Child's passport in Poland: 30 zł, both parents' consent, mObywatel
Short answer: A parent or guardian applies at any passport office, with a photo, fee proof and the other parent consent. The fee is 30 zł (15 zł with Karta Dużej Rodziny) and it takes about a month.
A child who travels outside the EU needs a passport. Inside the EU a passport or an ID card is enough. This page explains how to get a passport for a child in Poland, based on two official pages: the gov.pl service "Uzyskaj paszport dla dziecka" (no date shown on the page) and a Ministry of Digital Affairs notice of 11 June 2026 about the mObywatel app. Both were read on 19 October 2026.
Who applies and what you need
The mother, the father, a legal guardian or a court-appointed guardian (kurator) applies. The child does not have to be present at the application or at pickup. You need:
- one current colour photo of the child, taken no earlier than 6 months before the application
- proof that the passport fee was paid (the fee is not refunded after the application is filed)
- the child's valid passport or ID card, if the child has one
- the Large Family Card (Karta Dużej Rodziny), if you have it
- consent of the other parent (see below)
If the child was born abroad, the page says to ask a Polish civil registry office to transcribe the foreign birth certificate. The clerk may ask for more documents, such as a copy of the Polish birth certificate or proof of citizenship, if there are doubts or conflicting data.
The consent of both parents
A passport for a child needs the consent of both parents or guardians. The other parent can give it in the office, through the "Wyraź zgodę na paszport" service, or as a written consent with a notarised signature. You do not need the consent at the moment of filing. The other parent can give it later, but the office will not process the application until the consent is in. If the other parent has lost or has limited parental rights, you need a document stating the scope of parental authority. If the parents disagree or one cannot be reached, you need a family court order.
Fee and waiting time
The fee on the gov.pl page is 30 zł, and 15 zł if the child has a valid Large Family Card. It is free if the child is in a social care home and travels abroad for long-term treatment or an operation, or if the passport has a technical defect. There is no single bank account for the fee. Each passport office says how to pay.
The page says the passport takes about a month. The Ministry of Digital Affairs notice says the same, about 30 days, and says a passport for a child under 12 is usually issued for 5 years. For an urgent case, such as the child's illness, you can ask for a temporary passport, which is issued faster and is valid up to 365 days. You can apply at any passport office in Poland.
Applying in the mObywatel app
The ministry notice of 11 June 2026 says that a parent, guardian or curator can now file the application for a child or ward under 12 in the mObywatel app. The app can fill in data from the PESEL register, choose an ordinary or a temporary passport, and choose where to pick it up, in Poland or abroad. The other parent can confirm consent in their own app, signing with a trusted profile (profil zaufany). You can also see or withdraw consents there. The fee proof is attached as a bank transfer confirmation, and a few voivodeship offices offer online payment.
The notice says the services are for app users whose identity was confirmed with a document such as mDowód, a temporary protection document or a student ID, and who have an active trusted profile and an e-Delivery mailbox.
* Photos: cover "1932 Official Polish passport issued by the Foreign Ministry in Warsaw" and body "1918 Polish consular validation of a passport", both historic images in the public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
What the sources do not say
The pages do not say whether a child with foreign citizenship, or with only one Polish parent, follows the same route. They do not cover applying from abroad at a consulate, which has its own fees, and they do not say whether foreign parents can use the mObywatel service. The gov.pl page shows no date, so confirm the fee with your passport office. This page covers children under 12 in the app. Passports for older children follow other rules that were not checked here.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a child's passport in Poland?
The gov.pl page gives 30 zł, or 15 zł with a valid Large Family Card.
Do I need both parents' consent?
Yes. The other parent can consent in the office, in mObywatel or by a notarised written consent. Without it the application is not processed.
How long does it take?
About a month. A temporary passport, valid up to 365 days, is faster.
