Apostille on a Marriage Certificate in Poland

You’re married — in Poland, Georgia, Denmark, the USA, or anywhere else. You have the marriage certificate in hand. And then you discover that the document alone isn’t enough: to use it in another country, you need an apostille. What that is, where to get it, and how much it costs — explained clearly and without unnecessary legal jargon.

VisaV.pl handles apostilles on marriage certificates and other documents end to end — for clients based in Poland, Ukraine, and beyond.

Need an Apostille on a Marriage Certificate or Another Document? VisaV.pl will arrange the apostille end to end without queues or unnecessary steps

Leave a request and we’ll check your document, identify the right authority, and manage the entire process from start to receiving the apostilled document.

What Is an Apostille and Why Is It Needed?

An apostille is a special stamp or certificate attached to an official document that confirms its authenticity for use in a foreign country. It’s the international legalisation standard established by the Hague Convention of 1961.

Simply put: without an apostille, your Polish marriage certificate is just a piece of paper to foreign institutions. With an apostille — it’s an official international document accepted in more than 120 countries worldwide.

An apostille confirms the authenticity of the signature, seal, and position of the person who signed the document — not the content itself. It is not a translation and does not replace one.

Important exception: between EU member states, apostilles on civil status documents (marriage, birth, death certificates) are often no longer required since February 2019 under EU Regulation 2016/1191. But for using a Polish document in Ukraine, the USA, Georgia, or other countries outside the EU — an apostille is mandatory.

When Is an Apostille on a Marriage Certificate Required?

After an online marriage through the USA (Utah)

An online marriage in Utah produces an American marriage certificate. To register this marriage in Poland or Ukraine, the certificate must be apostilled in the USA (through the Utah Department of State) and translated by a sworn translator. Without the apostille, neither the Polish nor Ukrainian civil registry will accept the document.

After a wedding in Georgia

A Georgian marriage certificate is a valid document, but to use it in Poland or Ukraine an apostille from the Georgian Ministry of Justice is required. VisaV.pl organises apostilles on Georgian documents remotely.

After a wedding in Denmark

The Danish marriage certificate is already issued in five languages and is recognised in most countries. But for official use outside the EU (for example in Ukraine), an apostille from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Legalisation Office is needed. Processing time: 7–10 working days.

Polish certificate for use in Ukraine

If you got married in Poland through the Polish USC and want to register that marriage in Ukraine — the Polish marriage certificate needs an apostille. Apostilles on Polish civil status documents (RACS certificates) are issued by the voivodeship administration offices.

Apostille on a RACS certificate for use in Poland

The reverse situation: if you have a Ukrainian marriage certificate and want to use it in Poland for legalization, name change, or confirming marital status — the apostille is placed by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. The fee in 2026: UAH 670 for individuals.

For a name change after marriage

When changing a name in documents of a foreign country (for example, in Ukraine after a marriage in Poland) — an apostilled marriage certificate is a mandatory document for the civil registry or migration authorities.

For a residence card through family reunification

When applying for a residence card in Poland through marriage — if the certificate was issued abroad, the voivodeship office requires an apostille and a sworn translation. Without these, the document package won’t be accepted.

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Elizaveta Zaderey

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A common mistake: a couple marries in Georgia, returns to Poland, and submits a copy of the Georgian certificate without an apostille to the Polish USC for marriage registration. The office returns the documents. The couple then has to go back for the apostille — which costs time. VisaV.pl always checks for the apostille before submitting any documents to official authorities.

Where and How to Get an Apostille in Poland?

Poland has no single authority for all apostille types. The competent authority depends on the document type:

Civil status documents (marriage, birth, death, divorce certificates) — apostille issued by the voivodeship administration office (urząd wojewódzki)
Educational documents (degrees, certificates) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland
Court documents and rulings — Ministry of Justice of Poland
Notarial acts — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland

Cost of apostille in Poland: from PLN 60 per document depending on the authority and document type. Processing: from a few days to 2–3 weeks.

Practical advice: an apostille can only be placed on an original document or an officially certified copy — not a regular photocopy. Make sure you have the original certificate or an official duplicate before approaching the apostille authority.

Apostille and Translation: Which Comes First?

The correct order is:

First obtain the apostille on the original document
Then provide the apostilled document to a sworn translator
The translator translates the full document including the apostille text

If you get a translation before the apostille, the apostille text itself (added afterwards) won’t be included in the translation. Most authorities require the translation to cover the entire document including the apostille as a single unit.

Apostille End to End From VisaV.pl: Document Types We Handle

VisaV.pl helps with apostilles not only on marriage certificates but across a wide range of document types. The most common requests from our clients:

Civil status documents

Marriage certificate — Polish, Ukrainian, Georgian, Danish, American
Birth certificate
Death certificate
Divorce certificate
Name change certificate

Educational documents

University degree + supplement
School-leaving certificate + supplement
Academic transcripts and certificates

Legal and administrative documents

Criminal record certificate
Court divorce ruling
Notarially certified documents
Residence registration certificates

Business documents

KRS or CEIDG extract
Company incorporation documents
Licences and permits

VisaV.pl organises apostilles end to end: we check the document, identify the correct authority, submit on your behalf, and receive the completed apostille. If needed, we arrange a sworn translation in the same package. You don’t have to figure out which institution is responsible for what.

Need an Apostille on a Document or a Full Package? VisaV.pl organises the apostille and translation without queues or extra steps

Leave a request and we’ll check your document, identify the right authority and timeline, and arrange the apostille on your behalf with full support.

Frequently Asked Questions

The government fee is from PLN 60 per document. VisaV.pl service fees for arranging the apostille — please inquire at consultation based on document type and timeline.

From a few working days to 2–3 weeks depending on the authority and current workload. VisaV.pl knows where and how to submit for the fastest possible result.

Between EU member states, apostilles on civil status documents are often not required since 2019. But for countries outside the EU — Ukraine, the USA, Georgia — it is mandatory.

An apostille can only be placed on an original or officially certified copy. A regular photocopy is not accepted.

First obtain a duplicate from the authority that issued the original. Then apostille the duplicate. VisaV.pl also helps with obtaining duplicate civil registry documents.

Yes. A Georgian marriage certificate must be apostilled at the Georgian Ministry of Justice and translated by a sworn translator into Polish.

At the voivodeship administration office (urząd wojewódzki) of the region where the document was issued or where you reside.

The apostille itself has no expiry date. But some institutions may require a document apostilled within a certain recent period — always check the requirements of the specific authority.

Yes. VisaV.pl arranges apostilles on civil registry documents — marriage, birth, divorce, death, and name change certificates — through the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, remotely.

No. The apostille is translated together with the main document as a single text. The translator translates the entire document including the apostille.