What documents are required to purchase health insurance for a foreign national in Poland?

You can find the basic insurance options that meet the agency's requirements here: KL Insurance for Foreigners: For Visas and Residence Cards

Why are documents required when purchasing a policy?

The insurer must verify the foreign national’s identity, length of stay, and the information necessary to issue a valid policy. As a result, the document is accepted by Polish government offices, consulates, and medical facilities. For online insurance, the paperwork is greatly simplified, but it still requires some basic information.

What documents are required?

The list of required documents depends on the type of policy (travel, visa, residence), but the following are most commonly required:

1. Passport – the most important form of identification

Every foreign national must provide their passport information. This information is required for:

• proper identification of the insured,
• the consistency of the policy with the documents submitted to the agency,
• proof of citizenship and date of birth.

The insurer usually requires the passport number, expiration date, and country of issue.

You can read more about the formal requirements in the article: Health Insurance and the Residence Card – Key Formalities

2. Information Regarding Your Stay in Poland

To issue a valid policy, you will need:

• planned date of entry to Poland,
• expected length of stay,
• residence address (if already known).

This is particularly important for insurance required for a residence card—the policy must cover the entire period of legal residence.

3. The Insured’s Contact Information

The insurer may ask for:

• phone number,
• email address (the policy document is usually sent electronically).

This allows the foreign national to receive the policy immediately upon purchase and submit it to the authorities without undue delay.

4. Document confirming the purpose of the stay (optional)

In some cases, especially for longer stays, the insurer may ask you to specify the purpose of your stay:

• work,
• college,
• family reunification,
• temporary stay.

This is standard practice for comprehensive insurance policies.

5. A document confirming the absence of chronic illnesses (not always required)

Some companies may require a declaration stating whether a person has any chronic conditions—especially if the policy covers a broader range of care. However, this usually applies to supplemental plans, not the basic policies required for a visa or residence permit.

6. PESEL (optional)

For foreign nationals who are just arriving in Poland, the PESEL number is not required. If a foreign national already has one, they may provide it, but it is not a requirement for purchasing the policy.

7. Document confirming payment of the premium

After purchasing insurance, you’ll need proof of payment. The provincial office very often asks for:

• policy,
• Confirmation of payment.

A lack of confirmation is one of the most common reasons for requests to submit additional documents.

What do you need for travel insurance?

If a foreign national plans to stay for less than 90 days, they only need:

• information from the passport,
• dates of stay,
• email address.

This type of insurance policy must meet the Schengen requirements; you can read more about this here: Health Insurance for Foreigners in Poland – Who Is Required to Have It and How Can You Get It?

What is required for insurance related to a residence card?

For a long-term stay, the following are required:

• personal information,
• information covering the entire duration of the stay,
• payment confirmation,
• insurance policy with a sum insured at least 30,000 euros,
• a document in Polish or English.

The office will not accept a travel insurance policy as insurance for a residence card.

Why should you buy an insurance policy online?

Online shopping is:

• immediate access to documents,
• no need to visit the facility,
• the ability to quickly present the policy at the office,
• Easy renewal of protection when filing subsequent residence applications.

Most foreigners choose this method because it is the fastest and most convenient.