How to renew a Polish passport in the UK (embassy addresses & application)

Living or staying in the UK and in need of a Polish passport renewal? The Polish passport is valid for 10 years, however there will inevitably come a moment when it approaches its validity date and you will need to have the passport renewed.

In our step-by-step guide we explain how to renew a Polish passport in the UK. We will look at the necessary documents, renewal fees, processing time and pick-up process for a Polish passport renewal.

How to renew your Polish passport in the UK

You can apply to renew your Polish passport in the UK at any consular office of the Republic of Poland. The consular offices of Poland in the UK are listed below:

• the Polish Embassy in London (Consular Section)

• the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Manchester

• the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh  

• the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Belfast

Remember that you will collect your new passport at the same office where you submit your application. You must submit your passport renewal application in person (because your fingerprints will be taken at the moment of application, it is not possible to renew your Polish passport online or through the post), and you can schedule an appointment for your passport renewal application online using the e-consulate system (there is no option for booking an appointment online or through the phone).

Looking for more tips for your passport application? Look no further:

Documents to submit to renew your Polish passport in the UK

Below you will find a list of basic documents that you need to prepare in order to get your Polish passport renewed while in the UK:

• A completed application for a passport or temporary passport issued by the Polish consul, which you can obtain at the consulate or download from the consulate’s website (to be found here).

• A passport photo in colour of the size of 3.5 x 4.5 cm, or 35 x 45 mm.

Additionally, depending on your situation you might be required to submit the following documents:

• If your name was changed as a result of getting married abroad – an abbreviated or full copy of the Polish marriage certificate.

• If you do not have a PESEL number – an abbreviated or complete copy of your Polish birth certificate.

• If you do not have a PESEL number and you got married, an abbreviated or complete copy of your Polish marriage certificate (this document must be submitted by women and men – regardless of whether there was a change of surname in connection with the marriage or whether the surname did not change).

• A document confirming your right to a passport fee reduction (for example, a student ID card).

If your identity and citizenship cannot be established on the basis of the data contained in the documents submitted, or the data contained in the records and registers available to the consul, or if this data raises doubts or there are discrepancies in it, the consul may ask you to submit additional documents, e.g:

• an abbreviated or full copy of your Polish birth certificate,

• an abbreviated or complete copy of your Polish marriage certificate,

• a voivode’s decision confirming your Polish citizenship,

• a valid foreign identity document.

When submitting the application, have your current passport (or temporary passport, as applicable) with you, even if it is no longer valid. You can continue to use it until you receive your new passport. The old passport will be cancelled on the day you pick up your new passport.

If you have never had a passport, have your Polish ID card with you, even if it is no longer valid.

Renewing a Polish passport in the UK- fees

The basic fee for renewing a Polish passport is £94, which you should pay at the cashiers office when submitting your application. Acceptable forms of payment include cash, credit and debit cards, and in the case of the Consular Section of the Polish Embassy in London – cheque. 

The fee can be cut by 50% if:

• you are a pupil or student,

• you are a pensioner,

• you are disabled within the meaning of the Act on Vocational and Social Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons of 27 August 1997,

• you are supported by your spouse who is a pensioner or a disabled person within the meaning of the aforementioned Act,

• you are staying in a nursing home or an institution,

• you receive a permanent benefit from a social assistance institution,

• you are a veteran or another person to whom the provisions of the Act of 24 January 1991 on veterans and certain persons who are victims of wartime and post-war repressions apply,

• you are a member of a large family within the meaning of the Large Family Card Act of 5 December 2014.

If you want to benefit from a reduction in the passport renewal fee, you need to present a document confirming the right to benefit from the reduction at the time of application. 

In some cases, the Polish passport renewal fee can be waived. You will be exempt from paying the renewal fee for a Polish passport if:

• you are at least 70 years old on the date of application,

• you are staying in a nursing home or care facility, and the trip abroad is related to your long-term treatment or surgery,

• you are receiving a permanent social assistance payment, and your trip abroad is related to your long-term treatment or operation,

• your passport has a technical defect.

If you want to take advantage of the passport fee exemption – take with you documents that prove that you meet one of the above conditions

You will pay less if you apply for a Polish passport renewal before your current passport expires if:

• the details on your passport have changed (for example your name(s) or surname) or your appearance has changed in a way that makes it difficult to establish your identity.

• there is no longer space in the passport for subsequent visas or stamps which confirm the crossing of the border.

How long does renewing a Polish passport in the UK take?

When you submit your application, a consulate employee will tell you the estimated date you will receive your renewed Polish passport. You will also receive written confirmation of your application with a tracking number. You may use this number to check to see whether your passport is ready using this page (available in Polish). For your reference, the average wait time for a renewed Polish biometric passport is about 6 weeks.

Renewed Polish passport in the UK – how to pick it up

You do not need to register your appointment at the Embassy/Consulates to pick up your passport. Collection times are Monday to Friday between 10:00 am and 3:30 pm. There is also the possibility of having your renewed Polish passport mailed to you by insured Special Delivery (which includes your details: name and full UK address). 

You will need to pay for the return envelope and enclose the application to send your passport. 

Renewed passport with a new passport picture

If it has been 10 years since you last had a Polish passport photo taken, you will want to make sure you still look your best. For this, look no further than Passport-Photo.Online, a software dedicated to helping you take perfect passport photos. There is no need to book an appointment at a photographer’s studio or look for a photo booth. For 40% less, on average, you can take a professional photo in the comfort of your own home, anytime. 

To use our website or app, simply take or upload a picture and leave the rest up to our AI-assisted software, which will verify whether your picture fulfills all the official requirements, erase and replace the background with the required one and trim it to the right size. All this is done in 3 seconds!

Renewing your Polish passport in the UK – summary

If your Polish passport is about to expire and you are residing in or visiting the UK, you can apply for a renewal in person at any consular office of the Republic of Poland. The basic documents needed for renewal are a renewal application form and a photograph, however depending on your situation you might be required to submit additional documents. 

The basic fee for a renewed Polish passport is £94, but reductions (for students and pensioners, among others) can be applied. After 6 weeks, on average, you will receive your renewed Polish passport. As for your new Polish passport picture, choose Passport-Photo.Online, a service that comes with a 100% acceptance guarantee!

Renewing Polish passports in the UK: FAQ

Sources

• [1] https://www.gov.pl/web/unitedkingdom/passport-for-an-adult
• [2] https://www.gov.pl/web/unitedkingdom/passports

Jagna Nieuważny

Born in Poland and now living in Japan, Jagna’s impressive academic success – a Master’s Degree in Japanese Studies and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering – positions her uniquely in the world of academia. Her work as an editor for various scientific journals underscores her depth of knowledge in the field.