Marriage certificate translation
Sworn translation of akt małżeństwa for registering or recognising a marriage at a Polish USC, a surname change and a spouse residence-card application.
A marriage certificate translation is needed when a Polish office must see the marriage date, surnames before and after, and the place of registration. USC and Urząd Wojewódzki accept only the sworn format.
Sworn marriage certificate translation for USC and residence card
How does a marriage certificate differ from a birth certificate?
It records the spouses and surname change, not a child’s birth.USC and UW look at the husband’s and wife’s surnames “before” and “after”, the date and the registering authority. A child’s birth certificate does not replace this — and vice versa.
When does USC ask for a translation before a wedding in Poland?
If a previous marriage was abroad or marital-status data are required.They often also ask for a marital-status certificate or a divorce document. Those are separate documents and separate orders — we do not merge them into one translation.
How are double surnames translated?
Literally, aligned with both spouses’ passports.Before we start we match the spelling in both travel passports. That keeps the residence card, PESEL and bank records consistent.
Do you need marriage transcription in Poland?
If you want a Polish akt małżeństwa in the USC register.Transcription usually needs a foreign odpis and a sworn translation. A multilingual short odpis is sometimes accepted without translation — we will check from the form.
What about a church certificate?
Offices usually need the civil act.We can translate a parish certificate, but UW and USC almost always require a civil akt małżeństwa from the issuing country’s civil registry / USC.
Apostille on a marriage certificate
Often for transcription and notarial acts.For a residence card an apostille on the marriage act is rarely required. For entry into the Polish USC register — check your office’s rule before ordering an apostille.
Languages for marriage certificate translation
We work both ways: a foreign document into Polish for offices in Poland, a Polish document into the destination-country language.
Documents from Ukraine for offices in Poland — the most common pair.
Soviet-era documents and those issued in Russia and Belarus.
Documents from the UK, Ireland, the USA, India and the UAE.
Polish documents for Ukrainian offices — certificates, extracts, rulings.
For foreign employers, universities and consulates.
For offices and banks in countries that require Russian.
Three types of translation — and when you need each
If the document goes to a public office — you need a sworn translation. Prices below are for Ukrainian, Russian and English; other languages are quoted separately.
Why marriage certificates are translated
Every scenario centres on the spouses’ surnames and marital status in Poland.
Entering a foreign marriage into the Polish register.
USCProof of marriage for the UW application.
Urząd WojewódzkiPassport, PESEL, bank, employer.
Urzędy, pracodawcaDeeds that require proof of marriage.
NotariuszApostille on a marriage certificate
An apostille is not needed “always”, but when an office verifies the authenticity of a foreign act — most often at USC transcription or certain notarial acts.
Who already ordered
All reviewsI sent a photo in the evening, had a PDF by morning, and the paper copy in Wrocław two days later. Urząd Wojewódzki accepted it without questions.
They asked to match the name spelling to the passport — I would not have thought of it. That is why the pack was accepted first time.
The amount quoted on Telegram did not change. Good when there are no “extra pages” at the end.
FAQ
These are the questions we hear most about this document.
Often yes if the marriage is current. If there was a previous divorced marriage, UW may also ask for the divorce document. That is a separate translation.