My child has been born – what needs to be done?
5 tasks in suggested order
1. Report the child's birth to the Civil Registry Office (USC).
Within 21 days of the issuance of the birth card.
The Civil Registry Office competent for the place of birth / available electronic channel.
Details of the parents and the child; the office must receive the birth card transmitted by the person who attended the birth.
After registration, the Civil Registry Office draws up the birth certificate, assigns a PESEL number, and registers the child's residence.
Official source: gov.pl
2. If the father is not the mother's husband and paternity has not been acknowledged, arrange for the acknowledgment of paternity.
Before the father registers the birth or at another appropriate time.
Civil Registry Office (USC), Polish consul, or court.
Identity documents and required declarations.
Without prior acknowledgment of paternity, a father who is not married to the mother cannot independently register the birth via the standard procedure.
Official source: gov.pl
3. Apply for the 800+ child-rearing benefit if you meet the eligibility criteria.
For the 2026/2027 benefit period (1 June 2026–31 May 2027), ZUS accepts applications from 1 February 2026. An application submitted by 30 June 2026 preserves entitlement from 1 June; if submitted later, the benefit is generally due from the month of application.
ZUS — applications are electronic only, for example through PUE/eZUS or mZUS, Emp@tia, or online banking.
Details of the child, parent, and bank account, as well as other information required in the application.
The 800+ benefit is PLN 800 per month for each child until age 18 and is not means-tested. This is a separate procedure from birth registration.
Official source: gov.pl
4. If you are not entitled to maternity allowance and meet the eligibility criteria, apply for the Polish parental benefit (świadczenie rodzicielskie).
To have entitlement established from the month of birth, adoption or taking the child into care, submit the application within 3 months. After that deadline, entitlement is established from the month in which the application is filed.
The competent municipality/city authority or the electronic channel provided for family benefits.
Application and documents required for your specific situation.
The parental benefit is PLN 1000 per month, is not means-tested and, for one child, is generally payable for 52 weeks. It is intended for people who do not receive maternity allowance or equivalent remuneration.
Official source: gov.pl
5. If you are an employed or insured parent, arrange for the appropriate maternity leave and Polish maternity benefit.
For one child, maternity leave is 20 weeks. If you want the 81,5% maternity-allowance option covering the maternity and parental-leave periods, submit the relevant request no later than 21 days after the birth.
Employer and/or ZUS, depending on status.
Applications and documents required for the specific benefit.
Maternity leave and maternity allowance follow different rules from the parental benefit. The length of leave depends, among other things, on the number of children born in one delivery.
Official source: gov.pl
