Civil wedding procedure in Poland

Step by step guide to getting married at a Polish civil registry office (USC). Based on the Polish Act of 28 November 2014 — Civil Status Records Act.

1. Choosing a date and a USC

A civil wedding can be held at any USC in Poland — not just at the place of residence of either partner. The choice depends on the availability of the wedding room on your preferred date.

  • Wedding season (May–September, Saturdays): popular USCs are booked 6–12 months ahead.
  • Off-season: typically 1–3 months ahead.
  • Documents must be filed at least 1 month before the planned wedding date (statutory waiting period).

2. Required documents

The full list is described on a separate page. Summary:

  • National ID (or passport) of both partners — to be shown, not copied
  • Birth certificate — automatically fetched by the clerk from the electronic registry
  • Proof of stamp-duty payment (PLN 84, bank transfer accepted)
  • Written assurance that no circumstances bar the marriage (form provided at the USC)

Full list: Required documents.

3. Filing documents and the waiting period

Documents must be filed in person by both partners at the chosen USC. The statutory waiting period of 1 month starts from that day. Marriage can then be celebrated.

4. The wedding ceremony

The wedding may take place:

  • In the USC wedding room — standard procedure. PLN 84 stamp duty covers the ceremony.
  • Outdoors within the USC's gmina (municipality) — possible since 2015. Requires additional arrangements and a surcharge (up to PLN 1,000, set by the gmina council).
  • Off-site under exceptional circumstances (hospital, home, prison) — when health or imprisonment prevents attending the USC.

5. Witnesses

Two adult witnesses with legal capacity are required. They may be Polish citizens or foreigners (a sworn translator is required if the witness does not speak Polish).

6. After the wedding

Directly after the ceremony the clerk hands the newlyweds:

  • The first marriage certificate copy — free of charge (one copy)
  • Information about post-wedding formalities (name change, documents)

Further copies cost PLN 22 each. They can be ordered online through obywatel.gov.pl.

7. Religious wedding with civil effect (concordat)

For a religious wedding with simultaneous civil effect, the procedure is similar: file documents at the USC, receive a certificate valid for 6 months and pass it to your parish priest. After the religious ceremony the priest submits the document to the USC within 5 business days.

Important legal notes

  • Minimum age: 18 years. In exceptional cases a family court can permit a woman from age 16.
  • Same-sex marriages are currently not recognised in Poland.
  • Foreigners need a certificate of capacity to marry issued in their home country.

This page is informational. Only information obtained directly from the USC where you plan to marry is binding.