Poland Work Visa Insurance for Indians: TMI or ZUS Explained

This explainer is based on the Embassy of Poland in New Delhi's national visa checklist for work and the VFS Global checklist dated February 2026, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. It covers the visa stage only; the work permit itself is issued in Poland. For other visa types, see our Poland visa guide for Indians.

What do TMI and ZUS mean on the Polish work visa checklist?

The VFS work checklist has a single line on insurance: "TMI or proof of ZUS (Polish Social Insurance) coverage". The Embassy's own work checklist puts it as travel medical insurance with a minimum of EUR 30,000, or ZUS insurance.

• TMI is travel medical insurance: a policy you buy before travelling, of the same kind Schengen visitors submit.
• ZUS is Polish Social Insurance: cover that comes through the Polish social insurance system.

The word "or" matters. You submit one of the two, not both.

TMI or ZUS: which one should you submit?

In practice, the choice turns on timing. If your Polish employer can give you documentary proof of ZUS coverage before your VFS date, the checklist accepts it. If not, an approved TMI policy meets the requirement on its own, and you control when you buy it.

What must a TMI policy cover for Poland?

The Embassy and VFS set five conditions for travel medical insurance:

1. Minimum coverage of EUR 30,000.
2. Valid throughout the Schengen area, not only in Poland.
3. Valid for the entire stay.
4. Covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation, including in the event of death.
5. Issued by a company on the list of approved insurers. Handwritten certificates are not accepted.

Read the policy schedule against this list before you pay. For the visa, what counts is that the medical, hospital and repatriation cover meets the minimum and that the dates match your stay.

Where does insurance fit in the full work visa file?

The national (D) work checklist lists these documents:

• Original and valid work permit, plus a copy.
• Proof of the employing company's registration in the KRS (National Court Register).
• Original employment letter from the Polish employer on letterhead, stamped and signed, stating position, salary, estimated duration and other conditions such as accommodation, transport and living expenses.
• For intra-company transfers, a letter from your current employer confirming the transfer and leave.
• Flight itinerary, as a reservation only.
• TMI or proof of ZUS coverage.
• Accommodation proof, such as a lease.
• ID showing legal residence in the jurisdiction of the Embassy or Consulate.
• Optional: legalised professional or educational certificates, an experience certificate and a police clearance certificate.

The common documents apply too: a passport issued within the previous 10 years and valid 3 months after you leave Schengen, with at least two blank pages; the application form signed twice; a 35mm x 45mm colour photo; and a cover letter. A verifiable flight reservation meets the itinerary requirement without buying a ticket.

Do family members and other D visas get the same choice?

A spouse or child joining you also shows funds of 75 PLN a day, or 20 PLN a day if the host covers all living costs, plus 2500 PLN for return travel. That money must be held as traveller's cheques, a credit-card limit certificate or funds in a Polish or EU bank, not an Indian bank.

How do you book, and what does the visa cost?

Work visa applicants register on the e-Konsulat portal first. Appointment dates are allocated by electronic draw: New Delhi every Monday at 10:00 and Mumbai every two weeks on Thursday at 10:30. You then complete the VFS online form and submit in person at a VFS centre on the assigned date.

The consular fee is INR 21120 / EUR 200 under the fee table effective 1 January 2026, non-returnable whatever the decision. VFS charges INR 1026 on top. A national visa is issued or refused within 15 days of submission, extendable to 30 days in justified cases. If refused, you can appeal once within 14 days for INR 21120.

The Embassy and the Consulate General do not work with employment agencies or visa agents, and say no documents are required beyond the published lists.

Which insurance mistakes delay a Polish work visa?

• Buying from an insurer that is not on the approved list.
• Submitting a handwritten insurance certificate.
• Cover below EUR 30,000, or a policy without repatriation.
• A policy valid only in Poland instead of throughout Schengen.
• Policy dates that end before your stay does.
• Submitting ZUS papers that do not show you are actually covered.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for Polish visa files. Prices start at INR 1,000 for a flight reservation, and INR 3,000 covers a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us via the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need both TMI and ZUS for a Poland work visa?

No. The work checklist asks for TMI or proof of ZUS coverage, so one of the two is enough. If you choose TMI, it must meet the EUR 30,000 minimum and the other policy conditions.

Can I buy Poland visa insurance from any Indian insurer?

No. The Embassy accepts travel medical insurance only from the list of approved insurance companies. Check that your insurer appears on that list before you pay.

Does a Poland work visa need a confirmed flight ticket?

No. The national work checklist asks for a flight itinerary as a reservation only. Buying a ticket before the decision is not required.

Which Polish office handles work visas for Karnataka and Tamil Nadu?

The Consulate General of Poland in Mumbai, which covers Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, Goa and several union territories. Northern and eastern states fall under the Embassy in New Delhi.