Visa and Travel Information
Poland is a member state of EU and Schengen zone. Non EU participants can apply for a visa at the Polish embassy or consulate in the region in which they live. Please check the Visa requirements to enter Poland.
To view the list of countries exempt from requiring a visa, please click HERE. For more information, please contact the local Polish Embassy in your country.
To avoid uncertainty, participants are advised to apply for a Polish/Schengen visa at least 3-4 months in advance.
Visa Letters
- The invitation letter (if required) will be issued upon request after the successful registration and payment.
- Your name must be listed exactly as it appears on your passport. Any differences between the name on your passport and the name on your invitation letter or other documentation could lead to a delay and/or denial of your visa.
- Please note PSE and the organizing committees are not authorized to assist with the VISA process beyond providing the Notification of Invitation Letter issued by the committee. Should your application be denied, the committee cannot change the decision of the Polish Embassy, nor will PSE 2025 and the organizing committee engage in discussion or correspondence with the Embassy on behalf of the applicant. The registration fee cannot be refunded after cancellation deadlines when the VISA application of individual is being denied.
- Please send an email to PPN2025@wir.pl with “Visa and your surname” in the subject line. You will be required to provide the necessary information and a copy of your passport in order to issue a visa letter.
- Note that visa letters do not represent a commitment from the Organizing Committee to provide any financial assistance.
Accommodation tips (pricing as for late 2024)
Hotel – located near Main Railway/Bus stations from EUR 70/100; some options you might consider:
Short-term rent apartments (Airbnb, Booking etc), prices start at EUR 50/night, average at EUR 80, depending on location and standard.
Getting to Wroclaw
Wroclaw city can be reached via air (Nicolaus Copernicus Airport WRO, daily flights from Germany, Nederlands, UK, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Georgia (Caucasian), etc, destinations added occasionally by Polish Airlines – LOT, Ryanair, WizzAir, Lufthansa, KLM), railway (Main Station – Wroclaw Glowny), international coach lines (such as Flixbus and many others) and the major European highway (E40/A4) on the East-West axis and freeways to Warszawa and Poznań (direction North) and Praha (South).
The time zone in Poland is Central European Time(CET, in June the Central European Summer time (CEST) applies): GMT/ UTC+2
Getting around Wroclaw
Public transport: Wroclaw is a well communicated city with fast and cheap public transportation as well as a well developed railway system with several local stations (a fastest way to move between distant parts of the city). You can use google maps to plan any route. Public transportation includes city buses and trams. The MPK (city transport company) tickets can be purchased from the selling machines but the most convenient way is to pay (contactless) by a card using the ticket machines inside the cars. We recommend buying the 72-hour ticket which allows you to travel by all MPK buses/trams over the span of the conference. Look here for more information.
City bikes and scooters – app is required to use them
Taxi operators, including app-based (Bolt, Uber).
Weather Conditions
Wroclaw has a moderate climate with atlantic influences. June is seen as the month when summertime arrives in Wroclaw. Days are generally warm-to-hot with quite changing weather with occassional rainfalls but it can also be clear skies for a few weeks. The temperatures rarely climb over 30°C. Please pack a jacket for cooler weather and an umbrealla/raincoat.
June daily minimum and maximum temperatures are between 14°C and 29 °C.
For the meetings, we recommend you dress in layers as temperatures in meeting rooms and outside can vary.
Currency
Local currency is the Polski Zloty (PLN). Credit cards can be used for most expenses with Visa and Mastercard as the most commonly used cards in Polanda. Everything in Poland must be paid in local currency. ATMs are in abundance in the banks and shopping malls for you to draw money. Please note that it is advised to be alert when drawing money at street ATMs. If you need to exchange currency, avoid doing it at the airport due to the extremely high commission (do not get lured by the “no commission” advertisement! it is hidden in very high exchange rate spreads). There are many exchange offices downtown and in all shopping malls – look for “kantor wymiany walut” – the Polish name for exchange office.
Security
Poland is a relatively safe country in terms of crime and any insult incidents. However, you are advised to avoid walking alone in the night in remote, dark or near groups of drunk people.
Road traffic is right-sided, so the less experienced travellers from left-sided countries are advised to first look left before crossing a road 😉 . Obeying speed limits by local drivers is not customary if there is no speed control, take this into account when driving in Poland, but other rules are generally followed.
Healthcare
The Polish healthcare system is based on public and private (for profit) entities. The public system is available to all EU citizen holding an EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card). Other may have to pay the full costs, so it is much advised to have a travel insurance covering the emergency healthcare. Dental care is almost entirely private and full paid, also for Polish and EU citizens.
Language
The offical language in Poland is Polish. Most locals speak English, and some also speak German.
Gratuities
Gratuities (tips) are usually around 10-20% (but not required). Scarcily locals include them in the tab.
Power
Electricity supply is at 230 V and 50 Hz. The commonly used plugs are of type C or E. Please refer to https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/ for further information.