area. Always check the annotation and the scope of rights linked to the stamp.
Is the 406 PLN fee for extending a national visa fixed?
Yes, the stamp duty for extending a national visa is 406 PLN according to current fee schedules. If the authority refuses to extend the visa, you may ask for a refund of the fee. It is always worth checking current information on the voivodeship office website or on gov.pl.
Can Progress Holding help if my visa expires soon?
Yes, we often work with clients whose visa expires in a few weeks. We analyse whether extending the business visa is realistic or if it is better to apply directly for a temporary residence permit. We can prepare the documents and represent you before the voivode as your attorney.
Do I have to register a company in Poland when extending a business visa?
No, a business visa by itself does not force you to register a company in Poland. For many clients, however, this becomes a natural next step when the number of trips and contracts with Poland grows. Progress Holding helps you decide if it is the right time for a Polish company and a more stable residence status.
Extending a business visa in Poland in 2026 can give your company extra time for key decisions and projects. If you want to go through the procedure without mistakes and align it with your business strategy, use professional support. Do you need expert help? Contact Progress Holding at +48 603 232 418 or by email at office@progressholding.pl.
