Author of the article
Yaroslav Lanetsky
While love knows no borders, marriage registration in Poland has clear requirements and rules. Therefore, before getting married, it’s essential to understand the specifics of the procedure and study the norms of Polish legislation. This will help reduce risks and speed up the multi-stage marriage registration process.
For foreigners, the procedure might seem complex and lengthy due to unfamiliarity with the Polish language and a lack of understanding of local legal requirements. To prevent unforeseen situations and refusal of marriage, and to avoid errors and delays in document processing, legal support is needed. Real Consult specialists ensure compliance with legal norms, help simplify the marriage registration process, and guide you through all stages smoothly and without stress.
Marriage Registration in Poland through Local Civil Registry Offices
Ukrainians and citizens of other countries have the right to get married in Poland. The data is entered into the Polish Civil Registry. The certificate is issued in Polish and then needs to be translated into Ukrainian or another language. If foreigners who do not speak Polish are getting married, an interpreter must be present at the registration.
Where You Can Get Married
For Ukrainians, there are two ways to register a marriage in Poland:
- Marriage at the Consulate of Ukraine in Poland. Ukrainians residing legally in Poland can apply to the diplomatic missions in Warsaw, Wrocław, Lublin, Krakow, or Gdańsk. For this, they need to submit an application and gather a package of documents, including a certificate of no impediment to marriage and a military registration document.
- At local Civil Registry Offices (Urząd Stanu Cywilnego). This process involves several stages. Foreigners first need to obtain a court permit for marriage, then submit an application for marriage registration to state authorities, set the wedding date, and appear on the designated day for the ceremony.
If a court permit for marriage is obtained, the couple does not need to apply to the consulate for registration. If a Ukrainian is marrying a Polish citizen, the application must be submitted exclusively to the local Civil Registry Office.
Who can get married in Poland?
The marriage procedure in Poland is available to both Poles and citizens of Ukraine and other countries who have legal status.
Key requirements for those wishing to register a marriage:
- Adulthood – individuals must be 18 years of age, but in cases of pregnancy, the court may grant permission for minors to marry;
- Legal capacity;
- Legal stay in Poland – for foreigners;
- Consent of both partners to marriage – in written form;
- Absence of impediments to marriage – marriage between close relatives is prohibited, as is marriage if one of the partners is already married.
Ukrainians intending to marry in Poland must provide documents confirming their right to temporary or permanent residence in the country, and a court decision proving the absence of impediments to marriage.
Stages of Marriage Registration
Since getting married in Poland is a multi-stage process, registration will not happen immediately after submitting the application. You will have to wait for the relevant authorities to review the documents and grant permission for the marriage.
Step-by-step instructions on how to register a marriage in Poland:
1. Submitting an application to the court for a marriage permit. Ukrainians need to apply to the court to obtain a decision confirming the absence of impediments to marriage. This document serves as a marriage permit, so there is no need to apply to the Ukrainian consulate. The court’s review period is 2-3 months.
Due to errors and inaccuracies in documents or submitting an incomplete set of documents, the court may reject the application. This then leads to delays and other problems with marriage registration. To minimize risks and speed up the procedure, it is advisable to seek help from specialists who will explain the rights of the newlyweds and the requirements of local legislation, and help properly prepare all documents.
2. Submitting an application to the Civil Registry Office (Urząd Stanu Cywilnego) to set the marriage registration date.
For Ukrainians to register a marriage abroad, they need to submit an application with the necessary documents to the local Civil Registry Office. In Poland, this is the Urząd Stanu Cywilnego. You should apply to the office located in the place of residence of one of the fiancés.
Rules for submitting a marriage application:
- Personal presence of the newlyweds;
- Correct completion of the application for the intention to marry, in which, in addition to information about the fiancés, the surname the spouses will bear must be indicated;
- Setting the date – after checking the documents, the office employee will indicate the date of marriage registration;
- Payment of a stamp duty fee of 100 PLN.
The minimum period between submitting the application and the marriage ceremony is one month. Usually, dates are booked 2-3 months in advance. However, in some cases, by decision of the head of the Civil Registry Office, registration can take place faster.
3. Marriage registration.
On the specified day and time, the fiancés must personally appear at the relevant office. The marriage registration of Ukrainian citizens abroad takes place in the presence of two witnesses.
After the ceremony, the couple receives a marriage certificate in Polish, which will need to be translated into Ukrainian and legalized.
If the spouse changes their surname, a new international passport must be obtained within one month.
The process of submitting documents for marriage registration is individual. It depends on the status of the persons wishing to marry. In general, the review of the application, verification, and processing of documents can take up to 5 months.
Specialists from Real Consult will help you go through all stages of marriage registration as comfortably, quickly, and stress-free as possible. We provide consultations on all issues related to foreigners getting married, explain how to get married in Poland without obstacles, and offer legal support for submitting applications to the court and civil registry offices. Thanks to legal support, you will be confident that you will prepare documents without errors and submit applications to the relevant authorities in a timely manner. This will help avoid delays and refusal of marriage.
Наша компанія значно прискорює і спрощує процес реєстрації шлюбу в Польщі для іноземців. Ми беремо на себе всі бюрократичні етапи, включно з подачею документів до суду і записом в Urząd Stanu Cywilnego, що дає вам змогу уникнути тривалого очікування і заощадити час.
Documents for Marriage Registration in Poland
One of the most important steps towards marriage registration is collecting documents. For the marriage procedure to go smoothly, you need to approach this responsibly and prepare thoroughly.
The list of documents depends on the specifics of the procedure and the citizenship of the fiancés. For example, if a Pole and a citizen of Ukraine or another country are getting married, registration takes place exclusively at local Civil Registry Offices. However, marriage between Ukrainians in Poland is also possible at the Consulate of Ukraine.
General list of documents for citizens of Ukraine and other foreigners:
- International passports of the newlyweds;
- Birth certificates of both fiancés;
- Documents confirming legal stay – “Karta pobytu” (residence card), PESEL UKR, visa;
- Certificate from the consulate stating no impediments to marriage or a corresponding court decision;
- Certificate of divorce or death of a spouse if one or both fiancés were previously married;
- Rental agreement for accommodation;
- Receipt for payment of stamp duty.
The list of documents will vary at each stage of marriage registration. All documents must be prepared in advance and checked for актуальність, as any inaccuracies or non-compliance with requirements will lead not only to delays but even to refusal to marry the couple. After the ceremony, the newlyweds will receive another document – a marriage certificate, which will need to be legalized for use in Ukraine or other countries worldwide.
It is also important to plan the marriage registration date taking into account the time needed for preparation, submission, and review of documents by the court and state authorities.
Important Aspects in Preparing Documents for Marriage Registration in Poland
Marriage in Poland for foreigners involves a number of bureaucratic procedures that are clearly regulated. To process everything in accordance with the law, certain aspects must be taken into account.
Requirements for Document Translation
All foreign documents, including birth certificates and passports, must be translated into Polish. The translation must be sworn.
The peculiarity of a sworn translation is that it is certified directly by a sworn translator, who is responsible for the authenticity and accuracy of the data. This means a notary is not required here. Each page of the document must bear the translator’s signature and stamp, and at the end, an official declaration by the translator confirming the text’s conformity to the original.
In Poland, any official documents issued in other languages are submitted to state authorities, educational institutions, and courts with a sworn translation. They have the same legal force as the originals.
A sworn translator faces criminal liability for false or inaccurate translations. Specialists must have appropriate qualifications and be listed in the special state register of translators of the Polish Ministry of Justice.
Documents obtained by Ukrainians in Poland also need to be translated. This means a Polish marriage certificate will need to be translated into Ukrainian and notarized. The document may have a sworn translation, but for use in Ukraine, it must additionally be certified by a Ukrainian notary.
Document Legalization
Since Ukraine and Poland are parties to the Hague Convention of 1961 on the Abolition of the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, an apostille is sufficient for the recognition of a Polish marriage certificate.
Apostille – is a special stamp that confirms the authenticity of a signature and seal. It is affixed to the original document or a notarized copy.
On a Polish marriage certificate, an apostille is usually placed on the original. This is done at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after reviewing the application and verifying the receipt of payment of the state duty. In case of damage to the original, a new duplicate extract must be obtained.
If the marriage registration takes place at the Consulate of Ukraine, an apostille is not required on the certificate.
Document Validity Period
If you have a marriage registration planned in Poland, take care of the validity of all documents that need to be attached to the application.
International passports and documents confirming legal stay in the country, such as a visa, “Karta pobytu” (residence card), PESEL UKR, etc., must be valid at the time of application submission and the marriage ceremony.
A certificate of no impediment to marriage issued by the consulate or a corresponding court decision also has an expiration date, which must be taken into account when planning the wedding. And to obtain this document, you will have to wait 2-3 months.
The application for marriage registration submitted to the local Civil Registry Office is valid for 6 months. This means the marriage must be concluded before its expiration. If the application is submitted to the Ukrainian consulate, couples have 3 months to formalize the relationship. If the newlyweds do not appear at the institution during this period without good reason, the application loses its validity.
After marriage registration, fiancés can keep their respective surnames, take one partner’s surname, or create a double surname. Surname change after marriage in Poland for Ukrainians takes place at the Consulate of Ukraine. To obtain new passports, you need to apply to the diplomatic mission with the corresponding application within one month. After receiving the passport, other documents will also need to be replaced.
Since each document has its own validity period, it is advisable to consult with specialists to avoid mistakes, submit all documents on time, and prevent delays.
Why should you seek assistance from REAL CONSULT for marriage registration in Poland?
The marriage procedure in Poland can be complex for foreigners who do not know Polish and the specifics of local legislation. Therefore, it is important to obtain legal support.
Real Consult specialists are knowledgeable in family and migration law and have experience in seamless marriage registration between foreigners in Poland. We help correctly process all documents for marriage registration, obtaining a temporary or permanent residence permit in the country, and renting accommodation. We provide professional consultations on legalization and marriage issues, and full support at all stages of marriage registration.
Advantages of cooperating with us:
- Expertise in marriage matters – knowledge of Polish legal requirements, understanding of bureaucratic procedures, monitoring changes in laws;
- Comprehensive assistance – we help resolve any issue related to legalization, housing search, marriage, employment, and study in Poland;
- Qualified legal support during marriage conclusion – document preparation, translation, application drafting, support during application submission to the court and civil registry offices;
- Marriage registration in Poland without delaying the process and unnecessary hassle;
- Individual approach – finding solutions and providing legal assistance according to the client’s problem;
- Online and offline consultations.
Our specialists provide consultations, legal support for marriage registration, and assistance in preparing the necessary documents for foreigners getting married in Gdańsk, as well as in cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, Gdynia, Reda, Rumia, Sopot, Borkowo, Żukowo, Pruszcz Gdański, etc. If you want to avoid problems, mistakes, and refusal of marriage registration, contact us in a convenient way – by phone, via Telegram, Viber, WhatsApp messengers, or through the feedback form on the website. We will explain how Ukrainians can get married in Poland without delays and stress and help resolve any issues related to marriage.