PESEL

PESEL (Polish: Powszechny Elektroniczny System Ewidencji Ludności, lit. 'Universal Electronic System for Registration of the Population') is the national identification number used in Poland since 1979. The number is 11 digits long, identifies exactly one person, and cannot be changed once assigned, except in specific situations (such as gender reassignment). The PESEL number is mandatory for all permanent residents of Poland and for temporary residents living in Poland for over 2 months. After 1 March 2015, applicants for a Polish passport without a PESEL number need to apply for PESEL prior to passport application. Otherwise, without a PESEL number, passport applications and fingerprints cannot be taken. The PESEL system was originally designed by the communist government of the Polish People's Republic to trace personal information about its citizens. It is a direct offshoot from the previous system, Magister, which was designed to trace and record data about all individuals with a university degree.