The passport, including the Polish passport of course, is a document which proves a person’s citizenship and identity. It is true that currently within the European Union and the Schengen area we can travel without it, but it will undoubtedly be necessary when traveling outside the European community.
When planning a trip abroad, regardless of the purpose – whether it is a business trip, a tourist trip, or a family visit – a passport is an essential document which should always be in our suitcase. The passport is an official document issued by the relevant state authorities, authorizing the crossing of borders and legal residence in other countries. The passport thus acts as a kind of pass, opening the door to discovering new places, learning about different cultures and enjoying unforgettable travel experiences. Therefore, below we will explain how to apply for a Polish passport, what documents are required, how much it costs and how long it takes to get one. If you need even more in-depth knowledge, we encourage you to visit https://fivetoeurope.com/polish-passport-application/, where you will find detailed information on how to apply for a Polish passport.
Who can apply for a Polish passport?
Anyone who holds Polish citizenship may apply for a Polish passport. It does not matter whether they live in Poland or abroad. Polish citizenship, on the other hand, can be obtained in several ways, such as birth, bestowal or restoration.
It is also worth mentioning at this point that persons with dual citizenship or living temporarily in another country may, of course, apply for a passport, but some countries often have specific requirements or restrictions on the issue of passports in such situations.
What types of passports are there?
Depending on your age and destination, you can apply for one of three types of passport:
– Ordinary passport – is valid for 10 years for adults and five years for minors. It can be used for private as well as business purposes.
– Temporary passport – is valid for one year and is issued in emergency situations, such as when there is no time to obtain an ordinary passport or when a passport has been lost or stolen. It may be restricted to certain countries or regions. Currently it can even be produced just before a flight at Warsaw Chopin Airport.
– Diplomatic passport – is valid for 5 years and is issued to persons holding state functions or representing Poland internationally.
What documents are required?
In order to apply for a Polish passport, you must first apply to the relevant office (depending on where you live) and submit the relevant documents. These primarily include:
– Identity card or other document proving identity and citizenship.
– One recent passport photo of 35×45 mm, meeting the specified criteria. It is worth remembering that such a photo must not be older than 6 months prior to submission of the application.
– Proof of payment of stamp duty for the issue of the passport – if, in turn, you benefit from a discount, you should also enclose a document confirming this right.
In addition, in some cases other documents may be required, such as:
– birth or marriage certificate registered within Civil Registry Office in Poland
– decision on confirming, granting, restoring or losing Polish citizenship,
– certificate of change of surname,
– consent of the other parent to the issue of a passport to the child,
– court decision on the restriction or termination of parental rights.
What is the procedure for applying for a Polish passport?
Once you have submitted your application and documents to the office, you must wait for them to be checked and processed. During this time, we can check the status of the application on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration or by telephone.
After a certain period of time (from 10 days to 6 weeks), you can collect your passport at the office. You should bring your identity card and your old Polish passport (if you had one). When you collect it, you will also need to check that the details in your passport are correct and sign the personal details page.
What are the costs of applying for a Polish passport?
The stamp duty for issuing a passport depends on the type of passport and the age of the applicant. If you apply in Poland, currently, it is respectively:
– PLN 140 for an ordinary passport for an adult,
– PLN 70 for an ordinary passport for a minor,
– PLN 30 for a temporary passport,
– no fee for a diplomatic passport.
The fee must be paid before submitting the application, e.g. by bank transfer, payment card or cash at the office cash desk.
Who can apply for a discount? The 50 per cent discount can be used by:
– school pupils and students,
– pensioners, pensioners and disabled persons,
– persons supported by a spouse who is a pensioner or a disabled person,
– persons living in a social welfare home,
– recipients of permanent social assistance benefits,
– parents or spouses of a parent in a large family, holders of a nationwide Large Family Card
A discount of up to 75% is available to:
– persons under the age of 26 who are studying and are children from a large family holding a nationwide Large Family Card,
– children with disabilities from a large family, also holding a nationwide Large Family Card.
Finally, they do not have to pay at all for the issuance of a passport:
– persons who are over 70 years of age,
– people in nursing homes or care institutions who have traveled abroad for long-term treatment or surgery,
– persons receiving a permanent social assistance allowance who have traveled abroad for long-term treatment or surgery,
– persons whose passport has a technical defect,
– soldiers assigned to serve abroad, although it should be noted that this does not apply to professional soldiers.
