Having a PESEL number enables Polish citizens to use almost all services of the Polish administration and civil-legal rights. Foreigners may also apply for this identification number. We have checked in which cases they are entitled to this right.
Possessing a PESEL number by foreigners living on the territory of the Republic of Poland is necessary to enable them to fully enjoy the rights of Polish citizens. The right to receive a PESEL number, however, is not available to everyone. In order to receive this individual number of population records, one of several legally defined conditions that allow foreigners to receive a PESEL should be fulfilled. We checked in which situations immigrants and refugees in Poland can count on giving them a PESEL number. We will also provide information on where to go with the appropriate application, what documents to take and what costs to prepare.
In a nutshell: 1. The PESEL number is available to all foreigners who have permission to stay in Poland. 2. You can receive a PESEL in two ways: from the office or at the request. 3. To obtain a PESEL number from the office, all you have to do is register in Poland. 4. If you do not have the possibility to register in Poland, you can apply for a PESEL number on the application – details in the tab When can I get a PESEL number ?. 5. The PESEL number is assigned in the commune offices, and in exceptional cases – in the Śródmieście District Office of the capital city of Warsaw. 6. You will not pay anything for assigning a PESEL number. 7. PESEL shall be submitted by the Minister of Digitization.
WHEN CAN I RECEIVE A PESEL NUMBER? The PESEL number can be obtained in Poland in two ways: from the office, ie automatically, and on request, that is, after submitting the relevant documents to the office. Regardless of the method of obtaining a PESEL number (at the request or ex officio), a foreigner must meet one of the legally determined conditions that will allow him to circulate for the Polish population number. 1. Right of permanent residence If you are a citizen of a European Union (EU) country, the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) or the Swiss Confederation, you will receive a PESEL number if you have the right to permanent residence in Poland. If you are not a citizen of any of the above countries, but you have the right to permanent residence in Poland, you will receive your PESEL number if you are a child, the spouse or wife of an EU citizen, EFTA or the Swiss Confederation.
2. Other residence permit A foreigner circulating for a PESEL number can count on successful consideration of his / her application if he / she has a permanent residence permit, a consent to stay in Poland as a long-term EU resident or a tolerated stay permit. All foreigners, who for security reasons left their homeland and took shelter in Poland, can count on receiving a PESEL number. It is sufficient that they have refugee status, adequate asylum or subsidiary protection, consent for temporary protection or a stay permit for humanitarian reasons.
3. Kinship with a refugee If you are a member of a refugee family or a person who has permission for temporary protection in Poland, you can count on receiving a PESEL number. In such a situation, however, you must show a proper relationship with a given foreigner – be his parent, child or spouse.
WHERE TO GET A PESEL NUMBER Foreigners who qualify for a PESEL number in Poland must apply for a relevant office – depending on the reasons for which they are eligible to receive the same number. 1. At the relevant commune office If a foreigner has or wants to be registered in Poland, he / she must go to the relevant commune office, to which a specific place of residence belongs. Those essential, in case of a registered PESEL number, are usually sent from the office, i.e. automatically. However, if a foreigner is not and can not be registered, but is employed in Poland, it is enough to apply for a PESEL to the appropriate municipality office – that is, on whose territorial scope the employer’s office is located.
2. In the Śródmieście District Office of the Capital City of Warsaw. If a foreigner can not obtain a registration in the Republic of Poland and he is not also employed in Poland, he may apply for a PESEL number in the Śródmieście District Office of the capital city of Warsaw. This office is located at 43 Nowogrodzka St. in Warsaw.
WHICH DOCUMENTS TO PREPARE? To obtain a PESEL number you must prepare: 1. The right application You can find the print not only in the competent office of the commune or the Śródmieście District Office of the capital city of Warsaw, but also on the website of these authorities. 2. A document confirming your identity This document should not only specify the personal data of the applicant, but also prove that one of the conditions for granting PESEL number to foreigners, about which we wrote in the section When can I get a PESEL number. 3. Contract of employment If you decide to apply for a PESEL number at the commune office, citing work in Poland, you must submit a document confirming such work and directly indicating the address of the employer’s registered office.
