For Mateusz and Jakub Cupriak-Trojan, the wait began in 2019. On Friday, after nearly seven years of fighting through Polish courts and eventually the European Court of Justice, their marriage was finally recognized as valid in Poland.
Poland's Supreme Administrative Court ruled on March 20, 2026, that refusing to recognize same-sex marriages from other EU countries breaks EU law. The landmark decision overturns years of rejections the couple faced when trying to get their foreign marriage certificate transcribed into Polish civil records.
The case traces back to the European Court of Justice, which ruled in November 2025 that Poland must recognize marriages legally concluded in other EU countries. The European court found that refusing recognition violates EU law on freedom of movement and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, specifically the right to family life and the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Poland's Supreme Administrative Court was bound to follow that ruling.
The court has now ordered the Civil Registry Office to transcribe the couple's marriage certificate within 30 days of receiving the case files. This effectively closes their case and sets a precedent that all civil registry offices across Poland must follow the same interpretation when handling similar requests.
Marie-Hélène Ludwig, a senior legal advisor at ILGA-Europe, an organization that supported the couple throughout their legal battle, called the ruling a victory. "Today's judgment is a victory for the many same-sex couples in Poland who have been deprived of marriage recognition for years and a first step towards equality," she said. She added that it also shows domestic courts can quickly implement European Court rulings, unlike what has happened in some other cases.
The impact reaches beyond this single couple. Same-sex couples in Poland have long been unable to access rights tied to family life, including social security benefits, tax rules, and inheritance protections that married heterosexual couples take for granted. With this ruling, thousands of couples in similar situations may now be able to have their marriages recognized.
Legal experts and advocacy groups will be watching closely to ensure Polish authorities follow through. While Friday's decision marks a turning point, Ludwig noted that full equality will depend on how thoroughly it is put into practice. Still, for the first time in years, couples like Mateusz and Jakub have official recognition that their marriage belongs in Poland.