Passports – general information
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:
- entitles you to cross the border and stay abroad,
- confirms your Polish citizenship,
- confirms your identity (with regard to the data it contains).
If you are under 12, you get a passport that is valid for five years from the date of issue. If you are over 12, you get a passport that is valid for ten years from the date of its issue.
Long-term passports contain a microprocessor which registers their holders’ biometric data: facial image and fingerprints.
You can get a temporary passport if you:
- stay in Poland and abroad temporarily and want to return to your place of permanent residence,
- stay abroad and are waiting for the delivery of a passport issued in Poland (if you apply for such document),
- stay in Poland and abroad, in urgent cases of a family member's illness or funeral; you need to provide evidence of it,
- stay in Poland and abroad, in urgent cases related to your professional activities; you need to provide evidence of it,
- cannot have your fingerprints taken physically, and the impediment is temporary.
A temporary passport is valid no longer than twelve months since the date of its issue.
Important
Honorary consuls cannot issue passports.
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.