Marriage via the USA or a Polish court: the difference
Documents, timelines, the language of the ceremony and extra costs — we compare the two most popular ways for foreigners to get married in Poland.
Family · 2026-09-10 · 5 min read
Both options end the same way — with a Polish marriage certificate. But the path to it differs: in the number of documents, the waiting time and what the ceremony itself will look like.
Documents
- Through a court in Poland: international passports, a document confirming your legal stay (a card, a visa or PESEL UKR), a birth certificate with translation, and, if you were married before, the court's divorce decision with translation.
- Via the USA: only international passports.
Important for the court route: take care of the originals of all documents in advance. The documents you submit stay at the office and are not returned.
How long it takes
- Through a court: 4–11 months — from filing with the court for a waiver of the certificate of legal capacity to marry to the ceremony itself at the registry office (USC).
- Via the USA: the permission usually arrives the next day, the ceremony takes place within a week, and the online certificate arrives the day after it. The whole path to the Polish certificate takes roughly 3 months.
Language of the ceremony
- Through a court: you need to know Polish or have a sworn interpreter at the ceremony.
- Via the USA: we can hold the ceremony in Ukrainian, Russian, Polish or English.
Is your situation more complicated?
Get a consultation — we will sort it out together.
The ceremony
- Through a court: at a Polish USC (civil registry office) or an outdoor ceremony — from 1000 zł.
- Via the USA: there are several options — online, at our office with an arch and guests, or we can come to you in another city.
Marriage document and divorce
In both cases you receive a Polish marriage document. And if a divorce is ever needed, in both cases it goes through a Polish court.
Extra costs
- Through a court: notary services, duplicate documents and translations are paid separately.
- Via the USA: all necessary costs are included in the price of our support.
Tip: if speed and a minimum of documents matter to you, choose the USA. If you want a classic ceremony at a Polish USC and already have the documents in hand, choose the court.
Not sure which option suits you? Message us — we will look at your situation and suggest which route will be simpler in your particular case.
Is your situation more complicated?
Get a consultation — we will sort it out together.