Sue online in Poland: the e-court (EPU) fees and how it works
Short answer: Poland's e-court in Lublin handles money claims online at e-sad.gov.pl. You need a PESEL. The fee is PLN 30 for claims up to 1,500 and 1.25% above PLN 20,000. An objection to an order is free.
A client has not paid your invoice, a landlord keeps a deposit, or a company ignores a clear debt. In Poland you can sue for a sum of money online, without going to court, through the electronic order for payment procedure (elektroniczne postępowanie upominawcze, EPU). It is handled by a single court for the whole country. This guide explains who can use it, what it costs as of October 2026, what a foreigner needs, and what to do if you are on the receiving end.
What the e-court is
According to the gov.pl service page, a claim filed over the internet in the EPU is heard by the only nationwide e-court in Poland: the District Court Lublin-West in Lublin (Sąd Rejonowy Lublin-Zachód w Lublinie). Appeals go to the Regional Court in Lublin. You file by creating an account and logging in at e-sad.gov.pl. The Ministry of Justice notes that the procedure has existed since 1 January 2010 and that the place of residence of the parties does not matter to the e-court.
The idea is simple: for a clear money claim the court can issue an order for payment (nakaz zapłaty) based on the claim form, without a hearing. The defendant can object.
Who can use it
The gov.pl page says that anyone with a PESEL number can use the service, including individuals, sole traders and proxies. For an expat this has a practical meaning: if you have a PESEL, you can open an account. If you do not, the page does not describe another route, so ask a lawyer or the court.
An older, undated court guide for claimants published by the Krosno regional court adds some limits. Treat them as indicative, since rules change and the guide mentions technical details that look dated:
- it covers money claims;
- the order cannot be issued if the claim is manifestly unfounded, the facts raise doubts, the claim depends on a reciprocal performance, or the defendant's place of residence is unknown or the order could not be delivered in Poland, for example because the defendant lives abroad permanently;
- in those cases the e-court sends the case to the ordinary court competent for the defendant.
Check the live rules on e-sad.gov.pl before relying on any of this.
What you need to prepare
From the gov.pl page:
- the parties' details, including addresses and PESEL, NIP or other identification numbers;
- a list of evidence, such as contracts and invoices;
- the reasoning for the claim;
- a bank account number.
The page says you do not attach documents to the form. You describe the evidence, and filling in the form takes about 30 minutes.
What to do, step by step
- Create an account in the EPU system.
- Log in and fill in the claim form.
- Sign the claim, either with the simple signature available in the system or with a qualified signature.
- Pay the court fee. The page says the fee can only be paid through the system, and once it is paid the claim goes to the court automatically.
Court fee
The gov.pl page gives the fee as dependent on the value of the dispute:
- up to PLN 1,500: PLN 30;
- over PLN 1,500 to 4,000: PLN 50;
- over PLN 4,000 to 7,500: PLN 100;
- over PLN 7,500 to 10,000: PLN 125;
- over PLN 10,000 to 15,000: PLN 188;
- over PLN 15,000 to 20,000: PLN 250;
- over PLN 20,000 up to PLN 2,000,000: 1.25% of the value;
- above PLN 2,000,000: PLN 25,000.
The minimum is PLN 30. The page cites the Act on court costs in civil cases (Journal of Laws 2025, item 1228) and the Code of Civil Procedure (Journal of Laws 2026, item 468).
How long it takes
The page says the time depends on how complex the case is and how busy the court is, and gives an average wait of 49 days for an order for payment in 2025. That is an average, not a promise.
If you receive an order for payment
The gov.pl service for defendants says you can file an objection (sprzeciw) to an order for payment issued in the EPU. You need your login details and the access code you received from the court. You can file online, or on paper to the District Court Lublin-West, 6th Civil Division, ul. Boczna Lubomelskiej 13, 20-070 Lublin. Filing an objection is free. The Krosno guide says the objection does not need reasons or evidence, but that you should state your defences in it, and that a properly filed objection cancels the order and sends the case to the ordinary court. The deadline to object is stated in the order itself, so read it the day it arrives and act quickly.
Practical tips
- Check that the defendant's PESEL or NIP and address are correct. The claimant guide explains that PESEL or NIP are required so the right person is identified and the case is not run against someone with a similar name.
- Keep contracts, invoices and messages in order, since you list them in the form.
- A court order is not the same as getting paid. Collecting from a debtor who does not pay may involve a bailiff.
- For help deciding if a claim is worth filing, free legal aid is available in Poland.
* Photos: Prosecutor's office building in Lubartów and a government building in Lublin, Wikimedia Commons (public domain and CC0). Illustrative.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sue someone in Poland online?
Yes, for money claims, through the electronic order for payment procedure at e-sad.gov.pl. The gov.pl page says anyone with a PESEL can use it.
How much does it cost?
From PLN 30 for claims up to PLN 1,500, up to 1.25% of the value for claims over PLN 20,000, as listed on gov.pl. Objecting to an order is free.
How long does an order for payment take?
gov.pl reports an average of 49 days in 2025. It depends on the case and the court's workload.
I received an order for payment. What now?
File an objection online with your login and the court's access code, or on paper to the Lublin court. The deadline is in the order itself.
