More Protections for Polish Same-Sex Couples Married Abroad. More than 400 Foreign Marriages Recognised So Far.

• Historic rulings by the Court of Justice of the European Union and Polish Supreme Administrative Court obligated Poland to recognise foreign marriages of same-sex couples this summer.
• The government introduced regulations allowing recognition and granting couples limited marital protections in healthcare, social security systems, and now taxation.
• More than 400 couples have used the option to transcribe their foreign marriage certificates.
• As one of only 5 countries in the European Union offering no legal recognition for same-sex couples Poland remains an outlier with strong political opposition to equality despite high public support.
• After more than 20 years of political obstruction, the Polish LGBT+ community won basic protections through litigation and determined campaigning.

Warsaw, Poland — On September 25th Polish minister of finance Andrzej Domański obligated tax offices in the country to recognise foreign marriages of same-sex couples who transcribed their certificates into the Polish registry. Crucially, married same-sex couples will now be exempt from paying the highest possible inheritance tax.  Up until now, widows and widowers had to consider selling their property or taking out loans just to be able to cover the cost.

Recognition of marriages for tax purposes expands the list of marital protections available to same-sex couples who married abroad. Two other ministries of Donald Tusk’s coalition government have already recognised same-sex couples, granting them healthcare insurance and social benefits earlier this year. It is a consequence of landmark court rulings by the Court of Justice of the European Union and the Polish Supreme Administrative Court made in November 2025 and March 2026 respectively.

Since May more than 400 same-sex couples have used the administrative pathway to gain recognition of their marital status by obtaining the so-called transcription of their foreign marriage certificates into the Polish civil registry systems.

We have been campaigning for marriage equality in Poland since 2013 and at no point were we closer to pushing for full recognition of our families than we are right now – says Hubert Sobecki, Executive Director at Love Does Not Exclude Association. Since the early 2000s we have seen a dozen bills on civil partnerships either ignored or rejected by the parliament. We pulled through almost a decade of openly hostile government policies and people in the highest positions of power dehumanising us in the state-controlled media. All these years we worked behind the scenes, winning hearts and minds, and litigation after litigation in Polish and international courts. Now for the first time we see a positive impact on our lives. Politicians are finally yielding and providing our families with tangible protections. We will continue to fight for the freedom to marry in our country.

Growing Public Support for LGBT+ Rights 

As one of only 5 countries in the European Union offering no legal recognition of any kind for same-sex couples, Poland remains an outlier with constant strong political opposition to LGBT+ rights contradicting growing public support. According to polls, more than 50 percent of Poles support introducing marriage equality in the country and more than 60 percent support lesser legislation such as civil unions or partnerships. However, adoption and parental rights for LGBT+ people remain a taboo for the political mainstream and are often used by right-wing parties to spread fear and prejudice. Outspoken support for adoption rights for same-sex couples is almost exclusive to the Left, which polls at below 10 percent.

Introduction of domestic legislation allowing couples to tie the knot in Poland is currently impossible; the ruling coalition is divided on the subject, while the right-wing populist president Nawrocki is expected to block any bill related to LGBT+ rights. Still the speed of political action and the benign reactions of the public to the first Polish same-sex marriages demonstrate the huge societal changes that have taken place in the Eastern European country often associated with state-sponsored homophobia and hate campaigns.

Within just a few months Poland changed in a way no future elections and executive orders can reverse. Same-sex marriage is becoming normalised. Politicians can no longer paint it as unrealistic, unconstitutional or revolutionary, because it is already here – and no families, except those of LGBT+ people, have been impacted – says Maja Heban, Advocacy Manager at Love Does Not Exclude Association. The shift we are seeing is unprecedented. The same government who couldn’t reach an agreement on putting forward a proper civil partnership bill is now recognising and protecting same-sex married couples. Next year’s elections will likely bring relentless attacks on Donald Tusk and his political party, who will then have to defend their actions – and therefore defend same-sex marriage.

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About Love Does Not Exclude Association

Love Does Not Exclude (Stowarzyszenie Miłość Nie Wyklucza – MNW) is an NGO which has been campaigning for marriage equality for same-sex couples in Poland since 2010. They developed several drafts of bills on legal recognition of LGBT+ families introduced to the Polish parliament as well as social research and nationwide campaigns. The Association also launched several successful strategic litigation leading to historic wins including 2023 ruling of the European Court of Human Rights obligating Poland to provide legal protections for same-sex couples.