Do I need PESEL to open a company?

Question

Is a PESEL number a requirement to register a business in Poland?

Auranik Consulting & Management · Accepted Answer

## Short answer
It depends on the registration channel. To register electronically (via biznes.gov.pl or the S24 system) and sign the application yourself, you need a PESEL number and a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany) to sign electronically. Without a PESEL, a sole proprietorship can still be registered in person at a municipal office by presenting your passport, but electronic self-registration isn't possible.

## What this depends on
If you're a foreigner legally resident in Poland and registered at an address, you generally receive a PESEL automatically as part of that registration. If not, PESEL can be requested separately at a municipal office.

## Important exception
This question is distinct from whether you personally need residence status to own a company at all (see "Can a foreigner open a company in Poland?") -- PESEL is about how you sign and submit the registration, not about eligibility to own the company.

## Official source
Biznes.gov.pl and gov.pl (PESEL for foreigners service page).

## Related Auranik service
[Business Setup in Poland](/poland/business).

Do I need PESEL to open a company?

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