Attesting Polish Documents (FAQs)

Yes - Poland is a member of the Apostille Convention.

Polish documents can be legalized for use abroad with an Apostille Stamp when destined for other signatory countries without additional certification by the destination country.

When Polish documents are required for non-apostille countries, such as United Arab Emirates - Taiwan - Malaysia - Thailand - Zambia - Qatar they need additional authentication by the embassy of the destination country.

For further information see:
Poland Apostille Services

Submission within the European Union
Certain Polish documents do not require Apostilles when they are presented to authorities of other European Union countries (the receiving authority should accept the original or a certified copy).

When applying for certain public documents, a multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Polish authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority to understand a public document which is in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.
See: EU Multilingual standard forms

Polish documents not requiring Apostilles include birth, death, marriage certificates, absence of a criminal record (a clean criminal record of a Polish citizen), certificates of nationality and residence:
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/1191

Other Polish documents, including academic certificates, still require Apostille certification and certified translation to be valid in other EU countries.

Civil status certificates (multilingual extracts from the civil status registers)
Polish birth, marriage and death certificates) issued in accordance with the conventions of the International Commission on Civil and Civil Status should not require Apostille Stamps when being submitted to one of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cape Verde, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey.

Apostille Stamps in Poland can be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to authenticate official Polish documents including:

• Polish birth, death and marriage certificates
• Certificates of Marital Status
• National Criminal Register Certificates (Polish criminal record)
• Court and trade documents (including certificates of origin and GMP certificates)
• Sworn translations
• Medical certificates certified by the Ministry of Health
• Polish company extracts certified by the National Court Register
• Other documents certified by a Polish notary (including powers of attorney)

Apostilles on university degrees and diploma supplements can be obtained from the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). Apostilles on school certificates are issued by the Ministry of National Education.

To confirm whether your document is eligible for apostille authentication in Poland, please contact us and we’ll check your document free of charge. For further information about our Polish apostille services and for assistance obtaining official copies of Polish documents, see:
Poland Apostille Services

Apostilles on Polish birth, death and marriage certificates can be obtained from the ministry of Foreign Affairs. The certificate must be issued by a Registry Office (in Polish) and have a round seal of the office with a name stamp of the clerk and signature. A photocopy or printout from the EPUAP platform is not valid for an Apostille.

Submission within the European Union
Polish certificates of civil status (marriage, death and birth certificates) do not require an Apostille stamp when required for submission in another Member State of the European Union. For further information, see:
Regulation (EU) 2016/1191

Civil status certificates (multilingual extracts from the civil status registers)
Polish birth, marriage and death certificates) issued in accordance with the conventions of the International Commission on Civil and Civil Status should not require Apostille Stamps when being submitted to one of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cape Verde, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey.

Polish Criminal Record Certificates can be obtained from the National Criminal Register (Krajowy Rejestr Karny). Certificates can be obtained electronically (e-Platform MS - electronic signature required), in person or by post. A power of attorney can be granted (in Polish) allowing someone to apply on your behalf.

Certificates are issued in Polish, but a multilingual standard form is available for submission in other EU countries.

• National Criminal Register - electronic applications
• National Criminal Register - in-person and mailed applications
• National Criminal Register - FAQs

Depending on the type of document, Polish Apostilles can normally be obtained in 1 -2 business days

Polish university diplomas diploma supplements and transcripts (issued before 2005) can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp issued by NAWA - Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej). Degrees requiring authentication for non-apostille countries, such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, will need additional legalization by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs before they can be attested by the recipient embassy in Warsaw.

Polish school certificates, secondary school-leaving certificates, diplomas and certificates issued by regional examination boards can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp issued by the Ministry of National Education or Regional Examination Board.

Apostille on powers of attorney and affidavits signed in Poland can be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The power of attorney must be certified in Poland by a notary, and the notary's signature certified by the local district court.

Polish medical certificates can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The certificate must be pre-certified by the Ministry of Health.

Apostilles for Polish certificates of marital status can be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The certificate should be issued by a Polish Registry Office (in Polish)

You can see reviews from past clients who have used our attestation and apostille services:

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Official copies of Polish birth, death and marriage certificates can be obtained can be obtained online (in Polish) ( e-ID (in Polish) required), in person at any Registry Office (in Polish) (Urzędy Stanu Cywilnego) or by mail.

Copies of civil status records are available as digital and paper certificates, in Abbreviated and Complete form. A complete copy contains more information and is an exact reproduction of the original record with the addition of subsequent amendments and additions. Abbreviated copies are available as Multilingual Certificates, but in paper form only.

Polish degree certificates required for submission to the authorities of the United Arab Emirates must first be authenticated by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). Certified diplomas can then be legalized by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attested by the UAE embassy in Warsaw.

Polish university degrees required for submission to the authorities of Saudi Arabia can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). Since Saudi Arabia joined the Apostille Convention, attestation by the Saudi embassy and cultural Bureau is no longer required.

Polish university degrees required for submission to the authorities of China can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). Since China joined the Apostille Convention, attestation by the Chinese embassy is no longer required.

Apostilles are not required when submitting Polish certificates of marital status to the authorities of another Member State of the European Union.

A multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Polish authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority understand the certificate when in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.

EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)

Apostilles are not required when submitting Polish Criminal Record Certificates to another Member State of the European Union when the certificate is issued to a Polish national and when the criminal record is clean (no convictions). In other cases, the recipient Member State may require an Apostille.

EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)

Apostilles are not required when submitting Polish birth, death and marriage certificates to the authorities of another Member State of the European Union. A multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Polish authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority understand the certificate when in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.

EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)

Polish birth, marriage and death certificates (multilingual extracts from the civil status registers issued in accordance with the conventions of the International Commission on Civil and Civil Status) should not require Apostille Stamps when being submitted to countries that have acceded to the Vienna CIEC Convention. The following countries are contracting states of the Vienna Convention:
Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cape Verde, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey.

Polish criminal record certificates issued by the National Criminal Register do not have a specific period of validity and do not expire. However, many recipient authorities will require a recently issued criminal record in support of visa, residency or citizenship applications.

Polish criminal record certificates issued by the National Criminal Register (Krajowy Rejestr Karny) can be authenticated for submission aboard with an Apostille Stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Poland issues Abbreviated Birth Certificates (Polish or multilingual) and Complete Certificates (long form), which provide a full and exact reproduction of the original record with the addition of subsequent amendments and additions.

Translations of Polish documents can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Translations must be certified by a sworn translator authorized by the Polish Ministry of Justice.