For several years now, platforms have been developed in Poland that allow people to deal with official matters over the Internet. Individual offices run their own websites, and the method of dealing with matters and the range of matters that can be dealt with electronically are not uniform. Some services are maintained in several languages, others only in Polish. To use public services electronically, as a rule, one is required to have a so-called trusted profile. It is used to confirm a person’s identity and allows the electronic signing of documents submitted to Polish administrative bodies. You can set up an account yourself on the Internet, but it is necessary to confirm the trusted profile in person at an office.
More information about the trusted profile can be obtained at: www.pz.gov.pl
Foreigners can have a trusted profile if they have a Polish PESEL number.
PESEL is a person’s identification number; it can be obtained from the municipality office. It is used to contact administrative authorities. A PESEL number can also be assigned to a foreigner who lives in Poland. It can be obtained from the municipality (or city) office. Information on the procedure for obtaining a PESEL number has been published on the government website.
Note: Use of the MOS service for foreigners does not require a PESEL number or a trusted profile (but this is required to use the platforms of the Social Insurance Institution and tax offices, among others).
Electronic services are being introduced gradually, and in many cases the additional submission of paper documents or a personal visit to an office to confirm an electronically submitted application is required. From the perspective of foreigners, the most significant is the need to visit the relevant office in person for:
- Submitting an application to the provincial governor for matters related to residence and work in Poland. You should print out the electronically generated application, sign it, make an appointment to visit the provincial office and submit the signed application in person. On the pages of the MOS website you can find information that in the future it is planned to waive the need to appear in person in the office, but currently it is required, and the mere submission of the application in the electronic system does not have any legal effect.
- Confirmation of the establishment of a trusted profile. The trusted profile allows you to log in to official platforms for settling matters, as well as sign documents submitted electronically to Polish offices. Once the trusted profile is created, it needs to be confirmed. This can be done in many offices in the country and abroad (usually in the offices of municipalities and cities, tax offices, provincial offices, ZUS, and abroad in embassies and consulates of Poland). A current list of confirmation points.
Information current as of: .
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