Background
- Location
- Warsaw, Poland
- Languages
- English (native-equivalent), Polish (native), Russian (advanced — CIS market), Ukrainian (working)
- Education
- M.A. in International Relations, University of Warsaw · Postgraduate in EU Migration Law Focus: non-EU student residency under the Polish Act on Foreigners
- Specialization
- SIO/POL-on registry verification · Kozminski/Vistula/WSB Merito admissions · Type D national visa · karta pobytu · Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) procedures · Schengen mobility post-residency
- At Birlay
- Senior Education Consultant — Poland (Warsaw desk)
- Editorial role
- Lead author on the Poland content series
What I cover
Nine years of hands-on experience cover the full non-EU student journey from SIO programme verification through the post-study residence permit. Recurring focus areas:
What I do at Birlay
I lead Birlay's Poland operations from our Warsaw desk, working directly with prospective students from non-EU countries who want to study at Kozminski, Vistula, or a WSB Merito campus. My role covers:
- SIO verification as step zero — confirming the chosen institution is registered in SIO (System Informacji Oświatowej) and noting the RSPO number before any deposit, acceptance letter, or consulate appointment is arranged
- University application support — guiding students through Kozminski, Vistula, and WSB Merito admissions portals, including acceptance letter review to confirm every consulate-checked field is present
- Pre-submission document review — checking financial proof (PLN 13,000–21,000 / €3,000–5,000 accessible liquid funds), health insurance, and accommodation confirmation before any file goes to the Polish consulate
- Document preparation — apostille chains for India (MEA), Pakistan (MoFA Islamabad), Nigeria (MFA Abuja), Bangladesh (MoFA Dhaka), and CIS-resident applicants; coordination of certified English/Polish translations
- Consulate coordination — matching applicants to the Polish consulate serving their country and managing appointment lead times against the September and January intakes
- Post-arrival karta pobytu support — address registration and karta pobytu submission at the Voivodeship Office within 30 days of arrival, managing the interim stamp during Warsaw's 2–6 month card backlog
Editorial principles
All Poland-focused articles published under my byline on Birlay.com are reviewed for accuracy against current Polish consulate requirements, the SIO/POL-on register, Kozminski/Vistula/WSB Merito fee schedules, and Voivodeship Office procedures. Legal claims are independently verified by Birlay's Poland reviewer — Tomasz Wiśniewski, Poland Bar #9341, immigration and foreign nationals law specialist.
Independent verification
Birlay's editorial policy requires all author profiles to be independently verifiable. Author bios are not generated content. If you would like to confirm credentials before relying on Poland-related guidance published under my byline, contact Birlay's editorial team at editorial@birlay.com, or verify the Poland reviewer's credentials via the regional Bar of Legal Counsels public register (Poland Bar #9341).
Published on Birlay — Poland series
The Poland knowledge base for non-EU students — SIO universities, the Type D visa, costs, karta pobytu, and work rights:
Contact me
For Poland admissions consultations, SIO verification, document review, or D visa application guidance:
- Email: marta@birlay.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marta-kowalska-birlay
- Editorial inquiries: editorial@birlay.com
Free 30-minute initial consultations are available via video or in-person at Birlay's Warsaw desk (by appointment).