Poland may raise entry funds for foreigners: draft regulation Oct 2026
Short answer: A draft MSWiA regulation would raise required entry funds from PLN 75 to PLN 300 a day for stays over 4 days and from PLN 1,270 to PLN 2,020 for students. It is not law yet.
What is proposed, as of 17 October 2026
The Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA) has published a draft regulation that would raise the amount of money a foreigner must have when entering Poland. It is a draft, not law yet. According to GazetaPrawna and PAP (15 October 2026), it was posted on the website of the Government Legislation Centre (RCL). We found no sign that it has been signed or published in the Journal of Laws, and the final amounts may change.
The draft would replace the amounts in the current regulation of the Minister of the Interior of 23 February 2015 on the financial means required from a foreigner entering Poland. The ministry's explanatory note says the current amounts have not been updated since 2016.
Current and proposed amounts
All figures are from GazetaPrawna's report on the draft. The "per stay" figures for a longer visit are our calculation.
Foreigners paying their own costs of a stay:
stay of up to 4 days: PLN 300 now, PLN 1,000 proposed;
stay longer than 4 days: PLN 75 a day now, PLN 300 a day proposed. For a 10-day stay that is PLN 750 now and PLN 3,000 under the draft, by our calculation.
Foreigners whose costs are covered or who travel in an organised setting, meaning a package tour, youth camp or sports event, or whose stay is already paid for, or who come to a sanatorium or health facility, or who take part in a holiday work programme where work is not the main purpose:
PLN 20 a day now, with a minimum of PLN 100;
PLN 130 a day proposed, with a minimum of PLN 650.
Foreigners coming to study, do research or training, or continue school:
PLN 1,270 for the first two months of the planned stay now;
PLN 2,020 for the first two months proposed.
Why the ministry says it is raising them
The explanatory note says prices of consumer goods and services have changed a lot since 2016. According to GazetaPrawna, it also says the proposed amounts match reference amounts used in many Schengen states with similar price levels, such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania and Estonia. For students, the ministry says PLN 2,020 matches the income level that social assistance law treats as the minimum for a single person to meet basic needs.
When it would apply
The explanatory note says the regulation would enter into force 30 days after publication. As of 17 October 2026 we found no publication date.
* Photos: the border crossing at Chałupki (CC0) and an airport arrivals hall in Bucharest (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons. They are illustrative.
Who is affected
The sources describe the rules for entry into Poland by foreigners. They do not discuss EU citizens, who have separate free movement rules, and they do not say how the amounts apply to people applying for a residence permit from inside Poland. Residence permit procedures have their own requirements, which this draft does not change. If you plan to visit Poland, or invite relatives or friends, remember that the regulation also covers the documents that confirm means and the purpose and length of the stay, according to GazetaPrawna.
What counts as proof
According to GazetaPrawna, the regulation covers not only the amounts but also the documents that can confirm that you can obtain such funds, and the purpose and duration of the planned stay. The report does not list the documents in the draft. The current rule also allows the equivalent amount in foreign currency.
What to do now
Nothing changes until the regulation is signed and published, and then 30 days pass. If you expect visitors from outside the EU in the coming months, check the Ministry of the Interior and Journal of Laws announcements before they travel.
Frequently asked questions
Is the new financial requirement for entering Poland in force?
No. As of 17 October 2026 it is a draft regulation published for consultation. The amounts may change before it is adopted.
How much would a 10-day tourist need?
Under the draft, PLN 300 a day for a stay longer than 4 days, so PLN 3,000 for 10 days by our calculation. The current rule is PLN 75 a day, so PLN 750.
Would students need more?
Yes, under the draft. Students would need PLN 2,020 for the first two months instead of PLN 1,270, according to GazetaPrawna.
