We’ve covered giving birth in Poland before: here’s a 2026 refresh of the medical and legal details: will the child get Polish citizenship, how to choose between NFZ and a private clinic, and how to register a newborn at the USC.

Citizenship of the child

Poland does not apply jus soli (“right of the soil”), unlike some countries, which would let a child born in Poland automatically acquire Polish citizenship. That option is off the table right away: if both of the child’s parents are, for example, citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, or Ukraine, the child cannot rely on Polish citizenship simply by being born in Poland.

The obvious exception is when at least one parent is Polish: the child then automatically qualifies for Polish citizenship under jus sanguinis (“right of blood”), regardless of the place of birth. A separate, rarer case is a child whose parents cannot be identified (a foundling); such a child receives Polish citizenship automatically, to prevent statelessness.

More on how to obtain Polish citizenship in our article “How to Get Polish Citizenship”.
A child born in Poland to parents who are not Polish citizens will not receive citizenship automatically (this rule was unchanged as of 2026).

Pregnancy care: NFZ or a private clinic

Whether you’ve decided to give birth in Poland while living there under a residence permit (temporary residence, permanent residence, EU long-term resident status) or you’re coming to Poland specifically to use local healthcare, there are essentially two options.

Option 1: the public NFZ insurance. You can use NFZ services if you work in Poland and pay the relevant contributions, if your spouse does (in which case you’re covered under family insurance), or if you insure yourself with NFZ voluntarily.

The cost of voluntary individual NFZ insurance is approximately 830 PLN per month as of early 2026 (the amount is revised quarterly and tied to the average wage in the economy, so check the current figure on the NFZ website).
You’re free to choose which hospital you give birth in under NFZ insurance; the only caveat is that the most popular hospitals may not have available spots, so it’s worth arranging this in advance.

Option 2: a private clinic. The largest private medical companies in Poland are Medicover, Luxmed, and Enel-Med.

We covered 2026 prices and package details for private insurance in our article “Private Medical Insurance in Poland”.
As a rough guide: packages including pregnancy tests start at around 180-260 PLN a month, and full maternity care at a private clinic costs, depending on the company and package, roughly between 3,000 and 16,000 PLN. If you’re a foreigner without private insurance and without NFZ coverage, paying out of pocket for maternity care at a popular public hospital would also run to several thousand zloty.

Registering a child in Poland

Every child born in Poland must be entered into the national registers, regardless of citizenship. Registration takes place at the Civil Registry Office (Urząd Stanu Cywilnego, USC) for the place of birth. The child must be registered within 21 days of receiving the birth card (karta urodzenia) from the doctor or midwife who attended the birth; this deadline was unchanged as of 2026. The birth facility usually forwards the confirmation to the USC within a few days, but it’s worth checking whether the document has arrived before your visit.

To register a child who is not a Polish citizen, you will typically need:

  • a valid ID document for the parents;
  • a marriage certificate (if the parents are married) with a sworn translation into Polish;
  • occasionally, the parents’ own birth certificates with a sworn translation as well.

For a child with citizenship other than Polish, the birth certificate is a required document for legalising their stay in Poland (for example, when applying for a residence permit). Once the process is complete, the USC issues an official birth certificate extract (odpis aktu urodzenia). Parents choose up to two given names for the child; the chosen name can be changed within 6 months of the birth certificate being drawn up at the USC, for a stamp duty fee of 11 PLN.

If the child won’t be a Polish citizen, remember to also notify your country’s diplomatic mission in Poland, and you’ll usually need to have the Polish-issued certificate translated into your country of origin’s official language.

In Warsaw, it’s best to check the current address and opening hours of the local USC on the official warszawa.pl portal or via the unified city helpline 19115, since branch locations and hours change from time to time.

FAQ

Will a foreigner’s child born in Poland get Polish citizenship? No, not automatically, unless at least one parent is a Polish citizen. The exception is a case where the child’s parents cannot be identified.

How much time do I have to register my child at the USC? 21 days from receiving the birth card from the doctor or midwife who attended the birth.

How much does maternity care cost in Poland without insurance? From several thousand zloty at a public hospital on a fee-for-service basis, up to 3,000-16,000 PLN at a private clinic depending on the package: check exact prices with the chosen facility.

Bibliography and Legal Basis

  • Act of 2 April 2009 on Polish Citizenship: rules for acquiring citizenship (jus sanguinis).
  • Act of 28 November 2014, Law on Civil Registry Records: birth registration, 21-day deadline.
  • Act of 27 August 2004 on Healthcare Services Financed from Public Funds: the legal basis for voluntary NFZ insurance.

Author: MojaFirma team.

*If you’re planning to move to Poland with your family or want help understanding your child’s legal status, feel free to book a free consultation with our team.*