How to get a PESEL number in Poland as a foreigner
Short answer: Foreigners get a PESEL automatically when they register their address for more than 30 days, or can apply for free at any municipal office.
PESEL is the 11-digit personal number that Polish offices use to identify you. Banks, the tax office, ZUS, doctors and employers all ask for it sooner or later. For many newcomers it arrives on its own, and for others it has to be requested. This guide explains what the number contains, the two ways to get it, what it costs, and what to write on the form. The information is from the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the gov.pl service page for foreigners (last updated 26 March 2026), read on 13 October 2026.
What a PESEL number is
PESEL is an 11-digit number that identifies one person. It is made of:
- the date of birth in the first six digits (the year, then the month with a code for the century, then the day)
- a serial number in digits 7 to 10, where the last of these shows sex: an even digit (including 0) for a woman and an odd digit for a man
- a check digit as the 11th digit, which allows an automatic check that the number is valid
For people born in 2000 to 2099, 20 is added to the month, so a baby born in March 2026 has 23 in the month position. A PESEL is never given to a second person. It can be changed only in specific cases, such as a corrected date of birth or a change of sex.
Way 1: you register your address and get it automatically
The gov.pl page for foreigners states: if you live in Poland, you can register your address (zameldować się), and then you automatically get a PESEL. The official wording says you will receive it from the office if you register for a stay of more than 30 days. The municipal office that registers you assigns the number.
If you are not sure whether your stay has been registered, ask the office of your municipality. Registering is therefore the simplest route, because you do not need to file a separate PESEL application.
Way 2: you apply for it
If you cannot register your address but an office requires a PESEL from you, you can apply in any municipal office (urząd gminy or urząd miasta). The gov.pl page lists these steps:
1. Fill in the PESEL application form. You can download it or get it at the office.
2. Prepare a document that proves your identity and the other data you put in the form, such as a passport.
3. Sign the application by hand.
4. Submit it at any municipal office.
Important for non-EU citizens: if you are not a citizen of an EU or EFTA state, a Swiss citizen or family member, or a UK citizen covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, you must submit the application in person at a municipal office. This does not apply to children born in Poland.
What to write as the legal basis
The form asks for the actual legal basis for needing a PESEL. The Ministry says that if an office, such as ZUS or the tax office, requires your PESEL, it should also tell you the law that makes the number mandatory. Ask the office to name the provision and write it on the form. An application with missing information will be returned to you to complete, and an application that does not meet the requirements may not be processed.
Cost and timing
The service is free. The clerk accepts your application right away. If there is a basis for giving you the number, you receive a notification that the number was assigned. The gov.pl page does not state a number of days, so ask the office how long it expects.
Using a representative
A person acting under a power of attorney can also apply. In that case the application must include the power of attorney and the proof of payment of the stamp duty for it.
Where the PESEL is used
The gov.pl page names ZUS and the tax office as offices that may require it. Since 31 January 2026, applications for the 800+ child benefit must give a PESEL, according to ZUS. Banks may ask for it too, although some will open an account without it, as our banking guide explains. In every case, the office that asks should be able to tell you the legal basis for requiring it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a PESEL as a foreigner?
By registering your address for a stay of more than 30 days, which gives you one automatically. If you cannot register, apply at any municipal office.
Is a PESEL free?
Yes. The application service is free.
Do I have to go in person?
Non-EU/EFTA citizens must apply in person at a municipal office, according to the gov.pl service page.
What do I write as the basis on the form?
The legal provision that makes the number mandatory. The office that asks for your PESEL should name it.
Can the number change?
Only in specific cases, such as a corrected birth date, a change of sex, or an official error.
