First steps
How do I open a bank account in Gdańsk without a Polish ID card?
Quick answer
Most Polish banks (including PKO BP, Santander, mBank and BNP Paribas) let foreign nationals open a personal account on the basis of a valid foreign passport. It helps to have a Polish phone number and a PESEL number with you, although some banks will open an account without a PESEL.
Verified: September 2026 Checked by: Marta Wagner-Mejna
Step by step
- Bring a valid foreign passport (or travel document) and a Polish phone number.
- If you already have a PESEL number or registered address, bring the confirmations, they make the process at the bank easier.
- Visit a bank branch in Gdańsk (larger branches in Śródmieście, Wrzeszcz or Oliwa are a good choice).
- Ask to open a Basic Payment Account (PRP) or a standard personal account with a debit card and mobile app access.
- Sign the agreement at the branch. The card will be posted to your address in Poland within 5–7 working days.
Both EU and Polish law provide for what is called a Basic Payment Account (Podstawowy Rachunek Płatniczy, PRP). This means every legal resident in the European Union has the right to open a free bank account for basic transactions, ATM withdrawals and domestic transfers, with no hidden maintenance fees.
A bank has no right to refuse to open an account for you solely because you do not hold Polish citizenship.
Where to look next
Official offices and verified external sources.
Does this not match your situation?
Marta Wagner-Mejna holds free consultations (legal guidance and official matters). The conversation runs in Polish, English. No referral, no fees.