Six competent authorities share Poland's apostille function — get it wrong and your document is invalid.
Overview
Poland has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 14 August 2005. Unlike many countries where a single authority handles all apostilles, Poland designates six separate competent authorities depending on the type of document. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Legalisations Section, ul. Krucza 38/42, Warsaw) handles the majority of civil and administrative documents. Court and prosecutor documents go to the Ministry of Justice. University diplomas and academic documents are handled by the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) since February 2018. School certificates go to school superintendents or regional exam commission directors. The apostille fee is PLN 60 per document, confirmed by the HCCH authority record (last updated April 2025). Because Poland is an EU member state, EU Regulation 2016/1191 on public documents also applies, exempting certain civil status documents issued between EU members from apostille requirements. Verified against hcch.net, gov.pl/dyplomacja, and nawa.gov.pl as of June 2026.
Poland's Apostille Competent Authorities — Who Issues What
| Document Type | Competent Authority | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Civil, administrative and most other documents | Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Legalisation Section | ul. Krucza 38/42, Warsaw; legalizacja@msz.gov.pl |
| University diplomas, academic degrees, post-grad certificates | National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) | ul. Polna 40, Warsaw; nawa.gov.pl |
| Vocational school & art school certificates | Ministry of Culture and National Heritage — Dept of Art & Culture Education | ul. Senatorska 27, Warsaw |
| School promotion/graduation certificates, primary/secondary schools | School Superintendents appropriate for the school's location | Regional curatorium offices |
| External exam certificates (matura, vocational) | Regional Exam Commission Directors | Applicable regional OKE |
| Documents issued by courts and prosecutors' offices | Ministry of Justice | ul. Al. Ujazdowskie 11, Warsaw |
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handle all apostilles in Poland?
No — this is the most common misconception. Poland has six designated competent authorities under the Hague Convention. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Legalisation Section, ul. Krucza 38/42, Warsaw) handles civil and most administrative documents. Court and prosecutor documents go to the Ministry of Justice. University diplomas and academic records go to NAWA (since February 2018). School certificates go to school superintendents or regional exam commission directors. Always identify your document type before applying. The HCCH authority record at hcch.net/en/states/authorities/details3/?aid=650 lists all six authorities.
How much does an apostille cost in Poland and how long does it take?
The official HCCH-confirmed fee is PLN 60 per document. Processing times are not legislatively guaranteed but the MFA Legalisation Section generally processes in-person submissions on the same or next working day. NAWA, which handles university diplomas, advises checking current turnaround times on its website (nawa.gov.pl) as they can vary. Submit to the correct authority — submitting to the wrong ministry will result in rejection and delay.
Do I need an apostille when sending a Polish document to another EU country?
Not necessarily. Under EU Regulation 2016/1191, which Poland implemented from 16 February 2019, certain public documents (birth, death, marriage, nationality, domicile and name certificates) are exempt from apostille requirements when circulating between EU member states. You can also request a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) to accompany the document, which eliminates the need for a certified translation within the EU. For non-EU destinations, an apostille from the correct Polish authority is still required.
Who must produce certified translations of foreign documents for Polish immigration applications?
Certified translations into Polish must be produced by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły) registered on the Minister of Justice's official list, searchable at tlumacze.ms.gov.pl. The translation must be stamped and signed by the sworn translator on every page. Translations produced by bilingual friends, lawyers without authorisation, or online services are not accepted by Polish public authorities, including voivodeship offices handling residence permit applications.
My home country is not a member of the Hague Convention — how do I legalise documents for use in Poland?
If your country is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents must go through full consular legalisation. The typical chain is: (1) notarisation or authentication by a competent authority in the issuing country; (2) authentication by that country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; (3) authentication by the Polish consulate or embassy in that country. Only after completing this chain should a Polish sworn translator produce a certified translation. Check the HCCH status table at hcch.net to confirm whether your country is a Hague member.
NAWA now issues apostilles for university diplomas — what changed in 2018?
Before February 2018, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education apostilled Polish university diplomas. That function was transferred to NAWA (National Agency for Academic Exchange) when NAWA was established. NAWA now apostilles diplomas of graduation (with supplements), copies and duplicates of diplomas, post-graduate certificates, and doctoral/postdoctoral diplomas awarded by authorised university units. The MFA no longer apostilles these documents. Contact NAWA at ul. Polna 40, Warsaw (apostille@nawa.gov.pl) for current procedures and processing times.