Central Asia
Study in Poland from Kazakhstan
A practical, honest guide for Kazakhstani students — visas, refusal rates, flights, costs and what life is really like. Backed by sources, not marketing.
2022/23 · GUS/NAWA
type D long-stay
€160–335 (one-way est.)
Visas & entry
National long-stay (type D) study visa
- Processing time
- 2–8 weeks
- Where to apply
- Polish embassy/consulate in Astana / Almaty
- Proof of funds
- ≈ 701 PLN/month (~€165/mo) minimum + tuition + return; ~€2,000–4,000/year
Key documents
- acceptance letter
- proof of funds
- health insurance
- accommodation
- return-travel funds
Source: study.gov.pl
Visa refusal — the honest picture
No clean per-country figure is published — here's what is known:
No reliable 2024 country-specific figure isolated; Kazakhstan generally sees low Schengen refusal (some states <5%)
Important: Left null rather than fabricated.
Source: schengenvisainfo.com
Getting there
Almaty (ALA) / Astana → Warsaw (WAW)
- Typical price
- €160–335 (one-way est.)
- Flight time
- 7–8 (direct Almaty–Warsaw) h
- Airlines
- LOT, Air Astana, Lufthansa (via FRA/MUC), Turkish (via IST)
LOT launched direct Almaty–Warsaw (4x/week) in 2026; connections via Frankfurt/Munich/Istanbul also available.
Prices vary — estimate from astanatimes.com
Cost of living
≈ €500–850/mo in Warsaw/Kraków, ~€350–550 in smaller cities. Estimate.
What it's really like
Kazakhstani students are a small but fast-growing, uncontroversial group, often arriving via Bolashak scholarships or affordable English-taught programmes. Poland actively recruits in Kazakhstan (NAWA fairs, Study in Poland stands in Almaty). Perception is broadly neutral-positive — motivated international students rather than a political lens. Main challenges: distance, visa logistics and residence bureaucracy.
Community: Small but growing — ~1,725 students (2023/24 per one count; more recent reporting suggests 3,000+). Supported by Bolashak scholarships.
Tips from students & forums
-
Check Bolashak and other Kazakh government scholarships for Polish universities before self-funding — several Polish programmes are eligible.
bolashak.gov.kz ↗ -
Use the new direct LOT Almaty–Warsaw route (or Air Astana / via-Frankfurt) and book early — direct seats are limited (4/week).
astanatimes.com ↗ -
Begin gathering visa documents in winter/early spring — type D plus the post-arrival residence permit (8–10 months) means starting early matters.
studygram.me ↗
Good to know
- Roughly 1,725 Kazakhstani students studied in Poland in 2023/24, with more recent reports citing 3,000+.
- LOT launched a direct Almaty–Warsaw route (4x weekly) in 2026.
Ready to find your programme?
Compare Kazakhstani-friendly, English-taught Bachelor's and Master's across Polish universities.
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.