Amongst global passports, Polish passports rank in the top 20 of desirability, due to a combination of European Union access and visa-free travel abroad to over 150 countries.
To help you obtain a Polish passport, we’ve prepared this guide to explore the process of getting a passport, the key requirements and the associated costs of each.
Requirements of getting a Polish passport
Assuming you do not have a previous passport from the Polish government, then there are only two requirements to getting a new passport. The first is your status as a Polish citizen. All passport applicants must have legal confirmation or proof of this. Secondly, you will also need to submit a small number of documents as part of the application process.
Polish citizenship
You must be a Polish citizen to obtain a Polish passport. There are many forms of citizenship, ranging from native Poles, the descendents of Polish citizens and those that have gained citizenship through naturalization or marriage.
The most important however, is Polish citizenship by descent. This is the process of proving your Polish ancestry, documenting the necessary lineage and confirm your status as a de facto Polish citizen. Unlike the other options, this does not require you to live in Poland or speak Polish.
However, it is a separate process to apply for the Polish passport, and must be done first, so this is an additional cost and time expense that you need to consider.
Required documents
When it comes to supporting your application form, there are a number of documents required:
- Polish citizenship confirmation: In other words, proof of your officially recognized Polish citizenship. You will receive this when you apply for citizenship by descent.
- Birth certificate: This needs to be in Polish so, if you were not born in Poland, you will need to register your birth and have a Polish certificate issued. This is also applies for marriage certificates.
- PESEL: The Polish equivalent of a social security number used to identify Polish citizens. It can be applied for outside of the country by special request to your consulate general office.
- Passport photo: Of course, every valid passport document needs a photograph.
Costs behind a Polish passport
The costs for getting a Polish passport can be broken down into three key areas:
- Consular fees: This is an application fee paid to the consular office when submitting your Polish passport application. Each consular has their own list of fees, so the exact passport fee may differ depending on where you live.
- Sworn translations: If you need official translations of existing documents, you need to pay an official, sworn translator recognized by the consulate. This fee can vary depending on the document. This is something that can also be done via the consulate.
- Legal support: You may from time to time require legal experts to help find missing documents or navigate the complex and often changing procedures of Polish law. While this is less likely during your Passport application, you may still need help with the Polish language itself, or the required Polish citizenship application.
Does the Polish passport cost change by country?
While the costs are generally the same, there are slight differences between each consular office. As an example, we can look at both the UK consular and US consular offices for examples of prices.
- Passport fee: The cost of a Polish passport application is 96 GBP or 112 USD for an adult. Discounts are provided for children under 12 (31 GBP or 39 USD).
- Sworn translations: There are two specific services provided by the consular office in this regard:
- The Polish consular office lists “Preparing and certifying translations from Polish into an official language or other commonly used languages of the host country or from an official language or other commonly used languages of the host country into Polish” at 79 GBP or 100 USD per page.
- Likewise, “Verifying and certifying translations from Polish into an official language or other commonly used languages of the host country or from an official language or other commonly used languages of the host country to Polish” as a service, at a rate of 27 GBP or 34 USD per page.
Note, however, that such fees change often, so it’s best to get the exact figures. We will provide a list of regional consular information at the end of this guide.
Additional Costs
The estimations and costs here are based on the assumption that you are applying for your first Polish passport, after gaining Polish citizenship. If you do not have official confirmation of your Polish citizenship, this is an additional expense and process that you will need to undertake first.
Additionally, when it comes to renewing your passport, the passport fee itself is higher. At around 192 GBP or 244 USD, as of writing, this is something you will need to factor in when your new passport eventually becomes invalid.
Can I get a temporary passport?
When it comes to other fees, the Polish consular has a separate cost for a temporary passport, at around 35 GBP or 45 USD. However, these are only given in exceptional circumstances, and you would have to provide evidence. For applicants looking to get their first Polish passport, it is likely this would not be successful.
What about my family members?
The fees and costs given here are on a per-person application, with fees based on an adult passport application. Children under 12 have a separate fee that is usually much lower.
However, when applying, you need to make applications for each family member. While this doesn’t offer any discounts, you can streamline the process if you plan in advance. For example, when ensuring your Polish citizenship (which all passport applicants must have) you can save money via sworn translations and legal costs. We provide family discounts for this reason – after all, a document confirming your rights to Polish citizenship can also be used for your children.
What payment forms are accepted?
When it comes to passport applications, current regulations regarding payments vary by country and regional consular office. In most cases, debit cards and cheques are accepted. Many also accept cash, but only when making the payment in-person and typically with an ID card for confirmation.
It may also be possible to pay through the mail. However, this is not a hard and fast rule. Many consulates have their own specific rules, so it is always worth checking with the regional office through which you will be applying.
Regional consulates to submit your passport application
As mentioned, if you’re living in your native country outside of Poland, you need to apply through your regional consulate. Here, we’ve listed the consulates of the most common countries, as well as links to their specific passport fees and associated costs. Please check these details before submitting passport applications.
United States of America
The US has five consulates – found in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and the Polish embassy in Washington. Office details can be found here, while administrative costs and fees can be found here.
Canada
Canada has four consulates – found in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and the Polish embassy in Ottawa. You can find office details here, with administrative costs and fees listed here.
United Kingdom
The UK has four consulates – located in Belfast, Edinburgh, Manchester and the Polish Embassy in London. You can find office details here, and administrative costs and fees here.
Are you by any chance of Polish origin? Find out if you are eligible for EU citizenship by taking the test below: