We recommend that you come to Warsaw at least 1-2 weeks before you start working at the faculty.
Typically, you will be asked to check in personally on arrival at the faculty HR office (Banacha 2 str., 1st floor, room 2260).
This is a checklist that should be completed during your first days in Poland:
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Apply for a PESEL number
PESEL (Polish: Powszechny Elektroniczny System Ewidencji Ludności, Universal Electronic System for Registration of the Population) is the national identification number in Poland. It consists of 11 digits that are unique for every registered person. It looks like this:
YYMMDDPPPPK
YY – last two digits of a year person was born
MM – month
DD – day
PPPP – random number, but the last digit indicates person’s gender (odd number for male, even for female)
K – checksum
Since 2018 every foreigner in Poland should have PESEL number and is obliged to register his/her address at the appropriate district office (where s/he lives). The registration procedure already includes assigning unique PESEL number to a person, so technically every international student and worker in Poland should have a PESEL. Obviously, not everyone has it, but, if you consider staying in Poland for a longer period, you should think about going through the whole procedure.
Log in to USOSweb
To log in to the system, a PESEL number and a password must be provided as an ID. Foreigners give an “artificial” PESEL instead of the real PESEL number. This is created automatically after entering personal data into the system
2. Set up a bank account
Although you can use your card without any problems in Poland, it would be more beneficial for you to create a Polish bank account. Using a foreign account for your reimbursement will result in additional costs due to currency conversion charges.
Opening a bank in Poland is easy and quick. You do not need to make any appointments and the basic account is free of charge. You do, however, need to provide a bank with all the required documents. To make the whole process easy and smooth it is best to call the bank directly, explain your status (resident/non-resident) and ask about required documents. Other useful questions are:
- Is a PESEL number is required?
- Is there an online banking system available in English?
- Will all the branches have an English-speaking consultant?
- What other banking services can you use?
The required documents may vary from bank to bank. That is why it is best either to look for the information on their website or call the helpline.
Below you will find a list of the banks closest to the MIM UW. Many postdocs open accounts there and have had positive experiences
- Oddział Banku Millenium, ul. Grójecka 59/63
- ING Bank Śląski, ul. Grójecka 81/87
- PKO Bank Polski SA, ul. Grójecka 65a
3. Plan 1 day for an obligatory medical examination
Plan one day for an obligatory medical examination in the Medical Centre on 10A Waryńskiego street or Krakowskie Przedmieście 24/26 (the doctors and nurses speak English). Bring your ID (driving license, passport, etc.) to confirm your identity and the referrals prepared by the Faculty staff. If you let us know the day of your arrival to Warsaw, we will be happy to arrange a medical appointment for you. After the medical examination you will be given a certificate which is required for your file. Please, bring it to the HR office.
4. Plan 1h for an obligatory occupational health and security training (OHS)
Before starting work at the University of Warsaw, you are required to complete the occupational health and security training. The procedure is very simple:
- You receive the OHS training form your faculty representative.
- You deliver the form to the OHS Inspectorate at 8 Oboźna Street, room 1 (Main Campus) and have it stamped there (this has to be completed before your 1st day of employment).
- You deliver the form to the faculty, where you are employed and, after the training, you receive a signature from the trainer, confirming that you have completed the OHS training.
- The stamped form should be submitted along with the other documents to the Office for Human Resources.