A child of Polish parents born in the UK usually has Polish citizenship. For the Polish authorities the child is then Polish, even if they also have a British passport. The Polish Embassy reminds parents that such a child should enter and leave Poland on a Polish document.
Step by step
- Transcription of the birth certificate, i.e. entering the British certificate into the Polish civil register. The child then receives a PESEL number.
- Book an appointment for a passport through e-konsulat: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast or at a consular outreach day.
- The visit with the child, a photo and the fee. A passport for a child under 12 is valid for 5 years and costs £40.
- Activate the passport online after collecting it.
What it means for you
- Planning Christmas in Poland? Consulate appointments can be a long way off, so start now.
- Without a Polish document a child may have trouble leaving Poland.
Our assessment
The embassy says queues are usually shortest in autumn. Parents thinking of travelling for Christmas have their last good window.
What to do
- Book an appointment at e-konsulat.
- Check the requirements on the embassy website.
Source: Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London – statement of 7.10.2026, statement of 18.09.2026.
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