This document presents a basis for alignment of polar data policies, notably the policies and statements of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), the Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) initiative, the Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure, and the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS). The document examines the state and recent developments of global and important regional data policies, as well as technological and institutional developments that should or might be considered when forming new polar data policies. Based on this examination, we conclude by identifying a number of data management principles that can be regarded as essential to the management of polar research data and can be incorporated in all polar data policies in such a way that they are aligned with each other and with overarching global and regional data policies.