Factsheet, Page 2

ADOPTION AUTHORITY IN POLAND: Evaluation of children for foreign adoption can be done only by the adoption centers authorized to do so by the Minister of Economy, Labor and Social Welfare. At present, only the Public Adoptive-Guardian Center (Publiczny Osrodek Adopcyjno-Opiekunczy) has such authorization. The Center maintains a list of all children residing in orphanages who are available for international adoption because their parents have died, have relinquished all rights to them, or have had them relinquished by a court.

Mrs. Elzbieta Podczaska, Director
Publiczny Osrodek Adopcyjno-Opiekunczy
ul. Nowogrodzka #75
02-018 Warszawa
Tel/fax: 011 (if calling from the U.S.) 48 (Poland) 22 (Warsaw) 622-0370 to 72, 622-0372
(Mrs. Podczaska does not speak English, but members of her staff do.)

There are three adoption centers that are also authorized to qualify foreign prospective parents for adoption in Poland. The parents or duly licensed American adoption agencies may submit documents of candidates for adoption only to these centers:

  • Public Adoptive-Guardian Center (address above)
  • National Adoptive-Guardian Center of the Children's Friends Society (Towarzystwo Przyjaciol Dzieci – TPD)
    Ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 6
    00-325 Warszawa
    Tel/fax: 011/48/22/827-7813; phone 435-4677 through 88
    e-mail: koao-tpd@wp.pl
  • Catholic Adoptive-Guardian Center (Katolicki Osrodek Adopcyjno-Opiekunczy)
    Ul. Grochowska 194/196
    04-357 Warszawa
    Tel: 011/48/22/610-5149; fax: 610-6123

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS: Nothing in Polish law states the age requirements of adoptive parents. In practice, however, mothers may be up to 40 years older than the child, and fathers up to 45 years older. There is no discrimination against single applicants.

RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: There are no Polish residency requirements for prospective adoptive parents.


TIME FRAME: There is a 21-day appeal period between the time of the final adoption hearing and the time the court's decision goes into legal force. The judge may shorten the appeal period to 14 days. Prospective adoptive parents can expect to stay in Poland at least three to four weeks before they can obtain all proper documentation and a new passport for the child.

Polish adoption procedures are complicated, time consuming and often require professional legal guidance. A competent lawyer may handle many of the legal formalities in Poland and help the adoptive parents communicate with the proper Polish authorities before they travel to Poland for the adoption hearing. The entire process may take a year or more.

ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS : Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services. For U.S.-based agencies, it is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the Better Business Bureau and licensing office of the Department of Health and Family Services in the state where the agency is located. The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw has a list of attorneys known to work in Poland. Neither the U.S. Embassy nor the Department of State can vouch for the efficacy or professionalism of any agent or facilitator.

Please see Important Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators at our Web site travel.state.gov.

ADOPTION FEES IN POLAND: There is no fee for the registration as a prospective adoptive family with one of the three authorized adoption centers in Poland.

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Credits: U.S. Department of State