The Polish Government have today (29.3.21) announced changes intended to simplify and standardise quarantine requirements.

The new rules are the same for travellers arriving by land or air, however all non-Schengen arrivals must now undergo quarantine. However, they can be ‘released from the quarantine requirement’ if :-

Non-Schengen arrivals can choose to undergo a test on arrival in Poland, which would exclude them from quarantine if they test negative.
(see airport specific info below)

or

They have received both injections of an EU approved vaccine.

The new quarantine requirements will be effective from Tuesday 30th March 2021.

The new quarantine requirements are:-

Rules for travelers coming to Poland from the Schengen area:

  • Travelers will be quarantined unless they test negative for COVID-19. The test will have to be performed no later than 48 hours before crossing the border.
  • Test type: PCR or antigenic.
  • The new rules will apply to all means of transport: public and individual transport as well as crossing the border on foot.
  • Travelers who have been quarantined in Poland will be able to take a test, the negative result of which will release them from quarantine.

Rules for travelers coming to Poland from outside the Schengen area:

    • Each traveler will be placed in quarantine.
    • A test performed in the country of origin of the person will not be released from quarantine.
    • Travelers who have been quarantined may take a test in Poland, the negative result of which will release them from quarantine.
    • Test type: PCR or antigenic.

Arrivals,  both from the Schengen zone and non-Schengen, will have the opportunity to perform the Covid-19 test in Poland.  If the result is negative, then their quarantine will be lifted – said Marcin Horała.

Polish Covid Quarantine rulesWhat are the Polish Airports saying?

Straż Graniczna (Border Guard) – Detailed Information & links

Kraków Airport  KRK – Have now updated their website with the new regulations, though information is still limited:

New regulations to secure the flow of passengers during document control have been introduced at Kraków Airport starting from midnight 29/30 March 2021.

In order for passengers to be able to travel safely and freely, testing kiosks are available at Kraków Airport where passengers can have tests performed.  For more information please visit: Krakow Airport Covid Tests or their Facebook Page.

Warsaw Chopin Airport WAW – have updated their website with information regarding the new rules.

Info from Warsaw Airport Website:
Arrivals from Schengen area
Travelers arriving at Warsaw Chopin Airport from the Schengen area are exempt from compulsory quarantine, if they have a negative test result in Polish or English, made within 48 hours before crossing the border and present the test result at the request of a Border Guard officer.

At Warsaw Chopin Airport, it is also possible to perform a COVID-19 test before the Border Guard inspection. If the traveler does not have a negative test result before going to the general access area, the passenger is obliged to provide the officer with all the data necessary to impose the obligation to undergo quarantine – the address of residence or place of stay where he will be quarantined and a contact telephone number.

The negative result of the test performed after crossing the border within 48 hours is also released from quarantine, and the laboratory performing the test will enter this result into the IT system of the state sanitary inspection.

Arrivals from outside Schengen area
Persons arriving at Chopin Airport from outside the Schengen area are subject to mandatory control by the Border Guard, during which they are obliged to provide the officer with all the data necessary to impose the quarantine – the address of residence or place of stay and a contact telephone number, regardless of whether they have a negative test result before crossing border.

The quarantine can only be shortened by a negative COVID-19 test result made upon arrival in Poland and sent to the health care IT system within 48 hours.

More information on testing possibilities (At Chopin Airport)

Polish Government Briefing
The government made the changes in an effort to standardise the quarantine rules for those arriving by both air and land transport, said government spokesman Piotr Müller.

The Government spokesperson added:-

“When it comes to the land borders of Poland, the situation will look like on the border with the Czech Republic and Slovakia – there is no standard control, but there will be patrols at the borders that will check whether those crossing the borders meet the requirements and have a valid test”

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