A stolen passport in Bangkok, an accident in Tenerife, detention by police in the USA, sudden death of a loved one overseas. In such moments, the only Polish office on-site is the consul. However, the consul is not a travel agency or a lawyer. The law specifies what the consul must do, what can be done, and what is strictly prohibited. We organize this according to the Consular Law of 2015 (consolidated text Dz.U. 2026 poz. 711) and describe the changes of recent months: the travel registry in the Odyseusz portal, the EU temporary travel document, and increased consular fees from January 1, 2026.
When is consular assistance available? Article 20 of the law explicitly states: serious accident or severe illness, arrest or detention, act of violence against a Polish citizen, death of a Polish citizen, and the need for an emergency return to Poland or to the country of residence without money. Assistance is provided "to the necessary extent." The consul also intervenes when the authorities of the host country treat a Pole worse than local law allows, in a discriminatory manner, or contrary to international human rights standards (Article 19).
Check What You Can Expect
The flowchart guides you through the most common situations and indicates which part of the guide describes yours.
Will the Polish consul help you?
Is there a Polish embassy or consulate in the country outside the EU where you are?
In EU countries, Poland has its offices. The question mainly concerns countries outside the EU.
What happened?
Can you obtain money in another way: a transfer from family, a ticket purchased by someone close, your own card, obligations of a travel agency?
The consulate of another EU country will help
As an EU citizen, you can turn to the embassy or consulate of any member state, and it will assist you on the same terms as its own citizens (Directive 2015/637). This applies to arrests, accidents, severe illnesses, crimes, deaths, and loss of documents. See the section "Country without a Polish office."
Temporary passport
After confirming your identity, the consul will issue a temporary passport or accept an application for a regular passport. The temporary passport costs 50 EUR, 100 EUR outside of office hours, and 200 EUR on public holidays. See the fee table.
First, use other sources
The consul may refuse financial assistance if you can obtain money in another way. This assistance is for returning to Poland in a situation with no alternatives, not for further travel. See the section "Consular loan."
Consular loan for return
A family member deposits the equivalent of the assistance into the office's or Ministry of Foreign Affairs account, and the consul pays you the money on-site. The second option: you sign a repayment obligation. The repayment period is from one month to three months, and the unpaid amount is subject to administrative enforcement. See the section "Consular loan."
The consul will ensure your rights, but will not get you out of jail
The consul can check how you are being treated, transfer money deposited by family for your basic needs, and recommend lawyers, including those who speak Polish. He will not pay bail or for a lawyer and will not influence the court or police. If you also hold citizenship of that country, his capabilities may be limited. See the sections "What the consul can do" and "What the consul will not do."
Assistance with formalities, not costs
The consul will assist with formalities, issue a certificate needed to repatriate remains to Poland (60 EUR), and accept an application for the transcription of a foreign death certificate. The family or insurer pays for the transportation of the body. See the section "What the consul will not do."
This is not a matter for the consul
The consul will not rebook your flight or resolve disputes with hotels or contractors. Check the terms of your contract and insurance, and in disputes with carriers or sellers, use complaint procedures or legal assistance.
What the Consul Can Do
| Situation | Consular Assistance | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of passport | Issues a temporary passport (after confirming identity) or a passport | Article 34 point 1 |
| No money for return | Repayable financial assistance, known as a consular loan (details below) | Articles 39–40 |
| Arrest or serving a sentence | Consular assistance in case of detention, transfer of money deposited by relatives for basic needs, information about lawyers and translators | Articles 20, 27, 40a |
| Death of a loved one | Certificate regarding the repatriation of remains, acceptance of an application for the transcription of a foreign death certificate or for registration of death if it has not been registered locally | Articles 34 point 10, 14, 16a |
| Need for a lawyer | Information about entities providing legal assistance, especially free or in Polish; assistance in obtaining copies of judgments and civil status documents from local authorities | Article 27 |
| Notarial acts | Certification of signatures, copies, proof of life, translations, legalization of documents | Articles 28–32 |
| Official matters | Applications for the transcription of birth or marriage certificates, acceptance of declarations of marriage, citizenship matters, Polish Card | Article 34 |
| Life-threatening situation in the region | Actions supporting safe departure from the threatened area; victims of such events may receive financial assistance from the consul without the usual conditions | Articles 36, 44 |
| Deposit and found items | Acceptance of documents, money, and valuables for safekeeping; found Polish documents (passport, ID, driver's license) are returned by the consul to the issuing authority | Articles 23–25 |
A grant is different from a loan. The consul may also grant a grant (Article 48) to Polish citizens and persons of Polish descent who are staying or residing in the consular district, are in need, and cannot obtain assistance from other sources. The money is for basic needs: medicines, food, clothing, school supplies, and necessary care. The difficult situation must be documented. Grants do not need to be repaid.
What the Consul Will Not Do
- Will not pay your debts, fines, bail, lawyer's fees, or court costs.
- Will not be your representative. Does not conduct your case, collect evidence, or hire a lawyer for you. Provides information about lawyers, and the choice and contract are up to you.
- Will not influence the court or police. Will not get you out of jail. Can advocate for you to be treated according to the law and without discrimination.
- Will not handle tourist and private matters: rebooking flights, disputes with hotels or contractors, work, housing.
- Will not finance the repatriation of remains. The family or insurer pays for the transportation of the body to Poland, and the consul assists with formalities.
- Will refuse actions contrary to the law and may refuse those that would endanger life or health, could cause serious harm, or would require disproportionately large resources when there is another, easily accessible way (Article 35).
Dual citizenship means weaker protection. If you also hold citizenship of the country where you are detained (for example, Polish and American in the USA), the local authorities may treat you solely as their citizen. The capabilities of the Polish consul may then be limited.
Consular Loan: How It Works
First, other sources
The consul may refuse if you can obtain money in another way: receive a transfer from family, ask someone to buy a ticket, defer payment to the carrier, use your own payment card, or obligations of a travel agency. Refusal may also apply to someone who previously used assistance for another purpose or did not repay it (Article 39 paragraph 3). Financial assistance is solely for returning to Poland.
Two options
Either a third party deposits the equivalent of the assistance into the office's, embassy's, or Ministry of Foreign Affairs account, and the consul pays you the money on-site, or you submit a written obligation to repay (Article 40 paragraph 1).
Repayment within one to three months
The consul sets the repayment deadline. It cannot be shorter than one month or longer than three months from the provision of assistance (Article 40 paragraph 2). The unpaid amount is subject to administrative enforcement (Article 45). In particularly justified cases, the minister may defer the deadline, spread the debt into installments, or waive it (Article 46).
Odyseusz: Register Your Travel
The government portal odyseusz.gov.pl collects information for travelers. The former Ministry of Foreign Affairs page "Information for Travelers" redirects there. What does travel registration provide:
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the office can send you information about changes in the situation and warnings for the country of stay, to the provided email address or mobile phone number;
- In case of a crisis, such as riots, disasters, or conflicts, the consul knows you are there and can contact you, and if necessary, assist you in leaving the threatened area;
- The expected duration of stay in the registry can be up to 5 years, so you can also report a longer trip;
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes travel warnings in four levels, from exercising normal caution to advising against all travel;
- From April 17, 2026, the travel registry is based on the law (Article 37a of the Consular Law), and data is deleted 14 days after the planned end of stay.
Country Without a Polish Office and EU Temporary Travel Document
Poland does not have an embassy or consulate in every country in the world. If there is no Polish office in a country outside the EU, as an EU citizen, you can turn to the embassy or consulate of any other member state. It must assist you on the same terms as its own citizens (Directive 2015/637), including in cases of arrest, accident, severe illness, crime, death, crisis situations, and loss of documents.
This also works the other way around. The Polish consul assists citizens of other EU countries that do not have representation in that country (Article 21). From December 9, 2025, he can also issue them a EU temporary travel document (TDP) if they lost their passport, it was destroyed, or their country cannot issue a new one within a reasonable time. The TDP is issued for the time needed to return plus two days, generally for a maximum of 15 days (Article 48a). A Pole without documents in a country without a Polish office can receive such a document from the consulate of another EU country.
Consular Fees from January 1, 2026
The fee schedule was increased by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regulation of October 29, 2025 (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1523). The consolidated text, including this change, was published in October 2026 (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1298). The most important rates from January 1, 2026:
| Activity | Fee |
|---|---|
| Passport | 140 EUR; child under 12 years: 45 EUR |
| Temporary passport | 50 EUR; outside office hours 100 EUR; on public holidays 200 EUR |
| EU temporary travel document | 50 EUR |
| Certificate for repatriation of remains to Poland | 60 EUR |
| Certification of signature authenticity | 40 EUR |
| Legalization of a document | 40 EUR |
| Preparation and certification of translation (for each started page) | 120 EUR |
| Preparation of documentation for the transcription of a foreign civil status act | 60 EUR |
| Marriage before the consul | 600 EUR |
| Urgent action | an additional 40 EUR |
Assistance in a crisis is free of charge. Article 112 of the law exempts from fees, among others, actions in defense of a citizen's rights seriously violated by local authorities, cases of victims of accidents and other serious events, life-threatening situations or safety in the consular district, pension and benefit matters, and alimony. The fee schedule does not provide for a fee for an application for financial assistance for return. In exceptional situations, the consul may also charge 25%, 50%, or 75% of the fee or waive it, considering your financial or personal situation (Article 109).
Contacts to Save Before Traveling
- Consular Information Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: +48 22 250 01 16, Monday to Friday from 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM, email informacja.konsularna@msz.gov.pl.
- Central hotline of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: +48 22 250 01 15, available 24/7.
- In case of emergency abroad: the duty phone of the relevant embassy or consulate, provided on its website in the gov.pl service. You can find all Polish offices in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs search engine.
- e-Consulate (secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl) is used to book appointments for passport and legal matters.
- In countries with a large Polish diaspora, consuls also conduct consular shifts, meaning they meet with clients outside the office. In the USA, these are held regularly in several cities.
Related guides: pensions from multiple countries and the role of the consul in certifying life, i.e., map of social security agreements; moving within the EU without apostille, i.e., moving between EU countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the consul pay for my return ticket if I was robbed?
Not for free. He may provide repayable financial assistance for your return to Poland if you have no other way to obtain money. The amount must be repaid within one to three months, or relatives deposit it in advance into the office's or Ministry of Foreign Affairs account.
How much does a temporary passport cost at the consulate?
From January 1, 2026, 50 EUR during office hours, 100 EUR outside of them, and 200 EUR on public holidays.
Is registration in Odyseusz mandatory?
No. It is voluntary and free of charge. Thanks to it, the consul knows you are in that country and can contact you in case of danger. Data is deleted 14 days after the planned end of stay.
Who to contact if there is no Polish consulate in the country?
To the embassy or consulate of any other EU country. Based on Directive 2015/637, it must assist you just like its own citizens.
Sources
Status as of October 23, 2026. The guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. The scope of assistance in a specific case is determined by the consul, so in an emergency, contact the relevant office immediately.
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