Profil Zaufany: your digital key to Polish public services

Imagine – no more queues at offices, no more trips across the city to submit an application. All government services available from home, anytime. Fantasy? No, it’s Profil Zaufany – your personal dashboard for all official matters in Poland.

What is Profil Zaufany and what it’s for

What is Profil Zaufany in simple terms? It’s like an electronic signature, only better. With it you can sign documents online, and they’ll have the same legal power as if you put a regular signature at the office.

In Polish it’s Profil Zaufany, which translates as “trusted profile”. The government basically says: “We trust this is really you, so you can handle everything online”.

Who can get the profile

Profil Zaufany what is it – a privilege only for Polish citizens? Not at all! Anyone with a PESEL can get it. This means:

• Polish citizens (obviously)
• Foreigners with residence cards
• EU citizens living in Poland
• Ukrainians with UKR status
• Anyone with a PESEL number

How it differs from regular website registration

Regular registration is just login and password. But what is a trusted profile? It’s government-verified identity. Like a passport, but online. You’re not just John123, but a specific person with a specific PESEL, whose identity has been verified.

Which services are available with the profile

The list of what Profil Zaufany is for grows every year. Now it’s already hundreds of services!

Tax matters

• Filing PIT – annual declaration in 15 minutes
• Checking debts – how much you owe the state
• Refund applications – overpaid tax? Get it back online
• Income certificates – for loans or visas
• VAT registration – for entrepreneurs

ZUS and social benefits

• Employment history check – how many years you’ve worked
• Sick leaves – submission and payment verification
• 500+/800+ – child benefit applications
• Pension matters – future pension calculation
• Insurance contributions – payment verification

Documents and certificates

• Registry excerpts – KRS, CEIDG
• Criminal record certificates – for work or visa
• Document duplicates – if you lost originals
• Civil status records – birth, marriage certificates

Migration matters

Not everything yet, but some things are possible:

• Residence card status check (in some voivodeships)
• Document submission appointment booking
• Filing notifications
• Administrative fee payments

All ways to create the profile

Now the most interesting part – how to create Profil Zaufany. There are several ways, choose the convenient one.

Through bank (easiest)

If you have a Polish bank account, this is your way:

• Log into online banking
• Look for Profil Zaufany section
• Confirm your data
• Done in 5 minutes!

Works in most banks: PKO BP, mBank, ING, Santander, Pekao, Millennium and others.

In person at confirmation point

The classic way – go with ID to one of the points:

• City or gmina office
• Voivodeship office
• Tax office (urząd skarbowy)
• ZUS
• Some post offices
• Polish consulates abroad

Takes 10-15 minutes, profile activates immediately.

Temporary profile online

Create Profil Zaufany can be done completely online, but with limitations:

• Register at pz.gov.pl
• Fill in data
• Get temporary profile for 3 months
• During this time must confirm identity

Through video call

New method – video verification:

• Need smartphone with camera
• Identity document
• Operator verifies you via video
• Profile activates within 24 hours

Step-by-step registration guide

Let’s go through the most popular option – through bank.

Step 1: Check availability

Make sure your bank supports the service. Usually information is on bank’s website or mobile app. Look for “Profil Zaufany” or “e-Urząd”.

Step 2: Log into bank system

Log into online banking or mobile app. Important – need full access, not guest.

Step 3: Find the option

Where to look:

• “Services” section
• “Settings” menu
• “Electronic administration”
• Sometimes directly on main page

Step 4: Confirm data

Bank will show your data from system:

• Name and surname
• PESEL
• Address
• Email
• Phone

Check carefully! Error in data = problems with profile.

Step 5: Create login

Create login for profile. Tips:

• Don’t use PESEL as login
• Avoid personal data
• Remember or write down

Step 6: Activation

After confirming all data, profile activates instantly. You get SMS and email confirmation. Done, you can use it!

Identity verification methods

If you created temporary profile or need to extend existing one, identity verification will be needed.

In-person verification

Most reliable method:

• Find nearest point on gov.pl
• Take passport or residence card
• Come during working hours
• Say “Profil Zaufany – potwierdzenie”
• Show document, sign paper
• Done!

Certificate verification

If you have qualified electronic signature (podpis kwalifikowany):

• Go to pz.gov.pl
• Choose certificate verification
• Follow instructions
• Profile confirms automatically

Bank verification

Even if you created profile not through bank, can verify there:

• Profile must already be created
• In bank choose “confirmation”
• Data verifies automatically
• Instant confirmation

Common problems and solutions

Not everything always goes smoothly. Here are typical problems when creating profile.

Bank doesn’t show option

Reasons:

• No PESEL in bank – update data
• Incomplete account verification – complete full identification
• Technical works – try later
• Bank doesn’t support – use another method

Registration error

What to do:

• Check PESEL correctness
• Make sure no typos in data
• Try different browser
• Clear cookies
• Call hotline

Profile blocked

After 3 failed login attempts profile blocks. Solution:

• Wait 15 minutes
• Recover password via email
• Or go to confirmation point in person

Validity expired

Profile works for 3 years. Forgot to extend?

• Can extend online (if not past 90 days)
• Through bank – instantly
• In person at point – also quick

Security and data protection

Profil Zaufany is access to all your data in government systems. Security is critically important!

Basic security rules

• Never give password to anyone – even office employees
• Don’t log in on others’ computers – they can steal data
• Check website address – should be gov.pl
• Use strong password – minimum 8 characters
• Enable two-factor authentication – SMS confirmation

What to do if hacking suspected

Noticed strange activity?

• Immediately change password
• Check login history
• Contact hotline
• If necessary – block profile

Fraud schemes

Typical scammer tricks:

• Phishing emails “confirm profile”
• Calls “from administration”
• Fake clone websites
• Requests to send password for “verification”

Remember: real officials never ask for password!

Questions and answers

How much does Profil Zaufany cost?

Absolutely free! If someone asks for money for creation or confirmation – they’re scammers.

Can you have multiple profiles?

No, one PESEL = one profile. If you create new one, old one automatically deactivates.

Does profile work abroad?

Yes! You can use Polish services online from anywhere in the world. Just need internet.

What if I forgot login?

On pz.gov.pl there’s recovery option. Need PESEL and email given at registration. Or go to confirmation point with documents.

Do I need to update data in profile?

If address, phone or email changed – good to update. But profile will continue working with old data too.