Poland in the UK

Polish nationals who are abroad can have their passports issued by a consul. The consul issues two types of passports: long-term passports and temporary passports. 

A valid passport:

1. allows you to cross borders and stay abroad;
2. confirms your Polish citizenship, 
3. confirms your identity (with regard to details listed in the document).

• If you are under 12, you get a passport valid for 5 years from the date of issue.
• If you are over 12, you get a passport valid for 10 years from the date of its issue.
• Long-term passports contain a microprocessor. It stores your biometric data: facial image and fingerprints. 

A temporary passport may be issued to persons:

• staying outside the territory of the Republic of Poland (if they so wish and file an application for such document to be issued);
• whose fingerprints cannot be physically taken and this obstacle is temporary;
• in urgent situations:

- to return to the place of residence,
- related to their illness (an evidence to be provided),
- related to illness or burial of a family member (an evidence to be provided),
- related to professional activities (an evidence to be provided),
- related to compulsory education of persons who do not have capacity for legal transactions or have limited capacity for legal transactions and are under 18 years of age, to the development of their individual skills, or to provide care to such persons if necessary;

IMPORTANT! A temporary passport is valid for the period stated therein, but not longer than for 365 days from the date of issue.

IMPORTANT! Honorary consuls cannot issue passports.

IMPORTANT! When you are planning a trip abroad, you should read the rules for entry and stay of foreigners in the country of your destination to check the required validity of your passport and whether it is possible to enter using a temporary passport.