Using a method of electron structure functions, we calculated a model independent radiative correction to the recoil proton polarization for elastic electron-proton scattering. Explicit expressions for the recoil proton polarization are represented as a convolution of the electron structure functions and the hard part of the polarization-dependent contribution into the cross section. The hard part is calculated with first order radiative corrections. The obtained representation includes leading radiative corrections in all orders of perturbation theory and the main part of the second order next-to-leading radiative corrections. Numerical calculations illustrate our analytical results. © 2001 The American Physical Society.