The world is becoming more and more open – to long and exotic journeys, to other cultures, but also to international love. Marrying a foreigner is nothing unusual today. There are, however, a few tips worth bearing in mind when preparing for such a celebration.
A civil wedding with a foreigner in Poland – required documents
The documents needed to apply to a Polish registry office for a wedding date with a foreigner include:
- a valid passport and residence card;
- a short birth certificate translated into Polish by a sworn translator;
- a document confirming that there are no impediments to the marriage (if the foreigner's country of origin does not issue such certificates, you must apply to the district court for permission to marry a foreigner – this is the case, for example, when marrying an American in Poland).
In addition, a written statement is submitted confirming that you are not aware of any circumstances preventing the marriage, together with the death certificate of the previous spouse (for widows and widowers) or a document confirming the end of the previous marriage (for divorced people).
When marrying a citizen of Ukraine (or other countries whose citizens have refugee status in Poland), the Geneva Travel Document will also be useful.
These documents must be submitted to the registry office at least one month before the planned wedding date, but in some cases it is worth allowing more time, e.g. if a civil marriage with a non-EU citizen is to lead to them obtaining Polish citizenship and a permanent residence permit. In such a situation, the interview with the consul, which is required when marrying foreigners, will not be a mere formality but will become a verification.
A concordat wedding with a foreigner
And what about church weddings? If both partners share the same religion, the matter is quite simple. In the chosen parish you present your ID cards, baptism and confirmation certificates, a certificate of completing marriage preparation classes and family counselling meetings, and the witnesses' personal details. A pre-marriage protocol is also drawn up. A church wedding with a foreigner in Poland is also possible if the other person has a different religion or is not religious. In such cases a one-sided wedding takes place, for which the bishop grants permission upon special request.
Or maybe abroad?
Not every marriage with a foreigner has to take place in Poland. The formalities of marrying a foreigner abroad do not differ much from a wedding organised at home. If you are planning a church wedding, it is enough to notify the parish priest (after meeting all the local requirements) that you need a delegation specifying the foreign parish where the wedding will take place. It is important that such a wedding abroad can only take place in a country that has an agreement with the Holy See and where the Catholic religion is generally recognised.
An international wedding
When planning to marry a foreigner in Poland – whether an American citizen, an Englishman or someone of any other nationality – you need to make sure that both cultures of the couple are reflected during the celebration, whether in language, food or music. For the latter, it is worth choosing a recommended wedding DJ. This is the most versatile form of music, e.g. at a Polish-English wedding. If you are looking for a DJ who will do a great job at an international party, contact Matt Remay Group (see the offer: DJ for a Polish-English wedding). Our experienced crew will be happy to organise the party of your dreams.
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