Poland
Apostille in Poland
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in Poland, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Joined later (accession), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legalisation Section (Referat ds. Legalizacji), most Polish public documents, such as civil status records, sworn translations, criminal record certificates, company register extracts and notarial or court documents that were first certified by the competent court2 National Agency for Academic Exchange (Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej, NAWA), documents issued for the course or completion of higher education studies, such as diplomas and diploma supplements2 Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Department of Art Education (Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego), certificates and diplomas of art schools2 Ministry of National Education (Ministerstwo Edukacji Narodowej), school superintendents (kurator oświaty) and directors of regional examination boards, school certificates: the Ministry for school leaving certificates and diplomas of schools named in the education law, the school superintendent for other school documents, and the examination board director for external exam certificates2 |
| Fee | PLN 60 (per certified document (stamp duty))2checked 18 October 2026 About €13.73 for the first fee listed, at the European Central Bank reference rate of 16 October 2026. Compare costs |
| Processing time | In person, the request is handled during the visit when no extra certification from another office is needed, with a limit of 10 documents per person per day; by post, requests are handled within 30 days of arrival at the ministry2checked 18 October 2026 |
| Documents covered | 11 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in Poland
Check whether your type of document needs another office to certify it first, for example the regional court for notarial and court documents or the National Chamber of Commerce for commercial documents.2
Prepare the original document and the application form; a photocopy or a printout from the ePUAP platform cannot get an apostille.2
Pay the stamp duty of 60 PLN per document by bank transfer, at a post office or at the cashier of the Warsaw city office, and keep the confirmation, because payment at the ministry is not possible.2
To apply in person, book a visit in the e-Konsulat system and bring the printed visit confirmation, the documents, the form and the payment confirmation.2
To apply by post, send the originals, the form and the payment confirmation to the Legalisation Section at al. Szucha 23 in Warsaw, and do not send cash.2
If you live outside Poland, the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, name a delivery agent in Poland, because documents are returned by registered letter only to addresses in those places.2
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Civil status records with the round seal of the registry office, the name stamp of the registrar and a signature2
- Sworn translations (the original, not a photocopy)2
- Notarial documents certified first by the regional court2
- Court documents certified first by the president of the regional court2
- Commercial documents certified first by the National Chamber of Commerce or a regional chamber2
- Criminal record certificates2
- Extracts from the National Court Register (KRS) with the register's seal and an employee's signature2
- Extracts from the business activity register (CEIDG) with the ministry's seal and an employee's signature2
- Medical qualification documents certified first by the Ministry of Health2
- Master craftsman diplomas and journeyman certificates certified first by the Polish Crafts Association2
- Other public documents that carry the office seal, a signature and the name stamp of an authorised employee2
More about these documents: criminal record certificate, university degree certificate, court judgment, company registration certificate, certified copy of a document, sworn or certified translation.
Contacts
Who to contact in Poland
- Apostille officeMinistry of Foreign Affairs, Legalisation Section (Referat ds. Legalizacji)2Most Polish public documents, such as civil status records, sworn translations, criminal record certificates, company register extracts and notarial or court documents that were first certified by the competent courtlegalizacja@msz.gov.pl
- Apostille officeNational Agency for Academic Exchange (Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej, NAWA)2Documents issued for the course or completion of higher education studies, such as diplomas and diploma supplementsapostille@nawa.gov.pl
- Apostille officeMinistry of Culture and National Heritage, Department of Art Education (Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego)2Certificates and diplomas of art schoolsdsa@kultura.gov.pl
- Apostille officeMinistry of National Education (Ministerstwo Edukacji Narodowej), school superintendents (kurator oświaty) and directors of regional examination boards2School certificates: the Ministry for school leaving certificates and diplomas of schools named in the education law, the school superintendent for other school documents, and the examination board director for external exam certificateskancelaria@men.gov.pl
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in Poland
A document issued in Poland
The apostille comes from Poland, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with Poland.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in Poland
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in Poland. Poland accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Note: Rule
Documents about a direct commercial transaction or a customs operation cannot get an apostille under the Convention.2
Note: Rule
The ministry does not legalise a chamber of commerce certificate that only says a copy matches the original.2
Note: Rule
Under EU Regulation 2016/1191 an authority in the EU cannot require an apostille for certain documents from another EU state, such as birth, death, marriage, residence, citizenship or no criminal record documents.2
Note: Rule
The apostille is a printed sticker with a handwritten signature of the issuing civil servant, a seal of the office and a hologram.2
Before the apostille
Private documents
A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about apostilles in Poland
Does Poland accept apostilles?
Yes. Poland has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 14 August 2005, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in Poland?
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legalisation Section (Referat ds. Legalizacji) (most Polish public documents, such as civil status records, sworn translations, criminal record certificates, company register extracts and notarial or court documents that were first certified by the competent court), National Agency for Academic Exchange (Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej, NAWA) (documents issued for the course or completion of higher education studies, such as diplomas and diploma supplements), Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Department of Art Education (Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego) (certificates and diplomas of art schools) and Ministry of National Education (Ministerstwo Edukacji Narodowej), school superintendents (kurator oświaty) and directors of regional examination boards (school certificates: the Ministry for school leaving certificates and diplomas of schools named in the education law, the school superintendent for other school documents, and the examination board director for external exam certificates).
How much does an apostille cost in Poland?
PLN 60 (per certified document (stamp duty)). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in Poland?
The office says: In person, the request is handled during the visit when no extra certification from another office is needed, with a limit of 10 documents per person per day; by post, requests are handled within 30 days of arrival at the ministry.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. An apostille only works in other member countries. Countries outside the Convention use a different process, usually called legalisation. The office that receives your document decides what it accepts.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Apostille - Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych - Portal Gov.pl
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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