From Poland, Indian legal work is done by signing documents before a Polish notary (notariusz), obtaining an apostille from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and sending the original to India, where it is stamped within three months. Polish-language documents need English translation for India, and Indian documents need an apostille and a Polish sworn translation for use in Poland. Companies, contracts and most property steps are then handled online and through an attorney holder.
- Document route
- Polish notary, then MFA apostille
- Time difference
- IST is 3.5 to 4.5 hours ahead
- Foreign judgments in India
- Not reciprocating: fresh suit
- Apostille with India
- In force
Indians in Poland and Polish business with India
The link between India and Poland is older than many realise. During the Second World War, Polish refugee children were sheltered in India, notably near Jamnagar, and that story is still remembered in both countries. Today the Indian community in Poland is mostly recent: software and finance professionals in Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk and Poznan, many working in shared service and technology centres, and a large student population. The two governments described the relationship as a strategic partnership in 2024.
A young, mobile community produces a particular set of Indian legal needs. Mixed marriages between Indian and Polish citizens are common, which means marriage registration and recognition in both countries. People who moved recently still own flats in India or are heirs to family property, and need powers of attorney and property sales handled from abroad. Polish and Indian founders also set up companies to run development or trading businesses between the two countries.
See our pages on marriage registration and company setup for foreigners for the general process.
Polish notaries, apostilles and sworn translators
Poland is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention and the convention is in force with India. Apostilles for Polish public documents are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Warsaw, and the application can usually be made by post or in person.
A Polish notary (notariusz) is a public officer who can certify your signature on a document drafted in English, though many notaries prefer to see a Polish translation so they understand what is being signed. Signature certification is a routine act; bring your passport or residence card. The notarised document then goes to the Ministry for the apostille.
| Direction | What is needed |
|---|---|
| Polish document for use in India | Notarisation where required, MFA apostille, English translation |
| Indian document for use in Poland | MEA apostille in India, then translation by a Polish sworn translator (tlumacz przysiegly) |
| Company document from the National Court Register (KRS) | Official extract, apostille, English translation |
Polish offices strictly require translations by a sworn translator registered in Poland; a translation made in India is normally not accepted there. Indian offices are more flexible about who translates, but expect a certified English translation. For the wider rules, see apostille and attestation.
Most requested services from Poland
From Poland we mostly help Indian professionals, mixed Polish-Indian families and growing businesses: company setup, powers of attorney, marriage registration, apostilles, contracts and property deals in India.
Company Setup for Foreigners
Polish and Indian founders in Poland often incorporate an Indian company for development or trading work.
Power of Attorney
Indians working in Poland rely on a relative in India to handle property and paperwork under a power of attorney.
Marriage Registration
Polish-Indian couples need a marriage certificate that works for Indian records, Polish transcription and residence permits.
Apostille & Attestation
Polish offices require apostilled Indian documents with sworn Polish translations, and vice versa.
Commercial Contracts
Software, services and trading relationships between Polish and Indian firms need enforceable contracts.
Buying & Selling Property
Indians settled in Poland often sell a flat in India, or buy one, through an attorney holder.
Tax treaty and money flows
India and Poland have a double taxation avoidance agreement, which was updated by a protocol. It allocates taxing rights over dividends, interest, royalties, technical fees, business profits and capital gains, and it includes exchange of information provisions. A resident of Poland claims treaty benefits in India with a Polish tax residency certificate (certyfikat rezydencji) and Form 10F.
For Indians working in Poland, the common Indian income is interest on NRO deposits and rent. Once you are a non-resident for Indian tax purposes, your Indian salary-type income stops, but Indian-source income stays taxable in India. Polish tax residents must generally report worldwide income in Poland and claim relief for Indian tax as Polish law allows. For companies, payments between a Polish entity and an Indian one for software development, services and licences need clear contracts and withholding tax planning.
Money can be sent from India to Poland from an NRO account up to USD 1 million per financial year, after tax, with Forms 15CA and 15CB. NRE balances are freely repatriable.
Marriage, divorce and Polish judgments
Poland is not a reciprocating territory under section 44A CPC. A Polish judgment for money is enforced in India by filing a fresh suit on it, subject to section 13 CPC.
For marriages, the questions are practical. A couple marrying in Poland at the civil registry office (Urzad Stanu Cywilnego) needs the Indian partner to prove capacity to marry, which usually involves documents from the Indian Embassy in Warsaw or a Polish court exemption. A couple marrying in India registers the marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act or, where one spouse is not Hindu, under the Special Marriage Act, which has a 30-day notice period. A Polish citizen who marries abroad should have the foreign marriage certificate transcribed into the Polish civil register, which needs an apostille and a sworn translation.
Polish divorces are granted by regional courts. Indian courts recognise foreign divorces under the principles in Y. Narasimha Rao v. Y. Venkata Lakshmi (1991), so the safest Polish decrees are those where both spouses took part. India is not a party to the Hague Child Abduction Convention, which matters if a child of a Polish-Indian marriage is moved between the countries.
Practical points for clients in Poland
India is three and a half hours ahead of Poland in summer and four and a half hours ahead in winter. Our afternoons overlap with Polish mornings, so most calls are held between 8:00 and 13:00 Polish time.
Indian courts allow parties abroad to appear and give evidence by video link under the High Court rules, which saves travel from Poland for most hearings. Registration of a sale deed or marriage in India may need personal presence or an attorney holder, depending on the state and the type of document. International courier from Poland to Punjab usually takes about a week.
ProudLegal works from Mohali, India, and has no office in Poland. For Polish law questions, such as Polish property, Polish inheritance or residence permits, we coordinate with your Polish lawyer or notary. Clients who also have links to Germany should read our Germany page, because the apostille is not in force between India and Germany.
All services for clients in Poland
NRI Property Law
- Property Disputes
- Encroachment & Illegal Possession
- Partition of Family Property
- Buying & Selling Property
- Title Search & Due Diligence
- Tenant Eviction
- Builder Delay & RERA
Inheritance & Documents
Cross-Border Family Law
- Divorce for NRIs
- International Child Custody
- Maintenance & Alimony
- Marriage Registration
- 498A & Dowry Case Defence
- OCI Card Issues
Doing Business in India
- Company Setup for Foreigners
- Indian Subsidiary Setup
- Branch & Liaison Office
- FDI & FEMA Compliance
- Trademark Protection in India
- Commercial Contracts
- Employment Law for Foreign Employers
- GST for Foreign Businesses
- Investing in Indian Startups
- Legal Advisory for NRI Investors
Disputes & Enforcement
- International Arbitration
- Enforcing Foreign Judgments
- Money Recovery from India
- Shareholder Disputes & NCLT
- Accident Compensation Claims
- Cyber & Investment Fraud
- Criminal Defence & Look Out Circulars
Cross-Border Tax & Money
Indian mission in Poland
The Embassy in Warsaw handles consular services for Poland, including passports, OCI applications and attestation.
- Embassy of India, Warsaw
Frequently asked questions
Is a Polish apostille accepted in India?
Yes. Poland and India are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention and it is in force between them. Documents apostilled by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs should not need embassy attestation.
Can a Polish notary certify an English-language power of attorney?
Yes, signature certification does not depend on the language of the document, though many notaries ask for a Polish translation or explanation. We provide a clear English draft and can suggest a short summary for the notary.
Can we marry in India if my partner is Polish?
Yes. If one of you is not Hindu, the Special Marriage Act applies, with a 30-day notice period after at least one of you has lived in the district for 30 days. Your Polish partner will need a passport, visa and proof of single status.
Will Poland recognise our Indian marriage certificate?
Generally yes. The certificate is apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs in India, translated by a Polish sworn translator and transcribed into the Polish civil register.
Does India have a tax treaty with Poland?
Yes. The India-Poland double taxation avoidance agreement applies. Use a Polish tax residency certificate and Form 10F to claim treaty rates in India.
Can a Polish court judgment be enforced in India?
Not directly. Poland is not a reciprocating territory under section 44A CPC, so the holder files a fresh suit in India on the basis of the Polish judgment.
Can I set up an Indian company while living in Krakow?
Yes. Directors sign and obtain digital signatures remotely, and Polish documents are notarised and apostilled. You still need one director who meets the Indian residency test.
How long does courier from Poland to India take?
Usually about a week with a tracked international courier. Email us scans before you post, so we can prepare the next steps in parallel.