A polarization compensated planar waveguide branch is disclosed having a planar optical trunk waveguide for transporting a linearly un-polarized optical signal having TE and TM modes. A planar optical branch waveguide, capable of supporting TE and TM modes is optically coupled to the trunk waveguide such that at least a portion of an optical signal propagating within the trunk waveguide will couple into the branch waveguide with an undesired imbalance, having stronger TM mode coupling than TE mode coupling for the at least the portion of the optical signal which couples into the branch waveguide from the trunk waveguide. A portion of said branch waveguide downstream from a region where coupling takes place between the trunk and branch waveguides or a waveguide portion optically coupled thereto, receives the at least a portion of the optical signal, and has at least a predetermined bend with a predetermined radius for compensating for the unwanted imbalance in the TM and TE mode caused by light optically coupling into the branch from the trunk waveguide.