As a foreigner you receive a PESEL number automatically when you register your stay in Poland for more than 30 days, or on your own request at any municipal office. The procedure is free, and in the application you must indicate the legal provision that requires you to have a PESEL number.
What is the PESEL number and when does a foreigner need it?
PESEL is a unified identification number used in Poland by offices, ZUS, banks and courts. As a foreigner you mainly need it for a longer stay, work, tax settlements or running a business.
What does PESEL mean from a legal point of view?
The PESEL number is part of the state population register based on the act on population records. It is a technical number, but without it many administrative and tax procedures become difficult or even impossible. Public authorities treat it as the main identifier of a natural person.
When is PESEL practically necessary?
- when you work in Poland under a contract and pay income tax,
- when you are registered with ZUS as an employee or entrepreneur,
- when you set up a sole proprietorship or a company,
- when you apply for family or health benefits,
- when you sign agreements with a bank or use e-government systems.
PESEL and short stay in Poland
For short, occasional business trips up to 30 days, PESEL is usually not required. If, however, the tax office, ZUS or a bank demands the number, you can apply for it even for a shorter stay. In such a situation you must indicate a specific legal basis in the application, for example a tax provision.
When does a foreigner get a PESEL number automatically after registration?
If you register your temporary stay in Poland for more than 30 days, the office assigns you a PESEL number ex officio. You do not submit a separate application for a PESEL number, because it is part of the registration procedure.
How does assigning a PESEL number ex officio work?
After you register your place of stay, the municipal office sends your data to the PESEL register. The number is assigned by the minister responsible for digitalisation and the activity is purely technical. You receive confirmation of the number being assigned without additional fees.
Registration obligation for foreigners
If, as a third country national, you plan to stay in Poland for more than 30 days, you must register your place of stay at the municipal office. You usually have a few days from arriving at your permanent or temporary residence to do this. Registration is also often required in residence procedures and in many local processes.
PESEL with temporary registration and type of residence document
You can obtain PESEL both when you stay in Poland on a national visa and on a residence card, if you meet the length of registration requirement. You can be registered for example on the basis of a lease agreement or a statement from the owner of the flat. Lack of the owner’s consent to registration does not block getting a PESEL on application.
How to apply for a PESEL number as a foreigner without registration in 2026?
If you cannot register your stay, you submit a paper application for a PESEL number at any municipal office. In the application you must indicate the legal provision that requires you to have a PESEL number.
Step by step – procedure to obtain PESEL without registration
- Download the current PESEL application form from gov.pl or collect it at a municipal office.
- Fill in the form clearly in block letters, exactly according to the data in your passport.
- In the section on legal basis, enter the provision that requires a PESEL number, for example tax or social insurance law.
- Attach your identity document and, if needed, other documents confirming the data, such as an employment contract or a decision from the tax office.
- Sign the application and submit it in person or via a proxy at the chosen municipal office.
How to correctly indicate the legal basis in the application?
If the tax office requires PESEL from you, refer to the act on the rules of registration and identification of taxpayers and payers. When ZUS requires the number, it is worth indicating the provisions on social insurance. The safest option is to ask the office that demands PESEL for written information with the exact article of the law.
Progress Holding support with the PESEL application
If you are not confident with Polish regulations, Progress Holding can prepare a complete application for you. We will fill it in based on your documents, indicate the correct legal basis and decide whether it is better to submit the application in person or via a proxy. Thanks to this you minimise the risk of refusal or the need to provide additional explanations.
Where can you apply for PESEL as a foreigner in 2026?
You can submit a PESEL application at any municipal office in Poland. You do not have to apply in the office where you actually live.
Which office is competent for you?
You can choose the municipality where you work, live or which is simply easiest to visit. This is a big advantage when you temporarily live in several places or change address often. It is important that it is a municipal or city office, the size of the town does not matter.
Can you apply through a proxy?
Yes, the law allows you to submit the application through a proxy, usually a professional office or a trusted person. A written power of attorney is required, together with a stamp duty on the power of attorney, if the proxy is not your closest family member. At Progress Holding we often act as a proxy for clients, combining obtaining PESEL with company registration and accounting services.
Table: where can you apply for a PESEL number?
| Situation | Place of application | What is crucial? |
|---|---|---|
| Foreigner registered for more than 30 days | Municipal office of the place of registration | PESEL assigned automatically, no separate application |
| Foreigner without registration, needs PESEL for taxes | Any municipal office | Exact legal basis from the tax act |
| Foreigner starting a business in Poland | Usually office of place of residence or business | Coordination of dates with CEIDG or KRS registration |
| Ukrainian citizen with PESEL UKR | Municipal office under special procedure | Use of separate forms for PESEL UKR |
Which documents do you need to prepare for the PESEL application?
The basis is a valid identity document and a correctly completed application form. In many cases you also need documents confirming the legal basis, for example letters from the tax office.
List of basic documents
- a valid passport or other document confirming your identity and citizenship,
- a completed PESEL application form,
- documents confirming data in the application (for example a birth certificate in family matters),
- documents confirming the legal basis that requires a PESEL number,
- a power of attorney, if the application is submitted by a proxy.
Documents for PESEL for tax purposes
When applying for PESEL for tax purposes, it is useful to attach a summons from the tax office or information from your employer. An employment contract or management contract also often helps. This makes it easier for the clerk to justify assigning the number.
Progress Holding support in completing documents
In practice most problems come from missing or incorrect documents. At Progress Holding we start with an audit of your situation and a list of required attachments. Then we prepare a set of documents ready to submit at the office, often including sworn translations.
How long does it take to assign a PESEL number to a foreigner and how much does it cost?
Your application is accepted immediately, and the PESEL number is assigned free of charge. The waiting time depends on the workload of the register, but the decision is usually made quickly.
Waiting time for a PESEL number
The clerk accepts your application on the day of your visit. If the application is complete and there is a legal basis, you can receive information about the assigned number in a short time. If data is missing, the office will ask you to complete it, which extends the process.
Is assigning a PESEL number subject to a fee?
Assigning a PESEL number itself is free according to information on gov.pl. A fee may appear only for the power of attorney or for additional services, such as document translations. Handling the whole process by Progress Holding is priced individually, depending on the complexity of the case and the number of persons.
How to avoid delays and additional visits to the office?
The key is to fill in the form correctly and indicate a clear legal basis. It is a good idea to take more documents than the minimum listed in the service description, especially in tax and residence matters. If you want to save time, you can entrust us with preparing and submitting the application as a “PESEL for a foreigner” service.
What are the most common PESEL problems for foreigners in Poland?
The most common problems are lack of registration, incorrect legal basis or discrepancies in passport data. There is also confusion connected with PESEL UKR numbers and standard PESEL numbers for foreigners.
Typical mistakes in a PESEL application
- spelling mistakes in first or last names compared to the passport,
- incorrect date of birth or place of birth,
- no legal basis indicated or a provision that does not fit your case,
- no signature of the applicant or proxy,
- no power of attorney or proof of stamp duty when a proxy acts for you.
Problems when hiring foreign employees
Employers increasingly expect that an employee will already have a PESEL number when signing the contract. Without the number it is harder to register an employee with ZUS and correctly calculate tax advances. For this reason many employers work with us to speed up obtaining PESEL for newly hired foreign workers.
PESEL UKR and a “standard” PESEL number
Ukrainian citizens with special UKR status receive a PESEL number in a separate procedure based on a special act. In practice, this number plays the same role as a standard PESEL, but it is linked to additional social benefits. It is worth checking whether in your case you need an additional “standard” PESEL, for example when establishing a company.
How does PESEL affect running a business as a foreigner in Poland?
PESEL makes it easier to register a business, settle taxes and contact offices. In many cases it allows you to avoid an additional NIP number as an identifier of a natural person.
PESEL and sole proprietorship
If you set up a sole proprietorship in CEIDG, it is best to already have your PESEL number. This makes it easier to submit an online application, sign it with a trusted profile and later log in to the e-Tax Office. At Progress Holding we often start with PESEL and only then move to company registration and registrations with ZUS.
PESEL and a limited liability company or other capital company
When registering a company in KRS, the court increasingly expects PESEL numbers for management board members. Lack of a number can extend the registration, especially if the court calls for data to be supplemented. That is why we recommend that foreign board members obtain PESEL before submitting an application to KRS.
How does Progress Holding combine PESEL with business advisory?
In practice we combine obtaining PESEL with the whole process of entering the Polish market. We help you obtain a PESEL number and then support you with choosing the legal form, company registration, VAT and ongoing accounting. Thanks to this you do not waste time running between offices and can focus on growing your business.
How does it work in practice? Progress Holding experience
Based on over 500 registration and residence processes that we have handled at Progress Holding, we see repeating patterns of problems. A well prepared PESEL application significantly speeds up later business and tax processes.
Most common mistakes from our experience
- starting company registration without first obtaining PESEL for key shareholders or board members,
- submitting PESEL applications without a clear legal basis, which ends with refusal or requests for explanations,
- inconsistent data in documents: different surname in the passport, in the contract or in the qualified signature,
- starting several procedures at once (PESEL, residence card, company registration) without a schedule,
- no power of attorney when the foreigner is abroad and cannot appear at the office in person.
How do we work with foreigners at Progress Holding?
We usually start with a short online business and tax interview. On this basis we prepare a plan: PESEL, legal form of activity, taxes, ZUS and bank. Then we act as your proxy at the municipal office, registration court and tax office so that your company is ready to operate in the shortest possible time.
Why do we plan PESEL at the very beginning of the project?
Without PESEL, many matters require paper forms and traditional correspondence. With a PESEL number you more quickly create a trusted profile, sign applications online and receive decisions in the e-Tax Office. Thanks to this the whole project of entering the Polish market becomes more predictable in terms of time.
Frequently asked questions
Will PESEL for a foreigner still be free in 2026?
Yes, at the time of writing this article assigning a PESEL number is free. You only pay for a power of attorney and any additional services such as translations or support from an adviser.
Can I get a PESEL number if I stay in Poland for less than 30 days?
Yes, if an office requires a PESEL number from you, you can apply even for a shorter stay. The key is to show the legal provision that requires you to have a PESEL, for example for tax settlement.
Does PESEL replace the NIP number for a foreigner?
In many cases it does, especially when you pay taxes as an individual and your identifier is PESEL. If you run a business or are a VAT payer, the tax office may require assigning a NIP in addition to PESEL.
Is PESEL UKR different from a standard PESEL number?
PESEL UKR is a PESEL number assigned under a special procedure for Ukrainian citizens, but the number itself has the same structure. The difference lies in the legal basis and related residence and social benefits. When registering a business or company, you usually do not need a second number.
Can Progress Holding obtain a PESEL number for me without my visit to Poland?
In many cases this is possible through a power of attorney, but it requires an analysis of your situation and documents. We often combine obtaining PESEL with a full service package: company registration, accounting and tax settlements. Contact us to check which option is available for you.
Do I have to immediately register a company after getting my PESEL number?
No, PESEL does not force you to start a business. For many clients, however, it is the first step that opens the way to later business and tax actions. At Progress Holding we help plan the start date of your company so that it is tax efficient.
PESEL for a foreigner in 2026 is the foundation of a safe stay and orderly tax and business affairs in Poland. If you want the whole process to run smoothly and without mistakes, use the support of experienced advisers. Do you need professional assistance? Contact us at Progress Holding on +48 603 232 418 or by email at office@progressholding.pl.
