The meldunek is an entry in a register. The zaświadczenie o zameldowaniu is the document that proves it - and it is the document that banks, schools, the vehicle department, insurers, courts and foreign counterparties actually ask for.
It costs PLN 17 for temporary registration and PLN 0 for permanent. It is issued the same day. The difficulty is rarely in getting one; it is in knowing which of the several types you need.
The types of certificate
| Type | What it proves | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of permanent registration | permanent registration | PLN 0 |
| Certificate of temporary registration | temporary registration and its period | PLN 17 |
| Certificate of deregistration | that you have been removed from an address | PLN 17 |
| Certificate of the number of registered persons | how many people are registered in a flat | PLN 17 |
| Full PESEL register extract | all register data about you | PLN 17 |
The last one is often the rescue: when an authority asks vaguely for "confirmation of your data", the full extract closes the question better than a narrow certificate.
The certificate on the number of registered persons matters to owners - when selling a flat, in disputes with the building association, and in utility settlements.
Where it is asked for
Our list, by frequency:
- Banks - business accounts, loans, mortgages, AML procedures.
- The vehicle department - registering a car, exchanging a driving licence.
- Schools and nurseries - catchment-area admission.
- The wojewoda - as proof of residence in a residence card application.
- The tax office - determining which office you belong to.
- Insurers - pricing motor cover by address.
- Courts - establishing territorial jurisdiction.
- Foreign authorities - proof of residence, with apostille and translation.
Four ways to obtain it
1. In person at the municipal or district office. ID, application, PLN 17. The document is issued the same day, usually within 10-20 minutes.
2. Through mObywatel. The app exposes PESEL register data. The electronic version works in some situations but not all.
3. Through ePUAP or gov.pl. An application signed with a trusted profile; the certificate arrives with an electronic seal. Since 2026 some electronic services require an active eDoręczenia address.
4. Through a representative under a power of attorney, with PLN 17 stamp duty for the authorisation. That is how we work - no visit, no queue.
Electronic or paper
An electronic certificate bearing the office's qualified seal carries the same force as paper inside Poland. Banks, schools and public offices accept it.
Three situations that need paper:
- Apostille. The MSZ handles paper originals only - we cover that trap separately.
- Foreign authorities with no way to verify a Polish electronic seal.
- Certain banks whose internal AML procedures demand an original.
How fresh it has to be
There is no statutory expiry - the certificate reflects the register on the day it was issued. Recipients typically want it no older than one to three months; banks often insist on 30 days.
Which means: do not order one "to have on file". It is cheap, and freshness is precisely what gets checked.
What we do
- Identifying the right type for your purpose, which saves a second visit.
- Obtaining the certificate under a power of attorney, including the full register extract.
- Arranging registration where you have none - in one to two days, including dealing with the property owner.
- Apostille and sworn translation where the certificate travels abroad.
- A banking pack - the certificate plus the other documents that specific bank wants: opening an account.
Frequently asked questions
Can any office issue the certificate? No. It comes from the office keeping the register for your registered address. The electronic channel has no such limit.
I need the certificate urgently but I am not registered. What now? Registration first, certificate second - achievable in one day if the owner signs the form. If they refuse, the situation is different: covered here.
Will a bank accept the mObywatel extract? Most will, though branch policy varies, so for banking matters we usually collect the paper version.
Is the certificate required for a residence card application? The wojewoda wants proof of where you live. A lease can work; the certificate is safer. A scan is attached when filing through MOS v2.0.
How much is a certificate for a child? The same. A legal representative applies, presenting the birth certificate.
Can I get a certificate about past registration? Yes - the office issues confirmation of historical registration. It is often needed for permanent residence applications where continuity of stay is counted.
The certificate costs PLN 17 and one visit. The expensive discovery is finding out at the bank or the school that you have no registration at all.
Tell us where the document is going - we will collect the right certificate and, if needed, arrange the registration first.
This material is informational. Municipal practice varies - consult a lawyer about your situation.