Lost Documents in Poland: Reserve Them at Any Bank
Short answer: Reserve a lost identity document in the DOKUMENTY ZASTRZEŻONE system at any bank, by phone on 828 828 828 at many banks, or in mObywatel with mDowód. No account is needed.
If you lose a passport, an identity card or another identity document in Poland, the first practical step is to reserve it (zastrzec) in the DOKUMENTY ZASTRZEŻONE system run by the Polish Bank Association (ZBP). One report to a single bank sends the data to every bank, mobile operator and thousands of other firms that use the system, in near real time. This guide explains how it works, where you can do it and what the official sources say about who can use it. It is general information; for a residence card, ask the voivodeship office what else is needed.
What the system does
The Gov.pl page on the system (published 10 November 2021 under the national emergency number 112 portal) says it was started by the Polish Bank Association and has run since 1997. Until 2008 only bank customers could reserve lost documents. Today anyone can, and should, report lost or stolen documents.
According to the system's own website, the reservation protects against fraud that uses someone else's identity. It says stolen documents are used, among other things, to obtain loans, to take goods bought on deferred payment or hired from rental firms, and to sign rental agreements in order to steal the equipment.
Reporting a document in one bank is enough. The data go automatically to the Central Database and are then sent to all banks, mobile operators and thousands of other firms and institutions using the system. All banks in Poland take part, along with other companies and institutions. The full list of participants is confidential for the security of the system.
Three steps after losing a document
The system's website gives this order:
1. Reserve the document in the system, in your own bank or in any bank that accepts reservations also from people who are not its clients. Doing it in person at a branch is the easiest way. Many banks also take reservations by phone on 828 828 828. You can also use www.bik.pl (if you had set up an account there earlier for the lost document) and the mObywatel app. 2. Notify the police, only if the documents were lost as a result of a crime such as theft. 3. Notify the nearest municipal authority or consular post and get a new document. The website points to Gov.pl for the rules on telling the municipality about a lost document.
You do not need an account
The Gov.pl page and the system's website both stress that people who do not use banking services should also reserve lost identity documents. Many banks accept reservations from non-clients. The system keeps a list of banks that reserve documents for everyone at DokumentyZastrzezone.pl.
Reserving in the mObywatel app
The system's website announced on 9 February 2026 that you can reserve and cancel the reservation of an identity card or a passport through the mObywatel app. The conditions listed are:
- you are an adult
- you have app version 4.75.0 or higher
- you have mDowód (the mobile ID card)
In the app you can also check whether your document is already reserved in the ZBP database. For security the app shows only the fact of the reservation, not the name of the bank.
If you reserve in the app, you can cancel the reservation only through the app. If you reserved in a bank, you have to go to the branch to withdraw it. This helps if the document turns up later and you are sure nobody used your data.
The mDowód requirement means this route is aimed at holders of a Polish ID card. The sources do not say that foreign passports or residence cards can be reserved in the app, so a foreigner should plan on the bank route and ask the bank which document types it accepts.
Scale
In the second quarter of 2026, more than 139,000 documents were reported to the system, and the Central Database was close to 3 million items, according to the system's report published in July 2026.
Keep the other steps in mind
Reserving a document protects against misuse of your identity data. It does not replace the formal steps for the document itself. Polish rules for a lost Polish ID card, according to a Ministry of Digital Affairs note of 23 August 2024, include invalidating it quickly in the municipal office or online, and reporting a theft to the police. For a lost residence card, the rules differ, so check with the voivodeship office that issued it.
* Photos: Four different passports (Wikimedia Commons, CC0); Finnish ID card, back side (Wikimedia Commons, public domain). Both are illustrative and not Polish documents.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a bank account to reserve a lost document?
No. The system says people without bank accounts should also reserve lost documents, and many banks accept reservations from non-clients. A list is at DokumentyZastrzezone.pl.
Is there a phone number?
Many banks accept reservations by phone on 828 828 828, according to the system's website.
Can I reserve a foreign passport?
The sources reviewed do not say which foreign documents are accepted. Ask a bank. The mObywatel route is for Polish ID cards and passports held with mDowód.
Do I also have to go to the police?
Only if the documents were lost as a result of a crime such as theft, according to the system's website.
