Register a foreign birth or marriage certificate in Poland

Transcription (transkrypcja) creates a Polish entry for an event abroad

Some procedures, such as applying for a Polish passport, need a Polish certificate rather than a foreign one. Transcription enters your foreign birth or marriage certificate into the Polish civil registry at a registry office (Urząd Stanu Cywilnego), and you then receive a Polish copy. Expect to hand in the original, usually with an apostille or legalisation, and a Polish translation by a sworn translator. A photocopy alone may not be accepted, and the office can refuse a document that fails Polish requirements.

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How it works

Register a birth or marriage that took place abroad

Get a foreign birth, marriage or divorce recorded by the local authorities.

If you were born, married or divorced abroad, the authorities may need to record the event before your details are up to date, for example when you register your address or apply for a local document. You usually submit the original foreign certificate, often with a legalisation or apostille and a sworn translation. Requirements depend on the country that issued the document, so check them before paying for translations. Recording the event can take several weeks.

Also searched as

register a foreign marriageforeign birth certificaterecognise a foreign marriageregister a foreign divorcetranscription of a foreign certificateapostille and translation

At a glance

Offices
40 offices in 37 cities
Book online
At 8 of 40 offices
Apply online
At 1 of 40 offices

Some ask you to phone first, others book online

Registry offices that take foreign certificates

Registering a foreign certificate happens at a registry office, and offices differ in how they take it. What you bring can include the original, a sworn translation and copies, and a booking often covers one certificate at a time.

See registry offices

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Where to next

Offices that register foreign certificates

Browse registry offices that take foreign birth and marriage certificates and check how each handles appointments and documents.

Offices for foreign certificates in Poland

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