Following a precedent set in Warsaw, Wrocław’s Civil Registry Office performed its first transcription of a foreign same-sex marriage certificate on May 15, marking a significant shift in the legal recognition of such unions.
First Transcription in Wrocław
In an official statement, the Wrocław municipal office confirmed that the first transcription of a foreign same-sex marriage act was completed on Friday, May 15. Alina Szeptycka, the Mayor’s plenipotentiary for equal treatment, hailed the milestone as the result of years of advocacy and legal battles by couples and human rights organizations.
Legal Foundation and Judicial Precedent
The development follows a November 25, 2025, ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which declared that refusing to recognize same-sex marriages legally concluded in other EU member states violates union law. In March, Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court (NSA) ordered the transcription of a marriage certificate for a couple wed in Berlin, setting the stage for nationwide implementation.
Governmental and Regulatory Action
Following the CJEU ruling, Poland began the process of updating civil registry templates. Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski has signed the new regulation, with Minister of the Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński confirming his upcoming countersignature. Government plenipotentiary Katarzyna Kotula explained that future marriage forms will feature three distinct categories based on the spouses’ genders.
Scope of Legal Recognition
Legal experts, including attorney Anna Mazurczak, note that while the transcription grants legal standing, it does not immediately encompass rights such as adoption. However, she emphasized that the evolving interpretation of “spouse” within Polish regulations, driven by EU law, will likely lead to broader family rights in the future. Seven such transcriptions have been ordered by the NSA since March.
