If you plan on staying in Poland for an extended period of time, get a PESEL is a useful thing to have and a relatively simple thing to acquire. In fact, you can acquire it at the same time you get your registration or "zameldowanie".

What's a PESEL?

PESEL stands for "Powszechny Elektroniczny System Ewidencji Ludności", which translates roughly to "common electronic citizen records system". Ultimately, this is the principle number by which a private individual is identified in most government offices. A PESEL is linked with personal information about the given individual including the following:

• PESEL number
• current first and last names
• maiden name (if any)
• former first and last names
• parents' first and last names
• place and date of birth
• gender
• citizenship
• birth certificate number
• marital status
• spouse's first and last names
• date of marriage, marriage certificate number
• current permanent registration (zameldowanie)
• previous registrations (permanent and temporary)
• military rank and number (if any)
• serial number of current ID card (dowód osobisty)
• death certificate (if applicable)

for foreigners:

• serial number of residency card
• information on permits and certificates allowing
• the foreigner to stay in Poland

What does a PESEL number look like?

A PESEL consists of 11 digits, each containing information about a person. It is not completely randomly assigned. The first 6 digits signify the person's date of birth. The first two the year, the next two the month, and finally the day. In the case of people born between 1900-1999, the months appear naturally, while those born between 2000-2099 have an additional 20 added to the month number. In other words, a person born on July 14, 2002 would have a PESEL that starts like this, 0 2 2 7 1 4 The gender of the PESEL holder is assigned by the ten digit: if it's an odd number, the PESEL belongs to a male, if it's even (or zero) then it belongs to a female. The final number is a control number, chose using some algorithm which is not terribly important to understand.

How do I get a PESEL?

Where: city hall/town council (urząd miasta) prerequisite: can be obtained in conjunction with your permanent or termporary (>3 months) registration (zameldowanie stały lub czasowy trwający ponad 3 miesiące) Wait time: about three weeks What you'll need:

• Filled out application form (sample form)
  • current first and last names
  • maiden name (if any)
  • former first and last names
  • parents' first and last names
  • place and date of birth
  • gender
  • citizenship
• form of ID (passport)
• proof of registration or "zameldowanie" (applications for PESEL and zameldowanie are submitted at the same time)

Useful resources:

• Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracj (in Polish)
• The Researcher's Mobility Portal (in Polish)
• Erasmus in Poland - How to get a PESEL in Poland
• British in Poland - How to get a PESEL
• Polish Blog - Confirming Polish Citizenship and Getting Polish ID Card

If you feel that any of the information above is inaccurate, unclear, or needs to be restated, then let me know any suggestions you may have!