A polarization independent coherent lightwave detection arrangement is disclosed which utilizes an optical hybrid including a single polarization beam splitter (16) and a single polarization maintaining coupler (18). The received message signal EM(t) and a local oscillator signal ELO(t) are applied as orthogonal inputs to the beam splitter such that the pair of output signals contain orthogonal components from each input signal. The coupler functions to combine the pair of output signals such that a balanced receiver (14) is capable of recovering the transmitted data signal, regardless of the polarization of the incoming message signal.