Disability certificate in Poland: how to get it, free, 3 degrees
Short answer: Apply free of charge to the county disability board with a form, a doctor's certificate and medical records. Expect a sitting within 1-2 months and the certificate within 14 days after it.
A disability certificate (orzeczenie o stopniu niepełnosprawności) is the document that opens the door to many rights in Poland, from extra leave at work and tax relief to a parking card and subsidies for rehabilitation equipment. It is free and it is issued by a local assessment board. This guide follows the government service page on gov.pl, last updated on 16 July 2026, as checked on 18 October 2026.
What the certificate is for
According to gov.pl, the certificate is formal confirmation that you are a person with a disability. It does not give you benefits automatically. You usually have to meet extra conditions for each one. The page lists, among others, additional leave, a shorter working day, care benefits, housing allowance, the parking card, subsidies for rehabilitation stays, equipment and removing barriers at home, tax relief and discounts on public transport.
Who can apply
You can apply if you are over 16, your body functions are impaired, and as a result you cannot work for pay or need an adapted workplace, you need help from other people, or you need devices for daily functioning, such as a prosthesis, a cochlear implant or an insulin pump. Meeting these conditions does not guarantee a certificate. The board examines how far your daily functioning is limited.
The person with the disability files the application if they are over 18. For a child or a person under legal guardianship, a parent, guardian or curator files it. The head of the social welfare centre can also file if the person agrees.
The page speaks about the place of permanent residence and does not address foreigners separately. It does not say which residence status is needed, so ask the board before you start.
What to prepare
* The application form, from the board or from its website if it publishes one. * A medical certificate on your health filled in by the doctor who treats you, on the form from the board. The page says it is valid for 3 months, and in another place that it must be filed within 30 days of issue. Because the page gives both figures, file it as soon as you can. * Medical records: hospital discharge summaries, outpatient records, test results and specialist consultations. * Other documents that may matter, for example a psychological and pedagogical opinion. * For the disability ID card (legitymacja): a separate application, the certificate and a photo of 35 x 45 mm.
Bring the originals if you leave photocopies.
Where to apply
You file with the county board for assessing disability (powiatowy zespół do spraw orzekania o niepełnosprawności) in the place of your permanent residence. If you stay elsewhere for more than 2 months, for example in a hospital or with family, you can use the board of the place of stay. The card is applied for at the city office or the county office where you live. The service costs nothing.
You can file the first application at any time. If you already have a certificate that is about to end, file at the earliest 30 days before it expires.
How long it takes
* The board writes with the date of the sitting within a month of a complete application, or within 2 months if the case is complicated. * Attendance at the sitting is obligatory. If you cannot come, explain within 14 days of the date, and the board sets a new one. If you do not explain, the board will not examine your case. * If your documents are enough, the board can issue the certificate without examining you, and a long illness can be proved with a doctor's certificate. * You get the certificate within 14 calendar days of the sitting, by post or in person.
The three degrees
* Significant (znaczny): you cannot work for pay or need an adapted workplace, and you are fully dependent on others for more than 12 months. * Moderate (umiarkowany): you cannot work for pay or need an adapted workplace, and you need temporary or partial help for more than 12 months. * Mild (lekki): serious limits in functioning, you can work only partly (for example half time), and you have trouble with daily tasks and need supporting devices.
The board can also decide that you do not qualify for any degree. The certificate can be issued permanently or for a set period.
If you disagree
You can appeal to the voivodeship board within 14 calendar days of receiving the certificate. Address it to the voivodeship board, but file it with the county board. If you still disagree, you can go to the labour and social insurance court within one month of receiving the voivodeship decision.
Reform on the way
The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy is working on a new model of assessment based on the international functioning classification (ICF). According to nowoczesneprawopracy.pl of 13 October 2026, online consultations run from 21 October to 13 November 2026, and the page stresses that this is a project, not binding law. The current system stays in place for now.
* Photos: ramp, Wikimedia Commons (CC0); stethoscope, Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost anything to get a disability certificate in Poland?
No. According to gov.pl, the service is free.
How long does the board take?
The sitting date arrives within a month of a complete application, or 2 months in complex cases, and the certificate within 14 calendar days after the sitting.
Can I appeal a decision I do not agree with?
Yes. You have 14 calendar days from receipt to appeal to the voivodeship board, and then one month to go to the labour and social insurance court.
Is the certificate the same as the parking card?
No. The parking card is a separate document issued on the basis of the certificate and other conditions.
