Documents required for a civil wedding

What to bring to the USC when filing documents before the wedding. The list varies with the legal situation of the bride and groom.

Polish citizen – standard case

  1. National ID of both partners (or passport). Shown to the clerk – copy is not retained.
  2. Short copy of the birth certificate – since 2015 you do not have to bring it. The clerk pulls it automatically from the Civil Status Services Database (BUSC).
  3. Declaration of no impediments to marriage – a form filled in at the USC and signed in the clerk’s presence. Contains statements about marital status, lack of close kinship, and awareness of the decision.
  4. Stamp-duty payment confirmation – 84 zł. Bank transfer to the office’s account or cash desk. Keep the confirmation after the transfer.

Divorced person

Additionally required:

  • Short copy of the previous marriage certificate with a divorce note (fetched by the clerk from BUSC).

Widow / widower

  • Short copy of the previous spouse’s death certificate (fetched by the clerk from BUSC).

Foreign citizen

For non-Polish citizens additional requirements apply:

  • Certificate of legal capacity to marry – issued by the competent authority of the country of origin. Validity: 6 months. Requires sworn translation into Polish.
  • Passport with a valid visa or residence card (if required for the given citizenship).
  • Birth certificate issued by the country of origin, with a sworn translation. Apostille required if the country is a party to the Hague Convention.
  • If the foreigner does not speak Polish – a sworn translator must be present at document filing and at the ceremony.

Witnesses

Two adult witnesses with legal capacity. Witnesses do not file documents during preparation – their presence on the wedding day with national ID is enough.

Fees

Item Fee
Stamp duty for issuing the marriage record 84 zł
First copy of the marriage certificate (handed at the ceremony) free
Subsequent copies of the marriage certificate 22 zł
Outdoor wedding off USC premises (optional) 1000 zł
Name change after marriage (new national ID) free

Commonly overlooked

  • Surname choice after the wedding – declared at the USC before the wedding. Options: husband’s surname, wife’s, double-barrelled (both), keep own.
  • Children’s surname – also declared before the wedding. Can be changed later through a court.
  • If a foreign document is in a foreign language – sworn translation is mandatory, the clerk will not accept self-made translations.

This page is informational. Requirements may differ between offices – when in doubt contact your chosen office directly. Find a USC.