Poland in Australia

You can submit your application at a competent local Polish consular post.

Documents can be submitted in person or sent by post. 

You can book your appointment via the e-konsulat system.

Changes of name or surname can be made only by Polish citizens due to important reasons, especially when it concerns the following changes:

• to a name or last name that is humiliating or indecent;
• to a name or last name already in use;
• to a name or last name that has been illegally modified;
• to a name or last name, bore under the laws of the State of which nationality he possesses.                                                       

NOTE: If a person changed his/her last name due to marriage or returned to the maiden name after the divorce, the administrative procedure of changing the last name is not correct. In above mentioned cases, the correct procedure is registration of foreign marriage certificate in Polish Registry Office or obtaining Polish marriage certificate with information about the divorce and return to the maiden name.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IN CASE OF ADULTS

• Filled in application form;
• A document certifying Polish citizenship (a valid Polish passport or ID card or a presidential act granting Polish citizenship or a decision confirming Polish citizenship or an act of reinstatement of Polish citizenship);
• Polish or Australian passport;
• Original of Polish birth certificate;
• Original of Polish marriage certificate;
• Original document certifying the change of name or last name along with an apostille and official translation into Polish.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IN CASE OF MINORS

Both parents have to be present while submitting the application for changing the name or last name of their child.

• Filled in application form;
• A document certifying Polish citizenship (a valid Polish passport or ID card or a presidential act granting Polish citizenship or a decision confirming Polish citizenship);
• Israeli or Polish passport of the minor as well as of both of the parents;
• Original of Polish birth certificate of the minor;
• Original document certifying the change of name or last name along with an apostille and official translation into Polish;
• Original of Polish marriage certificate of the parents;
• Children who are at least 13 years old must fill in and sign a name change consent form.

Remember! Documents drawn up in a foreign language must be submitted with the official translation into Polish by:

• A sworn translator entered on a list kept by the Minister of Justice,
• A sworn translator authorised to make such translations in the member states of the European Union or the European Economic Area (EEA),
• A local translator and then certified by the consul. 

In Australia you can submit a translation prepared by a NAATI translator, which then will be certified by the consul. 

The fee is ​​​​​82 AUD.

The consul will immediately forward your application to the head of the Register Office of your choice. 

A Polish copy of the marriage certificate can be collected in person at the consulate or it can be sent by post.

The head of the Register Office will refuse to change the name in a form of an administrative decision which may be appealed with the competent provincial governor for the territory in question.