Question 1

What documents does a foreigner need to open a bank account in Poland?

Accepted Answer

The basic documents are: a passport or Ukrainian ID card, a PESEL number, and a proof of residence — a residence card (karta pobytu), UKR status certificate, or a long-term visa (D). Some banks also require proof of employment or a Polish mobile number.

Question 2

Can I open a bank account in Poland with just a Ukrainian passport?

Accepted Answer

A passport alone is not enough. Most banks also require a PESEL number and a residence document (residence card, UKR status, or D visa). Without PESEL options are very limited — only a few banks such as Santander or mBank may open an account on a foreign passport alone, but with many functionality restrictions.

Question 3

Is UKR status enough to open a bank account?

Accepted Answer

Yes — most major banks (PKO BP, mBank, Bank Millennium, Santander) open accounts for people with UKR status provided they have a PESEL. UKR status is treated as valid proof of legal residence. A residence card (karta pobytu) is not required to open an account — it matters mainly when applying for a loan.

Question 4

Do I need to visit a branch or can I open the account online?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the bank and your documents. mBank and Bank Millennium allow online account opening via a transfer or video verification. PKO BP and Santander most often require a branch visit for foreigners. The document checker on this page will show you which mode is available for your set of documents.

Check which documents you need