Poland will introduce a more flexible procedure for collecting national identity cards, known as Dowód osobisty, on December 1, 2026. Applicants will be able to name their preferred municipal office when filing their paperwork and later collect the completed card there.

The planned change was reported by inPoland.net.pl on Tuesday, October 20. Under the current system, a card must be picked up from the same office where the application was submitted.

The measure is intended to reduce extra travel for citizens who live, work or study away from the place where they applied. The new framework will also address transfers of documents between municipalities and identity-verification rules.

It will additionally provide a simpler route to restore an identity card that was cancelled by mistake within 30 days of its invalidation. The rules had initially been due to take effect on July 1, 2026, but their implementation was moved to December 1 after consultations.