I am a citizen of Ukraine, and I have a PESEL number that was issued before 24 February 2022, do I need or can I apply for another PESEL number, according to the Special-purpose Act?
Update: 08.02.2023
Pursuant to the “special act”, the PESEL number is granted at the request of:
1.a citizen of Ukraine who has legally entered Poland from February 24, 2022 in connection with hostilities conducted on the territory of Ukraine and declares his intention to stay on the territory of Poland;
2. a non-Ukrainian spouse of a citizen of Ukraine, provided that he or she came to the territory of Poland in connection with hostilities conducted on the territory of Ukraine;
3. a citizen of Ukraine holding a Pole’s Card, who left Ukraine with his immediate family due to these hostilities in the period from February 24, 2022, and declares his intention to stay in the territory of Poland.
4. At the request of the legal guardian, children born on the territory of the Republic of Poland by the mother who is the person specified above (i.e. is a citizen of Ukraine who came to the territory of the Republic of Poland from the territory of Ukraine in connection with hostilities conducted on the territory of that state or a citizen of Ukraine who has Card of a Pole who, together with his immediate family, due to these hostilities, came to the territory of the Republic of Poland or is a person who does not have Ukrainian citizenship, the spouse of a Ukrainian citizen, provided that she came to the territory of the Republic of Poland from the territory of Ukraine in connection with hostilities conducted on the territory of that state).
The above-mentioned citizens of Ukraine and their family members may submit an application for a PESEL number on the basis of the “special act”, also when they have already been assigned a PESEL number in Poland. In such a case, the commune authority will take fingerprints and photos from them, and then complete the data already contained in the register with the information required by the “special act”. The foreigner will receive a new document confirming possession of the PESEL number assigned on the basis of the “special act” (“UKR”).
The commune authorities argue that obtaining a PESEL number in the manner provided for in the “special act” is necessary in order to exercise the rights provided for in that act. This is not true. First of all, having a PESEL number is actually necessary, but only with regard to several rights provided for in the “special act”, i.e .:
1. the right to undertake and pursue economic activity in the territory of the Republic of Poland on the same terms as Polish citizens (the right “provided that a citizen of Ukraine has obtained a PESEL number”);
2. the right to benefits, e.g. family benefits (the application for these benefits must contain the applicant’s PESEL number);
3. the right to social assistance (only for Ukrainian citizens entered in the PESEL register);
4. assistance in the form of a one-time cash benefit in the amount of PLN 300 per person (only for Ukrainian citizens entered in the PESEL register).
Secondly, the “special act” does not require a citizen of Ukraine to be granted a PESEL under the “special act” in relation to any of the above rights. Therefore, these rights are also available to people who have a PESEL number assigned on the basis of other regulations.
However, taking into account that:
1.some municipal offices explicitly require obtaining a PESEL number in the “special act” mode in order to use the rights provided for in this act, and
2. certificate of granting the PESEL number “UKR” may be the only document that confirms being a beneficiary of the “special act” (unless we have an electronic document in the mobywatel application)
it is recommended that all eligible citizens of Ukraine and their family members who already have a PESEL number should apply for it again in accordance with the procedure provided for in the “special act”.
WARNING! Persons who cannot apply for a PESEL number on the basis of the “special act”:
1.having:
a) permanent residence permit,
b) long-term resident’s European Union residence permit,
c) temporary residence permit,
d) refugee status,
e) subsidiary protection,
f) consent for tolerated stay;
2. applying for international protection.
Worth knowing
– the deadline for applying for a PESEL number is 30 days;
– the deadline for submitting an application for a PESEL number was extended to 90 days by persons whose entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland has not been registered;
– disabled people who are unable to appear in person at the commune office, the authorities will provide the possibility of submitting the application at their place of stay;
– the PESEL number may be assigned ex officio to persons who do not have full legal capacity and do not have a designated legal guardian.Government information on applying for a PESEL number in the “special act” mode: https://www.gov.pl/web/gov/ubezpieczaj-numer-pesel-oraz-profil-zaufany–usluga-dla-obywateli-ukrainy