Do I need to translate my birth certificate?

Yes. A foreign birth certificate must be translated by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły) registered in Poland, and the original must usually carry an apostille or be legalised by the Polish consulate in the issuing country.

How long does the civil ceremony take?

The civil ceremony at the Urząd Stanu Cywilnego (USC) takes about 15–20 minutes. You must submit documents at least 14 days (and sometimes up to 6 months) before the planned date, depending on the office.

Can two non-Polish citizens marry in Poland?

Yes. Both foreigners can marry in Poland at any USC. You need the same documents as Polish citizens, plus proof of legal stay and a certificate of no impediment (zaświadczenie o braku przeszkód) from your embassy or home country.

Getting Married in Poland as a Foreigner

Civil and church marriage procedures, required documents, legalisation/apostille rules, and what to do if your partner is not Polish.

Civil marriage at the USC

To marry in Poland, both partners appear in person at the Urząd Stanu Cywilnego (USC — Civil Registry Office). You book a date and submit documents in advance. The ceremony itself is short, conducted in Polish (you may bring a sworn interpreter if you do not speak Polish).

Required documents for a foreigner

Passport or national ID (original + copy).
Birth certificate with an apostille or legalisation, plus a sworn translation into Polish.
Certificate of no impediment (zaświadczenie o braku przeszkód do zawarcia małżeństwa) — proof you are free to marry. Issued by your country's embassy in Poland or by your home-country registry. If your country does not issue such a document, you may make a sworn affidavit before a Polish notary.
Proof of legal stay in Poland (residence card, visa, PESEL registration).
If previously married: divorce decree or death certificate of former spouse, with apostille and sworn translation.
Completed questionnaire from the USC (available in Polish).

Church marriage

If you marry in the Catholic Church, the priest issues a church marriage certificate, which you then take to the USC to register the civil record. Other denominations register differently; check with your parish and the local USC.

Apostille and sworn translations

Foreign civil-status documents must carry an apostille stamp (if your country is party to the 1961 Hague Convention) or be legalised by the Polish consulate in the country that issued them. All foreign-language documents must be translated by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły) listed on the Polish Ministry of Justice register.

After the wedding

The USC issues a Polish marriage certificate (odpis aktu małżeństwa). You can request certified copies for use abroad. If you later need to register the marriage in your home country, ask the USC for a multilingual extract.

Practical tips

Start the document gathering at least 2–3 months in advance — apostilles and embassy certificates can take time.
If you do not speak Polish, bring a Polish-speaking friend or hire a sworn interpreter for the ceremony.
Some USC offices in major cities (Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław) have staff who speak English, but this is not guaranteed.

This article is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm with the relevant authority.