The Driver Candidate Profile, known in Polish as PKK (Profil Kandydata na Kierowcę), is indispensable for anyone who wants to start the process of obtaining a Category B driving licence in Poland. It is via the PKK that a Driving Training Centre (OSK – Ośrodek Szkolenia Kierowców) and the Provincial Road Traffic Centre (WORD – Wojewódzki Ośrodek Ruchu Drogowego) locate the candidate in the national teleinformatic database to conduct training and state examinations.
To receive a PKK number, you must submit an application for a driving licence (wniosek o wydanie prawa jazdy) along with the required documents to the competent local authority. You do not submit a separate application “for a PKK” — the profile is generated automatically by the municipal or county office upon processing your driving licence application.
What is a Driver Candidate Profile (PKK)?
The PKK is an electronic dataset that identifies and describes an individual applying for driving entitlements in Poland.
The profile is created, shared, updated, and stored in a secure teleinformatic system. It contains, among other things, the candidate’s personal data, photograph, the requested driving licence category, and medical examination data.
Every generated profile receives a unique PKK number. This is the identifier you subsequently provide to your driving school and to WORD.
In practice, the PKK connects all consecutive stages of the process:
Municipal Office → PKK → OSK Driving School → WORD Exam Centre → Municipal Office → Driving Licence Card
This ensures all training and exam records remain linked directly to the correct applicant.
Is the PKK a paper document?
No. The Driver Candidate Profile is purely an electronic record residing within the national teleinformatic system.
The office simply issues you a PKK number, which allows authorized entities to look up your electronic profile.
Therefore, when people speak of “getting a PKK”, they mean having the office generate the electronic profile and obtaining its unique identification number.
When do you need to obtain a PKK number?
You must obtain a PKK before beginning standard training at a Driving Training Centre (OSK).
The number is also necessary if, instead of attending standard classroom theory lessons at an OSK, you choose to prepare independently for the state theoretical examination. You will also use your PKK number when booking the theoretical exam at WORD.
For a Category B driving licence, the typical sequence is:
- complete the medical examination,
- prepare your photo and other required documents,
- submit the driving licence application at your local office,
- the office creates your PKK,
- you receive your PKK number,
- you provide the number to your OSK or to WORD — depending on your chosen learning path.
Where do you apply for a PKK?
Your Driver Candidate Profile is created by the local government authority having jurisdiction over your place of residence.
You submit your application to:
- the Starostwo Powiatowe (County Office) — if you live in a county district,
- the Urząd Miasta (City Hall) — if you live in a city with county rights (miasto na prawach powiatu),
- the Urząd Dzielnicy (District Office) — if you live in Warsaw.
In practice, driving licence matters are handled by the Communications Department (Wydział Komunikacji).
You do not choose an office based on the location of your driving school or exam centre; jurisdiction is determined solely by your registered or actual place of residence.
What documents are needed to get a PKK?
A first-time Category B applicant should prepare:
- an application for the issuance of a driving licence (wniosek o wydanie prawa jazdy),
- a medical certificate confirming no health contraindications to driving,
- a current colour photograph for a driving licence,
- a valid identity document — such as an ID card (dowód osobisty) or passport,
- written consent from a parent or legal guardian — if the applicant is under 18 years old,
- a copy of any currently held driving licence — if applying for an additional category.
For standard Category B applications, a psychological certificate is not required, unless required by specific statutory provisions.
Driving licence application form – where to get it?
You can download the application form in advance and fill it out at home, or obtain it directly at the office counter. The official form is available on the gov.pl portal.
The form is formally titled “Application for the issuance of a driving licence”, but submitting it prior to training enables the office to generate your PKK.
The form includes mandatory statutory declarations concerning your place of residence and the absence of legal disqualifications to holding a licence. Before creating the PKK, officials verify document completeness and cross-check registry data.
What photo is required for the PKK?
You must attach a current, colour photograph specifically meeting Polish driving licence standards.
The photo must measure:
35 × 45 mm
and be taken no earlier than 6 months prior to application submission.
The photo must show the person:
- against a plain, light background,
- facing the camera directly in a frontal position,
- looking straight ahead,
- with eyes open and clearly visible,
- with a neutral facial expression,
- with mouth closed.
The face must occupy approximately 70-80% of the photograph’s vertical area, depicting the top of the head down to the upper shoulders.
The simplest approach is telling the photographer that you need a driving licence photo (zdjęcie do prawa jazdy), as studio requirements are strictly standardised.
Can a minor receive a PKK?
Yes. From March 3, 2026, Category B licences can be obtained at age 17, and training may begin even earlier.
A person under 18 can start driving training and obtain a Category B licence with the written consent of a parent or legal guardian.
Consequently, for minors, this consent form is an essential document processed during the PKK application.
Current guidelines from the Ministry of Infrastructure stipulate that the parent or legal guardian should sign the consent in the presence of an official. It is therefore safest to visit the Communications Department together with a parent or guardian.
Must you have the medical exam before applying for a PKK?
Yes. In standard procedures, the medical certificate confirming no health contraindications is a mandatory prerequisite for generating a PKK.
Therefore, your doctor’s appointment must precede your visit to the municipal office for your PKK.
If you do not have a medical certificate yet, refer back to Step 2 of our guide: “Medical examination for Category B driving licence”.
Must you satisfy the 185-day residency condition at the time of PKK application?
From 2026, an important legal update applies regarding residency requirements.
A driving licence is issued to individuals residing in Poland in accordance with statutory conditions, which generally means residing in Poland for at least 185 days in each calendar year due to personal or professional ties.
However, recent amendments allow applicants to initiate the procedure earlier. The residency requirement must be satisfied no later than by the date specified by law — which for Category B can be the day of taking the state exam or the day of licence issuance/collection.
This means the administrative process of creating a PKK can begin before completing 185 days of physical stay in Poland, provided other statutory criteria are met in due time.
Can you apply for a PKK online?
The regulations permit submitting an electronic application for a driving licence to the competent authority.
An online application must be signed with:
- a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany),
- a qualified electronic signature,
- or an e-ID personal signature (podpis osobisty).
Scans of required documents and a digital photo can be attached. However, regulations may still require delivering certain original documents, including the medical certificate and parental consent, to the office.
Because local implementation varies, check the specific instructions published by your local Wydział Komunikacji before submitting online.
How to get a PKK step by step?
The entire procedure can be summarized in 7 clear steps:
Step 1. Complete the medical examination
Visit an authorized doctor and obtain a certificate confirming no health contraindications to driving.
Step 2. Take a driving licence photo
Obtain a current 35 × 45 mm photograph complying with driving licence standards.
Step 3. Prepare the application form
Download the driving licence application form online or collect it at the municipal office.
Step 4. Gather supporting documents
Bring your identity document. If under 18, prepare the parental/guardian consent form.
Step 5. Submit documents to the competent office
Visit your local Starostwo Powiatowe, City Hall, or Warsaw District Office.
Step 6. Await document verification
The office checks application details, attachments, and national registry records.
Step 7. Receive your PKK number
Upon successful verification, the office generates your Driver Candidate Profile and issues its unique identification number.
How long do you wait for a PKK number?
Under Polish administrative regulations, the competent authority generates a PKK within 2 working days from submitting a complete application with all required documents.
In practice, complete applications that require no additional verification are often processed on the spot (the same day).
Gov.pl indicates the following estimated timelines:
- immediately — if the application is complete and verified on the spot,
- up to 2 days — if standard verification is needed,
- up to 1 month — if clarification is required,
- up to 2 months — in complex cases requiring extensive administrative investigation.
The most common cause of delays is missing paperwork or discrepancies in personal data.
How much does getting a PKK cost?
There is no fee for generating a Driver Candidate Profile (PKK). Official agencies issue the PKK free of charge.
You will, of course, incur other costs during your driving licence journey, such as medical exams, photos, school tuition, exam fees, and the fee for issuing the physical plastic card.
Do not confuse the free creation of your PKK with the subsequent fee for issuing your physical driving licence document.
Where will you use your PKK number?
Keep your PKK number safe — you will need it at subsequent milestones.
PKK at the Driving Training Centre (OSK)
If taking a full course at an OSK, provide your PKK number upon registration.
Using the PKK number, the driving school downloads your electronic profile and registers your course attendance.
PKK during self-study theory
If preparing for the theoretical exam on your own, you do not need prior OSK classroom lessons.
Once you have your PKK, you can study independently and directly register for the state theoretical exam at WORD.
PKK at WORD
Your PKK number is required when booking your state exams.
The examination centre accesses your profile to confirm eligibility and record official exam results.
Under the regulations, OSK and WORD access your profile by entering your PKK number and PESEL number (or date of birth if you do not have a PESEL).
Does the driving school or WORD create the PKK?
No. The PKK is created solely by the competent government authority (Wydział Komunikacji).
OSK driving schools and WORD exam centres only access pre-existing profiles.
Therefore, you do not need to choose a driving school before getting your PKK. You can complete the municipal formalities first, get your number, and choose your driving school afterwards.
What happens to your PKK during courses and exams?
Your PKK accompanies you throughout the entire licensing journey. It is not just an initial registration code.
The profile tracks all training and examination milestones in a unified database. Both your driving school and WORD update the same electronic record.
After passing the practical exam, WORD automatically updates the PKK and transmits the result back to your local municipal office to trigger driving licence issuance.
What to do after receiving your PKK number?
Once you have your PKK, choose one of two primary pathways:
1. Full course at an OSK
PKK → Theoretical course → Practical driving → Internal exam → WORD Theory Exam → WORD Practical Exam
or
2. Self-study theory
PKK → Self-study → WORD Theory Exam → OSK Practical Training → Internal Practical Exam → WORD Practical Exam
Both options are fully recognized by official Polish driving licence regulations.
Got your PKK number? The next step is choosing your preparation method and selecting a Driving Training Centre (OSK).
PKK – Key Information Summary
PKK: Driver Candidate Profile (Profil Kandydata na Kierowcę) Format: Electronic profile in the national database Issuing authority: Local municipal / county communications office (Wydział Komunikacji) What you receive: Unique PKK identification number When to get it: Before starting training or booking the theory exam Standard turnaround time: Immediately to 2 working days Fee for PKK generation: Free (0 PLN) Where it is used: At OSK driving schools and WORD exam centres Key required documents: Application form, medical certificate, photo, ID, and parental consent (for minors)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PKK number?
The PKK number is a unique alphanumeric identifier assigned to your electronic Driver Candidate Profile in the national database, allowing driving schools and exam centres to retrieve your records.
Can you enroll in a driving school without a PKK?
In standard procedures, no. Driving schools require your PKK number to officially register you in the teleinformatic system before training can start.
Do you need to pick a driving school before getting a PKK?
No. You obtain your PKK at your local municipal office independently of any driving school. You can select your OSK after receiving your number.
Can you get a PKK before the medical exam?
No. In standard procedures, the medical certificate is a mandatory prerequisite required by the office to generate the PKK.
Can you obtain a PKK online?
Yes, applications can be submitted electronically using a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany), though certain original documents may still need to be delivered to the office.
Is there an administrative fee for issuing a PKK?
No. Creating and issuing a PKK profile is completely free of charge.
How long does it take to get a PKK?
Usually on the same day or within 2 working days if all submitted documents are correct and complete.
Is a PKK required for the theoretical exam?
Yes. Your PKK number is required to register for the state theoretical examination at WORD, even if you prepared via self-study.
What if you lose the paper slip with your PKK number?
Your profile remains safely stored in the national electronic system. Contact the issuing office (Wydział Komunikacji) to retrieve your number.
