On 21st December 2007 Poland, together with 8 other new EU Member States, joined the Schengen area – a territory with no checks at internal borders formed by 24 States[1]. These States apply uniform rules concerning entry and short stays within their territories.

To enter the Schengen territory third-country nationals must be in possession of a valid travel document and a visa if required.

They also have to meet the following conditions:

• justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay and prove that they have sufficient means of subsistence, both for the period of the intended stay and for the return to their country of origin or transit to a third State into which they are certain they will be admitted, or are in a position to acquire such means lawfully,
• no alert has been issued for them for the purposes of refusing entry ,
• they are not considered to be a threat to public policy, national security or the international relations of any of the Schengen States.