🇵🇱 Poland

Banks in Poland are private institutions, not a government authority, and each sets its own terms. This guide anchors on three large retail banks — PKO BP, Bank Pekao, and ING — and shows how a foreigner opens a *konto osobiste* with a passport. Treat any free-account headline as bank-specific and condition-dependent.

A *numer PESEL* is Poland's eleven-digit personal identification number, needed for tax, social-insurance, healthcare, and banking matters. Foreigners obtain it two ways: automatically when registering residence for over 30 days, or by application at a municipal office when they cannot register but still need the number. The service is free.

A *Profil Zaufany* (Trusted Profile) is Poland's free national digital-identity credential. With it and a PESEL number you can log in to government e-services and sign documents online, replacing counter visits. This guide covers eligibility, the confirmation methods, and the services it unlocks.

A third-country national applies for a Polish temporary residence permit (*zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy*) through the provincial governor. The governor grants this purpose-bound permit for a fixed period of up to three years, with the residence card issued after a positive decision.

A Polish driving licence (*prawo jazdy*) is issued by your local county office, the *starostwo powiatowe*. You first obtain a Candidate Driver Profile (PKK), pass a driver medical examination, complete a course, and pass the state theory and practical exams at a regional road-traffic centre (WORD), then pay the flat 100 zł issuing fee. For the common car category B the minimum age is 17, with Poland-only driving until you turn 18.