PESEL in Poland: where and how to get it in 2025

Without these 11 digits in Poland, you’re nobody. Want to open a bank account? PESEL. Register with a doctor? PESEL. Buy a SIM card? PESEL again. How to get PESEL in Poland without losing your mind to bureaucracy? We explain step by step, with addresses and life hacks.

What is PESEL and why you need it

PESEL stands for Powszechny Elektroniczny System Ewidencji Ludności – Universal Electronic System for Registration of the Population. But all you need to know is it’s your unique 11-digit number that will follow you everywhere.

How to decode the number

The number contains encrypted information about you:

• First 6 digits – date of birth (YYMMDD)
• Next 3 – serial number
• 10th digit – gender (even – female, odd – male)
• 11th – checksum

Born on March 15, 1990? The beginning will be 900315…

Where you’ll need PESEL

PESEL number in Poland is needed literally everywhere:

• Bank – can’t even open an account without it
• Work – for employment contract
• Doctor – registration at clinic
• Tax office – all declarations
• ZUS – social insurance
• Mobile operator – phone contract
• Internet and utilities – contracts
• School/kindergarten – enrolling a child
• Even in some shops when returning goods

In short, without PESEL you’re not a resident, you’re a tourist.

Who can get PESEL

Not every foreigner will get those coveted digits. How to obtain PESEL depends on your status.

Get automatically

• Polish citizens – at birth
• When getting residence card – included in the card
• EU citizens – when registering residence

Can apply for it

• Foreigners with visa – national or Schengen over 90 days
• Ukrainians with UKR status – special procedure
• Students – with student visa
• Family members of EU citizens
• Refugees and protected persons

Who will be refused

• Tourists with short-term visa
• Visa-free regime up to 90 days
• Illegal immigrants (obviously)
• Transit visas

Where to get PESEL – addresses

Where to apply for PESEL in Poland? Go to the office, but not just any!

Correct offices for PESEL

PESEL is issued at:

• Urząd Miasta – city administration
• Urząd Gminy – municipality administration
• Urząd Dzielnicy – district offices in big cities

NOT issued at:

• Urząd Wojewódzki (where residence cards are)
• Urząd Skarbowy (tax office)
• ZUS

Warsaw – main points

• Center – ul. Andersa 5
• Mokotów – ul. Rakowiecka 25/27
• Praga – ul. Grochowska 274
• Wola – al. Solidarności 90
• Żoliborz – pl. Wilsona 5

Each district has its own office. Go to the nearest to your place of residence.

Other major cities

Krakow: pl. Wszystkich Świętych 3-4

Wroclaw: ul. Zapolskiej 4

Poznan: ul. Libelta 16/20

Gdansk: ul. Partyzantów 74

Lodz: ul. Piotrkowska 104

Required documents

Without proper documents PESEL application don’t even ask – they’ll send you away immediately.

Basic set

• Passport – original and copy
• Document confirming right to stay:
  • Residence card
  • Or visa (over 90 days)
  • Or border crossing stamp
  • Or certificate for EU citizens
• Application form – you’ll get at the office
• Photo – not always, but better to have

Additional documents

They may ask for:

• Rental agreement – address confirmation
• Registration (meldunek) – if you have
• Birth certificate – for children
• University certificate – for students
• Employment contract – as proof of purpose

For Ukrainians with UKR

Special package:

• Application on special form
• Any identity document
• Photo (if no biometric passport)
• Children’s documents (if applicable)

Step-by-step procedure

Now the process itself – how to get PESEL number from A to Z.

Step 1: Determine your office

By place of residence or temporary stay. You don’t need to have registration (meldunek), it’s enough to live in the area. But they may ask for address.

Step 2: Make appointment or come

In big cities better to book online. In small ones – live queue. Come at opening, fewer people.

Step 3: At the office

1. Take a ticket to Ewidencja Ludności department
2. Wait in queue (can be long)
3. Submit documents to the clerk
4. Fill out application (they’ll help if you don’t understand)
5. Check the data
6. Sign

Step 4: Getting PESEL

In 90% of cases PESEL is given immediately! You’ll receive:

• Certificate (Zaświadczenie) – document with PESEL number
• Costs 17 PLN
• You can get several copies

Sometimes they tell you to come back in a few days – if additional checks are needed.

Procedure time

• With residence card – 15 minutes
• With visa – 30-60 minutes
• Complex cases – may send to another window

PESEL for children

Children also need PESEL, and the sooner the better.

Newborns

Baby born in Poland?

1. Register birth at USC (Civil Registry Office)
2. PESEL assigned automatically
3. Get birth certificate with PESEL

Everything in one place, very convenient!

Children arriving with parents

Procedure like for adults, but:

• Parents or guardians apply
• Need birth certificate + translation
• Parents’ documents
• Child’s right to stay confirmation

Why child needs PESEL

• Enrollment in kindergarten/school
• Medical care
• Social benefits (800+)
• Document processing

Without PESEL you can’t even properly register a child at the doctor!

Common problems and solutions

Not everything always goes smoothly. Let’s cover typical problems.

They refuse to issue

Reasons for refusal:

• Wrong office – went to wrong place
• Insufficient documents – forgot something
• Visa under 90 days – not eligible
• Expired documents – renew and come back

Solution: find out exact reason, fix it, try again.

Lost PESEL

Can’t lose the number itself – it’s forever. But the certificate – easily:

• Go to any city/municipality office
• Ask for duplicate certificate
• Pay 17 PLN
• Get new certificate

Error in data

Wrong name or birth date?

1. Urgently to office with passport
2. Write correction application
3. Show correct data
4. They correct free of charge

Important to fix quickly – later problems everywhere!

PESEL already exists (surprise!)

Sometimes PESEL was already assigned automatically:

• When getting residence card
• During previous visit to Poland
• When employer registered you in ZUS

How to check? Ask at office with passport – they’ll check in database.

Important questions

Can I get PESEL without residence card?

Yes! A visa for more than 90 days is enough. Or being an EU citizen. Or having UKR status (for Ukrainians).

How much does getting PESEL cost?

PESEL itself – free! You only pay for the certificate – 17 PLN. You can leave without certificate, just write down the number.

Do I need to change PESEL when changing surname?

No! PESEL is assigned once and forever. When changing surname, only data in the system changes, the number stays.

Can they cancel PESEL?

Extremely rarely. Only if it turns out it was obtained fraudulently or two numbers were assigned by mistake. When leaving Poland, PESEL remains.

Do illegal immigrants get PESEL?

No. Need legal basis for stay. But there are exceptions for special situations (childbirth, emergency medical care).