UK citizen visiting Poland - any restrictions on entering the country?

I am UK citizen and hold a full UK passport that is valid till end of Aug 2012.
I am travelling to Poland for 4 days in March 2012. Are there any restrictions on entering the country? My friend is under the impression that you need to fill in special cards and have a passport with 6 months on it. Or is it just as easy as going to Germany or France?

Thanks

I suggest better friends.

As an EU country, the only requirement for crossing an internal EU border an an EU citizen is a valid identity document - either a passport or national identity card.

A good example of Present Continuous with a distant future meaning. My students asked me about it a few days ago. Thank you.
PS. Are you a native by any chance?

Thanks for the reply. Thats what I thought and knew, as I have common sense and some knowledge. He has been before a couple of times and I think is trying to make out that he knows more...

Hey, don`t leave me behind like that! What about you being a native? For the sake of my students!!!!

I do hope you told them that English grammar is largely made up and argued over and not in any way sensible or definitive? ;)


Beats me why he said such a thing - as far as I know, there was never a requirement post-abolishing of visas in 1991 for anyone to fill out any documents when visiting Poland, except possibly customs declarations.

Ukraine on the other hand had very annoying registration forms up until recently...

To Pawian - Yes I am native to UK (29 Years).

They were curious to know how distant can the Present Continuous future action be. I said it can be even one year. It seems I was right. :):):)

18 October 2011- March 2012.

Hahaha! I laughed so much, my Greek delight made me feel queasy.

frickdapop, I was going to send you a link to the bit on the Polish Consulate in London's visitor information page, but it is presently requesting a username and password, which is:

a) irritating
b) probably means the server is being updated or some other technical thing
c) so funny! Being asked for a password to receive simple information. It's probably a new initiative to deter immigration.

Bugger, where did I put that password application?

Off topic I know, but we can use present continuous to talk about the future, either in the immediate or distant future. I'm meeting my friends in a cafe tomorrow. I'm going to France next summer.

Yes I'm a native speaker-American-and I teach English here. I know grammar.


True.

not entirely true

as the gentleman is a UK citizen he will not have a national identity card

I know. :):):)


Would you say it this autumn/fall? :):):)


Congrats!

I suggest ignoring internet know it alls who dont even register and are pretty obviously not UK residents as we all know you cant get out the friggin country without a passport......Oh, and that there is no such thing as a national identity card in the UK,as for the Polish end of things,pass.

Some countries do give you an extra once over if you are on a short passport but I doubt one EU country would bother for another EU country.

No, there was a war to make sure we didn't have them. It may have been down the list, but it was there.

Oh, "we" had them during the war, only it was optional whether you decided to put your photo in it , and people wonder why the idea never took off again :)

True. It must be an Anglo thing. My French and Polish friends can't see what I find so offensive about them. Or carp.

By law (in theory) should they be carried at all times in PL? That is the law in France, but most people ignore it.

It certainly used to be the case, and the police can ask for ID at any time, but nobody is ever prosecuted for not carrying one.

As I said - "either a passport or a national identity card". Some may have both - I know someone who has a Dutch ID card and British passport, for reasons best known to herself.


I said "either" :P

(you actually could leave on a UK ID card - they were produced and issued to a small amount of people, but I think they've now been annulled).


Actually - I know someone who got a 50PLN fine for not having it. But that was after getting stopped for crossing on a red light - so he ended up with 2 50zl fines :)

As far as I understand it, the general idea in Poland is that you must carry *something* - be it a scan of a passport, a driving licence, etc.

Good. I'm glad I know that, as I'd hate to loose my bottle and blurt out a whole list of things I've done wrong, and, not have an ID card. I find it difficult enough to remember to carry the papers for the car when I go to buy milk.

That's what I meant.

pawian

Yes.

Thanks for all the replies. Think I have the information I needed confirming. We did have ID cards in UK but now are not Valid, so pointless and where not even recognised by other countries anyway, so even more pointless.

If your passport is due to expire less than 6 months from the travel date, would it not be better and safer to get a new passport anyways? Even if the UK may be part of the EU/Schengen zone why risk it if something happens while on holidays. If in doubt, double check with the appropriate authorities to make sure since they are (or may be) better informed than most people on any given website. Otherwise make sure that any and all id is up to date that you need and use in the UK.