Poland's Supreme Court has ordered the authorities to recognize same-sex marriages performed abroad. This decision had been seven years in the making.

Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court has issued a historic ruling: the country is now required to register same-sex marriages entered into by its citizens in other European Union countries. This ruling puts an end to a long-standing dispute over Poland’s compliance with European law.

What exactly did the court decide?

The court ruled that Polish authorities must comply with EU law and enter data on same-sex marriages contracted abroad into national registries. The judges overturned all previous lower court rulings that had gone against such families. According to the verdict, the requirements of civil registry offices must be amended, and officials have 30 days to correct the registration documents.

How long did it take to achieve this?

The proceedings began back in 2019, when a couple who had married abroad filed a lawsuit against Poland over the refusal to register their marriage. The plaintiffs lost their cases in all national courts, but the matter ultimately reached the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ). It was the clear stance taken by the European courts that formed the basis for the current ruling by Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court.

Throughout the eight years of PiS rule, Poland has been the target of constant criticism. A number of municipalities declared themselves “LGBT-free zones.” In 2024, ILGA-Europe ranked Poland last among EU member states. With the arrival of Tusk’s coalition, everything changed.

“We’re not starting from scratch—we’re returning to good solutions. But there are many conservative anchors in the institutional architecture”—Krzysztof Szmieszek, Poland’s Deputy Minister of Justice · Washington Blade

Same-sex marriage is still banned in Poland, as is adoption, and there is no anti-discrimination legislation. Nevertheless, Poland in the new Ranking of the Safest Countries for LGBT People in 2026, compiled by Spartacus, jumped 59 spots at once. In this case, the organization evaluated actual measures, not just legislative provisions.

Why is this important?

This decision sets a precedent that will allow many couples who have gone without legal recognition in their home country for years to finally legalize their status.

The situation in Poland could also affect neighboring countries, particularly Lithuania. For example, there are dozens of same-sex couples in the Republic of Lithuania who were married within the EU. Yet the Lithuanian authorities do not recognize their marriages. It should be noted that court proceedings on these cases in Lithuania are dragging on: Lithuanian courts are in no hurry to issue rulings, despite the fact that both the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union have long since ruled on this matter.