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Gender Transition in Poland

In this article, we have tried to create the most comprehensive guide to gender transition in Poland, taking into account the needs of migrants from other countries, including Belarus.

Gender transition in Poland is available both to Polish citizens and to foreigners, regardless of the legal basis on which they are staying in the country (for example, psychological, sexological, or psychiatric assessment, hormone replacement therapy, and some surgeries). The exception for foreigners is the inability to change their name and gender marker in official documents (except for stateless persons with permanent residence in Poland and people with refugee status), as well as the inability to undergo surgeries that result in infertility (for such procedures, a legal change of documents is required first).

*A gender transition is a process in which a person changes their social or legal gender or brings their appearance into alignment with a gender identity different from the one assigned at birth.

First step: evaluations

Both medical and legal transition in Poland require two conclusions ("opinia" in Polish) from specialists:

  • a psychological conclusion (from a psychologist)
  • a medical conclusion (from a sexologist or psychiatrist)

Where to go?

There are no special centralized commissions in Poland, nor are there restrictions on who can issue such conclusions.

In theory, any certified psychologist, sexologist, or psychiatrist can issue them — including private specialists (paid) as well as public ones available for many residents of Poland at no cost (through the NFZ).

In practice, the overwhelming majority of specialists are not familiar with transgender issues, and may either refuse to issue conclusions or do so using outdated or incorrect methodologies. There is also a high risk of encountering transphobia or gatekeeping (for example, unnecessary delays in the evaluation process).

This applies to psychologists, sexologists, psychiatrists, endocrinologists, surgeons, and other specialists who may be needed during the transition process.

Therefore, it is better to choose verified, trans-friendly specialists. Here are several ways to find them:

How do the evaluations work?

There are no unified mandatory requirements for obtaining medical conclusions on transgender identity in Poland.

Some specialists may issue conclusions after one or several appointments, based on self-identification and informed consent. Others may require a “real-life test” for several years and impose unnecessary requirements, such as sexual orientation or the age at which a person realized their gender identity.

Below we describe how evaluations typically proceed with friendly specialists.

Most trans-friendly specialists follow the recommendations of WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) and the Polish Sexological Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Seksuologiczne).

The basis of these recommendations is the informed consent model. Specialists must ensure that the person truly wants to transition, understands the legal, medical, and social aspects of transition, and is capable of giving informed consent. If mental health conditions are present that could distort perception, emotions, or cognitive abilities, the doctor must first address them or make sure they are not related to gender dysphoria.

Appointments with specialists may take place offline in the clinic or online (in which case the conclusion will be sent by mail).

Psychologist

Psychologist appointments most often include:

  • questions about the purpose of the visit: the person must express the desire to transition themselves;
  • questions about how you feel about your body;
  • questions about how you feel about your gendered social role;
  • questions about whether you understand the legal, medical, and social aspects of transition and whether your expectations are realistic (if not, the psychologist will explain everything);
  • writing an autobiography of about three A4 pages focusing only on aspects related to awareness of gender identity or gender dysphoria or euphoria (usually requested to prepare at home before the next appointment);
  • discussion of the autobiography and relevant life experiences;
  • taking the MMPI psychological test;
  • issuing a medical conclusion;
  • recommendations for next steps and answering questions.

The whole process usually takes from 1 to 5 appointments.

It is very difficult to find a verified psychologist who works for free (under NFZ). Paid appointments typically cost 170–250 PLN (€40–60).

Sexologist or psychiatrist

Appointments with a sexologist or psychiatrist most often include:

  • questions about the purpose of the visit: the person must express the desire to transition themselves;
  • reviewing the psychologist’s conclusion;
  • questions about mental health conditions in the person or their family, and overall well-being;
  • if no mental health conditions are present that could affect gender dysphoria or the ability to give informed consent — issuing the medical conclusion; otherwise — additional evaluations;
  • recommendations for next steps and answering questions.

The whole process usually takes from 1 to 2 appointments, unless further evaluations are required.

It is very difficult to find a verified specialist working for free (under NFZ). Paid appointments typically cost 250–350 PLN (€60–80).

How long does it take?

There is no mandatory observation period. The Polish Sexological Society recommends not to prolongate the transition process with observation periods.

Usually, everything depends only on how soon you can get appointments. It’s possible to schedule all visits every few days and complete the entire process within several weeks. However, friendly specialists are often busy, and sometimes you may wait a month for an appointment.

Second step: medical transition (optional)

Having the two conclusions obtained in the first step grants access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and gender-affirming surgeries (except those that cause infertility — these require changing your gender marker first).

Endocrinologist

The first endocrinological appointment usually includes:

  • questions about the purpose of the visit;
  • reviewing the psychologist’s and sexologist’s/psychiatrist’s conclusions;
  • discussion of possible HRT options, expectations, risks, and side effects;
  • obtaining informed consent;
  • issuing referrals for necessary lab tests.

At the next appointment, the doctor will select the optimal HRT approach based on test results and transition goals (some endocrinologists offer microdosing estradiol or testosterone, as well as SERMs or SARMs, for example, for nonbinary people) and issue prescriptions for the necessary medications.

In the first year of HRT, it is recommended to get lab tests and see the endocrinologist every 3 months, and later — 1–2 times per year.

It is very difficult to find a verified specialist working for free (under NFZ). Paid appointments typically cost 170–350 PLN (€40–80).

Lab tests may also be paid, depending on NFZ coverage or private insurance. At the first appointment, a large panel of tests is usually ordered (more than average), costing around 500 PLN (€110).

You can save some time and money by finding out in advance which tests are required and coming to the first appointment with results already done.

Surgeon

At the moment, we do not have information on how surgeon appointments usually proceed. We recommend choosing a trans-friendly surgeon using the methods described in the first step and asking them for details directly.

Third step: legal transition (optional)

Who can change their name and gender marker in Poland?

Only the following people can change their name and/or gender marker in Poland:

  • Polish citizens;
  • people with permanent residency in Poland who do not possess any citizenship;
  • people with refugee status in Poland.

Foreign citizens living in Poland on visas, temporary or permanent residence permits, or under subsidiary protection cannot do this.

Changing your name to a gender-neutral one (or another one if you can prove it is used by people of your legal gender) without changing your gender marker is possible without any documents.

Having the two conclusions obtained in the first step grants access to changing your name and gender marker to one corresponding to the other gender.

No gender-affirming medical procedures are required to change your name or gender marker.

Where to apply?

To change your data in documents, you must submit an application to the district court in your place of residence.

According to a Supreme Court ruling from March 4, 2025, parents no longer need to be summoned to court, and the process has become faster and less expensive.

Depending on the court, the process may take from several weeks to several years.

A more detailed description of this process can be found on the website of the Polish organization Tranzycja.

Important notes

Language barrier

We were not able to find a single trans-friendly psychologist, sexologist, or psychiatrist who issues conclusions for gender transition in Poland and speaks Russian, Belarusian, or Ukrainian.

However, there are specialists in Poland who provide appointments in English.

We also know a psychologist who agrees to provide appointments in Russian with someone who can act as a translator, or if the patient has at least basic Polish skills.

If you need help finding specialists, contact us through the form on our website or on Telegram @tghousehelp.

Gender transition for minors

There are no strict age restrictions for gender transition in Poland.

The process for minors is largely similar to that for adults. However, there are a few limitations:

  • for visits to a doctor, teenagers aged 16 to 18 need written consent from at least one parent;
  • for visits to a doctor, children and teenagers under 16 must be accompanied by one parent;
  • of all gender-affirming surgeries, only mastectomy is possible, with consent from both parents;
  • for changing name and gender marker, the application must be submitted by the parents.

Before age 14, an endocrinologist may prescribe puberty blockers; after that — blockers or HRT.

Finding specialists who work with minors, especially those under 16, is quite difficult in Poland.

A faster path to hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

There are several endocrinologists in Poland who offer HRT without conclusions from a psychologist, sexologist, or psychiatrist.

Some sexologists and psychiatrists may also issue HRT prescriptions based solely on their own conclusion. However, in such cases, the therapy takes place without supervision by a specialized doctor (an endocrinologist).

In both cases, the person becomes dependent on a small number of specific specialists and loses access to others, as well as to gender-affirming surgeries or legal name and gender marker changes.

Still have questions?

If you still have questions, write to us.