Poland adopts regulation to transcribe same‑sex marriages performed abroad

On 22 May 2026, Poland's interior minister Marcin Kierwiński signed a regulation that authorises the transcription of same‑sex marriages concluded abroad into the national civil‑status register. The measure implements a European Court of Justice ruling that requires EU member states to recognise such unions even if domestic law does not. The regulation will become effective three months after its publication.

Supporters in the government, including Vice‑Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, praised the step as compliance with EU law and a sign of a modern, equal administration. Conversely, Law and Justice party leader Jarosław Kaczyński harshly criticised the rule, calling it unconstitutional, a cultural experiment on children and urging criminal liability for officials who facilitate it. He framed the change as a threat to the traditional family model.

Local authorities in Warsaw and Wrocław have already begun processing foreign same‑sex marriage transcriptions, relying on earlier Polish court decisions that mandated registration of such unions. The episode highlights the ongoing nationwide debate over LGBT rights and the tension between EU obligations and domestic political positions in Poland.