Opening a Bank Account in Poland Without a PESEL: Who Is Entitled and How (2026)
Updated: 2026-10-01 · ~2 min read
Your right, not a favour: the basic payment account (PRP)
Anyone legally staying in Poland has the right to a basic payment account (in Polish: podstawowy rachunek płatniczy, PRP) under the Payment Services Act (art. 50b and following), implementing the EU Payment Services Directive. A bank cannot refuse you a PRP because of missing PESEL, missing residence registration (zameldowanie), or nationality. A PRP covers cash deposits/withdrawals, PLN (and EUR) transfers, and a debit card — without account maintenance fees for basic operations.
Who can open an account without a PESEL
Scroll the table sideways →
| Situation | ID document | Can the bank demand a PESEL? | Typical route |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU citizen, visa-free stay | EU national ID card or passport | No (PRP) | fully online (transfer from another EU account) or branch |
| Non-EU citizen with valid visa / residence permit | passport + document proving legal stay | No for PRP; yes — some marketing-only offers | usually a branch; online depends on the offer |
| Ukrainian citizen under a dedicated offer | foreign passport (or Ukrainian ID) | No | online, special route (e.g. mBank UA) |
| Person without legal stay status | passport | — | PRP does not apply; possibly a limited "for foreigners" offer (often cash-focused) |
What to prepare for the application
- Valid ID document (passport / EU national ID) + proof of legal stay if your status is not visible in the document itself.
- Phone number — most banks require a Polish number; some "passport-only" offers accept a home-country number (check the form).
- Address in Poland — a temporary address is usually enough; the bank may ask for proof (e.g. a rental agreement).
Online or branch?
- Transfer from another EU account — the 100% online route for EU citizens; popular at mBank and ING.
- Video verification / selfie with document — available in selected offers; check whether it covers a foreign passport.
- Branch — the safe fallback: passport + proof of stay, account usually ready the same day or within a few days (card by courier).
Things to watch out for
- PRP ≠ marketing offer: "0 PLN for everything" does not have to apply to the PRP — read the fee schedule.
- BLIK registration may require a PESEL in parts of the system; if you don't have one, ask your bank whether BLIK works on your account.
- If you get a residence permit or PESEL after opening the account — update your data (branch or app) so the bank does not block the account for "outdated data".
Affiliate slot: PRP offer comparison for foreigners — to be wired via Money2Money (CPA) after publisher account registration.
Sources
- Polish Payment Services Act, art. 50b et seq. (basic payment account); EU Directive 2014/92/EU.
- mBank — offer for Ukrainian citizens (as of October 1, 2026).
- Bank websites (mBank, ING, PKO BP, Millennium) — online verification requirements; as of October 1, 2026.