Eastern Europe
Study in Poland from Belarus
A practical, honest guide for Belarusian students — visas, refusal rates, flights, costs and what life is really like. Backed by sources, not marketing.
2023/24 · GUS/NAWA
type D long-stay
2024 · proxy, see note
€30–90 (bus/train)
Visas & entry
National long-stay (type D) study visa
- Processing time
- 2–8 weeks
- Where to apply
- Polish consulate in Minsk / Brest / Hrodna (access reduced; many apply via third countries)
- Proof of funds
- ≈ 701 PLN/month (~€165/mo) minimum + tuition + return; ~€2,000–4,000/year realistic
Key documents
- acceptance letter
- proof of funds
- health insurance
- accommodation
- return-travel funds
Source: study.gov.pl
Visa refusal — the honest picture
1.16% Visa refusal rate (2024)
Schengen short-stay PROXY — Belarus had ~98.84% approval in 2024, one of the lowest refusal rates
Important: Partly reflects EU goodwill toward Belarusians fleeing political repression. Type D data not public.
Source: schengenvisainfo.com
Getting there
Minsk → Warsaw — no direct flights (EU airspace closed to Belarusian carriers); overland via Terespol/Brest or via Vilnius
- Typical price
- €30–90 (bus/train)
- Flight time
- 8–14 h
- Airlines
- FlixBus, Ecolines, Belarusian Railways (to border)
Students travel overland; Vilnius is a common alternative air hub. Border waits at Terespol can be long.
Prices vary — estimate from en.wikipedia.org
Cost of living
≈ €500–850/mo in Warsaw/Kraków, ~€350–550 in smaller cities; the Kalinowski stipend (~€290/mo) covers a meaningful share. Estimate.
What it's really like
Belarusians are the second-largest foreign community and are generally viewed sympathetically, especially post-2020 as many fled the Lukashenko regime. Poland actively supports them through the Kalinowski Scholarship — the largest European aid programme for Belarusian students barred from studying at home. They integrate quickly given linguistic and cultural proximity. Frictions are mostly bureaucratic (slow permits, reported scholarship-payment delays in 2023/24) rather than social.
Community: Second-largest student group — ~12,700 Belarusian students in 2023/24 (≈11.8%); the Kalinowski Scholarship has supported 2,700+ since 2006.
Tips from students & forums
-
If you're politically active or barred from study at home, apply to the Konstanty Kalinowski Scholarship — it covers tuition, a ~1,240 PLN/month stipend, insurance, visa and residence-permit costs.
en.wikipedia.org ↗ -
Budget for possible scholarship payment lags reported in 2023/24 — keep a personal buffer for the first months.
en.wikipedia.org ↗ -
Lodge your temporary residence permit application immediately on arrival — processing can take 8–10 months and the receipt keeps your stay legal.
migrant.info.pl ↗
Good to know
- Belarus is the second-largest source of foreign students in Poland — ~12,700 in 2023/24 (≈11.8%).
- The Konstanty Kalinowski Scholarship is the largest European aid programme for young Belarusians barred from studying at home.
Ready to find your programme?
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-07. Visa-refusal figures are Schengen short-stay proxies unless stated; Poland does not publish national (type D) study-visa refusal rates per country. Flight prices and monthly budgets are estimates from aggregators and study.gov.pl and change over time.