Today, you can register a company exclusively online—either through S24 or the Court Registers Portal. We’ll guide you on which option to choose, what type of signature to use for the agreement and application, and when Trusted Profile is no longer enough.
From July 1, 2021. applications for the registration of a company in the business registry KRS (National Court Register) consists of exclusively electronically. The paper form has been completely eliminated—you have two options to choose from:
| Criterion | S24 | PRS (traditional method) |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Incorporation | system pattern, unmodified | any content; for limited liability companies (sp. z o.o.), joint-stock companies (S.A.), and open joint-stock companies (SKA) — a notarial deed |
| Available Companies | LLC, general partnership, limited partnership, simple joint-stock company | all entities subject to registration under KRS (including S.A., SKA, and partnerships) |
| Cartridges | cash only | cash and in-kind contributions |
| Notary Public | unnecessary | usually required (document + CREWAN number) |
| Court fee | 250 zł | 500 zł |
| Diagnosis deadline (guideline) | Day 1 | 7 days |
| Signatures | QES / Trusted Profile / e-ID | QES / Trusted Profile / e-ID |
Both paths lead to the same result: an entry in KRS and automatic assignment NIP i REGON and — effective January 1, 2025 — the creation of an address for e-Delivery, which you are already requesting on the registration form.
In S24, you can register four types of companies: general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company and a simple joint-stock company (PSA). For a limited liability company, the minimum authorized capital is 5,000 zł, for PSA — symbolic 1 zł share capital.
However, there is a definite price to pay for speed and lower fees—the model contract has a rigid framework:
💡 Capital contributions, preferred shares, unusual inheritance rules? A template isn’t enough—choose a notary and register with PRS right away.
With S24, everything happens on a single platform: you create an account, fill out the contract template, and the system guides you through the signing and payment processes. The key principle: The articles of association are signed by all partners (in person or through an authorized representative), and the application for registration—by authorized persons, such as the entire board of directors of a limited liability company. Each signatory must have your own account on S24.
There are three equivalent tools to choose from:
If all partners and members of the management board have PESEL and a Trusted Profile — Formally, that's enough, to set up a company in S24. A qualified digital signature is not required. So when does it become necessary?
The Trusted Profile and the personal signature have one thing in common: number PESEL (e-ID additionally — Polish citizenship). A foreigner who does not have PESEL cannot create a Trusted Profile, so they will not be able to sign either the articles of incorporation or an application in S24 or PRS using this method. For them, the only independent option is qualified electronic signature — A QES certificate with the number PESEL is not required (a passport number, for example, is sufficient).
📌 A foreigner who has PESEL (e.g., after registering as a resident in Poland) may use the Trusted Profile on an equal footing with Polish citizens.
A qualified digital signature from another EU country is formally recognized throughout the Union (Article 25(3) of eIDAS, verification based on EU trust lists). In practice, however, Polish registration systems work most efficiently with a digital signature from a Polish qualified provider—which is why we recommend to foreign partners that they SimplySign QES with IDnow video verification: You can verify your identity via video call in Polish or English, without having to visit a service center. Step-by-step guide: How can a foreign national obtain a qualified electronic signature online in Poland? and When does a foreign national need a qualified digital signature in Poland?.
The second boundary is rigid: QES does not replace a notarized document. If the articles of incorporation must be notarized (a limited liability company with a single-member articles of incorporation, a joint-stock company, or a limited joint-stock partnership), no electronic signature by the shareholders can replace it—a visit to a notary is required, and registration is processed through the PRS.
Even if you incorporate a company using a Trusted Profile, that's just the beginning of the signing process—the CRBR accepts the application QES only or a trusted signature, and when it comes to financial statements, the management team is facing an uphill battle without PESEL. Details below.
„Traditional” registration is also fully electronic—the difference lies in where the contract comes from. The process goes like this:
⚠️ Note the separation of roles: contract The partners sign the document in their own handwriting before a notary, but Application for KRS The board of directors signs it electronically. If a foreign national without a PESEL certificate serves on the board, their qualified signature—or that of a professional proxy—will be required at this stage.
Good news for those starting a business: from November 29, 2025. the fee was eliminated 100 zł for publishing the post in Court and Economic Monitor (MSiG). All that's left are the court fees:
| Item | S24 | Traditional Registration (PRS) |
|---|---|---|
| Court fee for registration under KRS | 250 zł | 500 zł |
| Announcement in MSiG | 0 zł (to be abolished on November 29, 2025) | 0 zł (to be abolished on November 29, 2025) |
| Notary fee | no | Depends on the capital—minimum 5,000 PLN, maximum. 160 zł + VAT plus statements |
| PCC (Tax on Civil Law Transactions) | 0,5% of the principal amount (minus the court fee) — you file the declaration yourself PCC-3 in 14 days from the date the contract was signed | 0,5% — collected by the notary as the withholding agent at the time of the deed |
📌 You can always verify the court fee amounts during the payment process in S24/PRS (the e-Payment system)—you don’t pay „blindly” into the court’s account.
The difference in court fees isn’t the whole story: with PRS, you also have to pay a notary’s fee. In return, you get a contract tailored to the partners—when it comes to investors, in-kind contributions, or unusual profit-sharing arrangements, it can be worth every zloty.
Registering for KRS is just the start, not the finish line. You’ll automatically receive NIP and REGON, but there are a few steps you’ll need to take on your own—and here the question about the signature comes up again:
The practical implication? A Trusted Profile will allow a company to be established, but A qualified digital signature completes the entire life cycle of a company — from CRBR, through contracts with business partners, to reports. We explain how to obtain it in this article How to make a qualified electronic signature, and the text will help you choose between the mobile and desktop versions The SimplySign mobile signature or the Certum Mini signature with a reader?.
Company registration is now entirely digital—from the articles of incorporation (a template on S24 or a notarial deed with a CREWAN number in the PRS) to signatures and fees. The choice of signature tool depends on the company’s membership and its future plans.
You're starting a company and want to have the signatures ready before a visit to S24 or PRS? As authorized partner Certum We will issue a qualified electronic signature for each partner and board member—including foreign nationals without a PESEL number (video verification) IDnow in Polish or English).
📞 +48 22 417 05 55 | ✉️ [email protected] — We provide consulting services at our offices in Warsaw, Krakow, Wrocław, and Radom and online or at a location of your choice.
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Not always. The articles of incorporation and the application in S24 can be signed using a qualified electronic signature (QES), a Trusted Profile, or a personal signature from an e-ID. A qualified electronic signature is required if a partner or board member does not have a PESEL number—in such cases, the Trusted Profile and e-ID are not available.
In S24, you can register a general partnership, a limited partnership, a limited liability company, and a simple joint-stock company—all based on a standard agreement template and with cash contributions only. Joint-stock companies, limited joint-stock partnerships, professional partnerships, and any company established by a notarial deed must be registered through the Court Registers Portal (PRS).
The court fee is 250 zł via S24 and 500 zł when filing through PRS. As of November 29, 2025, the 100 zł fee for publication in the Court and Economic Gazette will no longer be charged. In addition, there is a civil law transaction tax (PCC) of 0.5% on the capital, and if the transaction is notarized, a notary fee applies (for a capital of 5,000 PLN, a maximum of 160 PLN + VAT).
Yes, but only with a qualified electronic signature—the Trusted Profile and personal signature require the number PESEL. A QES certificate can be issued based on a passport, and identity can be verified remotely via IDnow video verification (in Polish or English), without having to travel to Poland.
The submission of beneficial owners to the CRBR must be signed exclusively with a qualified signature or a trusted signature—a personal signature from an e-ID card is not valid. The deadline is 14 days from the date of entry in KRS (excluding Saturdays and public holidays), and failure to file the report may result in a fine of up to 1 million PLN.
CREWAN is the Central Repository of Electronic Extracts from Notarial Deeds. After drafting the articles of incorporation, the notary public uploads an electronic copy of the document to the repository and submits a notification containing the document number. This number is entered in the PRS application—there is no need to attach a scan of the document, as the court retrieves the copy directly from the repository.
