PESEL, or Universal Electronic Population Accounting System, is an identifier that is assigned to each person registered permanently or temporarily in the Republic of Poland. Obtaining a Social Security number is necessary in many situations, for example, when creating a bank account, applying for various benefits, or signing employment contracts.
To get a Social Security number, you must apply to the city or municipal administration where the person is registered. The application can be submitted in person, and in some cases in electronic form.
The application must be accompanied by an identity document, such as an ID card or passport, as well as a document confirming your stay in Poland, such as meldunek, if the person is permanently registered, or a certificate of temporary registration, if the person is temporarily in Poland.
Usually, the decision to issue a number is made within a few days after applying for a Social Security number.