Poland in Ethiopia

You can apply for a child’s passport at any Polish consular post. Please remember that you apply for and collect the child's new passport at the same consular post.

The passport application for a child can be submitted in person by:

• the child’s mother and father or legal guardian or attorney ad litem

or

• one of the parents if they present: 

- a written consent of the other parent to issue a passport to the child with the signature authenticated by a notary;

- a final and non-appealable court ruling terminating, restricting or suspending parental rights under which the other parent (guardian) has no right to make decisions about issuing a passport to the child, or
- a final and non-appealable family court ruling in which the court consents to the issue of a passport for a child without the other parent's consent.

Furthermore, the consent is not required if: 

- the full copy of a Polish birth certificate states that the father of the child is unknown (there was no recognition of fatherhood or judicial establishment of paternity);  

- the other parent is deceased.

If the other parent’s death was registered in Poland, you do not need to submit a copy of the death certificate (a consular officer will confirm the details contained in the certificate in a Polish register of births, marriages and deaths). 

If the other parent’s death was not registered in Poland, you must submit a copy of the foreign death certificate.

PLEASE NOTE: The other parent who cannot be present when submitting the application can give their consent to issue a passport for a child by:

- sending a letter with their consent to the consular post, signed with a qualified electronic signature, trusted signature, or personal signature;

- using the e-service:  Consent to the issue of a passport for a child;

- registering their consent electronically with any passport authority in or outside Poland (consul).

A child under 5 does not need to be present when you submit the application.

You can book your appointment to apply for a passport via email: addisabeba.konsul@msz.gov.pl. 

During your appointment at the consular post, you will make an electronic application for a child’s passport to be issued by a Polish consul. A consular employee will fill in the electronic form, while the parents confirm the child’s details and consent to issue the passport by signing on the designated device (Signature Pad).

• The child’s biometric colour photo—read what the photo should look like.

PLEASE NOTE: You must attach a photo to the application. If you do not attach the photo or if it does not meet the requirements, the consul will not accept your application.

• A valid passport or ID card (if issued) confirming the child’s identity and Polish nationality.
• The parents’ valid passports or ID cards.

If the child does not have the PESEL number, before applying for a passport you must transcribe (register) their foreign birth certificate. The child cannot receive a passport without the PESEL number.

NOTE: In case of reasonable doubts as to the identity or the nationality of the child or other details necessary to file the passport application, the consul may request that you submit additional documents.  

The issuance fees you can see here. 

The fees must be paid at the consular post when submitting the application.

Accepted forms of payment: cash.

When you apply for a passport, a consular employee will give you an estimated collection date. You will also receive a written confirmation of application receipt. On the receipt you will find the child's passport application number, which is useful if you want to track the application online.

If you need an ID document for the child urgently, for example because of a coming trip, you should also apply for a temporary passport that will cover the waiting time for the delivery of the biometric passport. You will get it sooner than the biometric one.

Remember! If you are planning to take the child abroad with the temporary passport, check current rules of entry and stay of foreigners in the country of destination. Make sure that the child can cross the border with the temporary passport and check the required validity period (at entry and departure).

Either of the parents (guardians) can collect the child’s passport in person at the same consular post where the application was submitted.

More information on when to collect the passport will be provided by the embassy staff.

When collecting the new document, bring the child’s previous valid passport or temporary passport to the consulate. The child’s previous passport will be annulled and physically cancelled, except for pages with valid visas, and then returned.

PLEASE NOTE: The consul may agree that you do not have to collect the passport personally. Discuss this as you submit the application. You will have to cover the delivery costs.

The consul will send the passport to the indicated address by mail or courier, ensuring the security of the document. The consul will annul the current valid passport of the child before the new document is sent. 

PLEASE NOTE: If you receive a passport by mail or courier, you must confirm the receipt of the passport and activate it via a dedicated electronic service. 

To confirm the receipt of the passport and activate it, you will need:

• Internet access,
• the child’s passport series and number,
• the 16-digit passport application number (you will find it in the proof of receipt of your passport application).

PLEASE NOTE: The consul does not send passports to persons staying outside the consular district in which the application was filed. is also not possible to send a passport issued by a domestic passport authority (province governor) to a person staying outside Poland.

How to obtain the first passport for a child born outside Poland?

First, you must transcribe the child's foreign birth certificate to obtain a full copy of a Polish birth certificate. The Polish birth certificate is necessary to obtain the PESEL number which is then entered in a biometric passport.

How to obtain the PESEL number?

The consul applies for the PESEL number in connection with a passport application for a child who is not yet a PESEL holder. Please remember that the consul does not apply for the PESEL number to be issued under any other circumstances besides the issue of a passport or temporary passport.

What if one parent cannot apply in person?

The parent who cannot apply in person may consent to the issue of the passport by writing a relevant statement of consent on paper. The signature on the statement must be authenticated by a notary or a passport authority (consul, province governor).  It is also possible for a parent to give their consent in writing, recorded in the electronic form and signed with a qualified electronic signature, trusted signature, or personal signature. You can find a template for written consent to issue a passport for a child at the website of the competent passport office. The consent may also be given in person before a Polish consul or at any passport office in Poland.  Furthermore, parents with a trusted profile can provide their consent online: consent to issue a passport for a child.

Can the consul refuse to issue a passport?

The consul refuses to issue a passport for a minor when:

• based on the submitted documents and available registers, the consul could not confirm the authenticity of personal data to be included in the minor's passport, provided in the passport application;
• based on the submitted documents and available registers, the consul could not confirm the Polish citizenship of the minor;
• you have not paid the required passport fee;
• the mother / father did not consent to issue a passport or a relevant court ruling has not been provided.

The consul refuses to issue a passport by way of a decision. You can appeal against the decision to the Minister of the Interior through the consul. You have 14 days to lodge an appeal from the date of the delivery of the decision.