Kraków Mayoral Election 2026: How EU and UK Citizens Can Vote
Kraków will elect a new mayor on Sunday, 27 September 2026. Polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voting is not limited to Polish citizens. Citizens of other EU countries and eligible UK citizens can also take part.
To vote, you must be at least 18 years old, permanently live in Kraków, have voting rights and be included in the Central Register of Voters, known in Polish as the Centralny Rejestr Wyborców, or CRW.
Simply living in Kraków does not mean that you are automatically registered to vote. As explained by Paulina Maťašeje from the Multicultural Centre in Krakow, foreign residents must be registered in the permanent voting district connected to their place of residence in the city.
You can check your registration status using the official government service:
Check your details in the Central Register of Voters
If you are already registered at the correct Kraków address, you do not need to apply again. If you are not in the register, you must apply to be included in a permanent voting district.
The Polish name of the application is:
Wniosek o ujęcie w stałym obwodzie głosowania
You can apply online or in person at the Kraków City Office. The official procedure for EU and UK citizens is available on the SA-31 service page.
You will need a valid identity document, such as a national identity card or passport. The City Office may also ask for proof that you permanently live in Kraków.
According to Jonasz Paszkowiak from the V4 Group law firm, this may include a tenancy agreement, proof that you own the property, utility bills in your name or a Polish tax return showing your Kraków address.
You can submit the application in person at one of three locations:
- Districts I–VII: al. Powstania Warszawskiego 10
- Districts VIII–XIII: ul. Wielicka 28A
- Districts XIV–XVIII: os. Zgody 2
The application may take up to five days to process, so do not wait until the last moment. The office checks each application separately and may ask for additional documents.
In local elections, you must vote at the polling station assigned to your permanent voting district. You cannot normally make a one-time change of polling station or use a certificate to vote somewhere else. Check your assigned polling station before election day.
On 27 September, take a valid national identity card or passport with you. After receiving your ballot paper, put an “X” next to the name of one candidate and place the ballot paper in the ballot box.
The most important step is simple: check your CRW registration now. If you are not registered at your permanent address in Kraków, apply as soon as possible so that your application can be processed before election day.
