Getting a PPS Number (Personal Public Service Number) in Ireland

Researched from official sources · May 27, 2026

A PPS number is the single reference the Irish State uses to recognise you across public services, tax, and social welfare.

You must be living in Ireland to apply: start online through MyWelfare, attend an in-person identity appointment at a PPS Number Allocation Centre or Intreo Centre, and the number is then posted to you. Allocation is free.

Estimated time

About 15-20 minutes to complete the online application, plus an in-person identity appointment; the number is then posted to you, with no official timeframe published

Cost

€0

What You Need

Tap to check off items as you gather them

Step-by-Step

  1. 1

    Confirm You Are Resident and Identify Your Public-Service Reason

    Expat New Arrival
    1. You must already be living in Ireland to apply — you cannot apply before you arrive
    2. You need a specific public-service reason that requires the number, such as having accepted a job offer
    3. If you previously held a PPS number, you keep the same one — do not apply for a new number; retrieve the existing one through your Intreo Centre

    💡 Tip: A PPS number is needed for employment (paying tax), driver's licence applications, social welfare payments, birth registration, passport applications, and dealings with specified public bodies. Establishing your right to work (a valid immigration permission or employment permit) is a separate prerequisite handled outside this process.

  2. 2

    Create a MyGovID Account

    MyGovID

    1. A basic or verified *MyGovID* account is required to start the online application
    2. A basic account needs only an email address; a verified account requires a phone number verified by the Department of Social Protection

    ⚠️ Watch out: MyGovID is the login used to start the online application — it is not the PPS number itself. If you cannot complete a MyGovID account, you can use the postal alternative below instead.

  3. 3

    Start the Application on MyWelfare and Book Your Appointment

    MyWelfare

    1. Begin at the *MyWelfare* PPS number service and complete the online application
    2. The system books an in-person appointment as part of the online application
    3. Once the appointment is booked, you receive a MyWelfare notification with the appointment time and the list of documents to bring

    💡 Tip: The official application channel is MyWelfare. Any other website charging a fee for a 'PPS service' is not the official process.

  4. 4

    Attend the In-Person Identity Appointment

    Intreo

    1. Attend at a PPS Number Allocation Centre or *Intreo* Centre at your booked time
    2. Bring your original identity document for your citizenship class and your evidence of address
    3. Attendance is required to complete the application; walk-ins without an appointment are not accepted

    ⚠️ Watch out: Address evidence must show your name and address and not be older than 3 months. If you have no bill in your own name, bring an original household bill plus a written note from the bill holder confirming you live at the address — the note can be written on the bill itself.

  5. 5

    Wait for the Number to Arrive by Post

    1. The application is not finalised at the appointment — further checks follow afterwards
    2. If your application is successful, the PPS number is sent to you by post at a later date
    3. The Department of Social Protection does not publish a processing timeframe, so plan for a wait rather than a fixed date

    💡 Tip: If you do not have an online account or are applying without using MyWelfare, you can instead download the REG1 form, complete it, and post it to Client Identity Services at the Department of Social Protection, Shannon Lodge, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41 KD81.

Costs

Item Amount Payment Notes
PPS number application / allocation €0 N/A Allocation of a PPS number is free of charge. The only official application channel is MyWelfare; any website charging a 'PPS service' fee is not the official process.
PPS number application / allocation €0
Payment:
N/A
Notes:
Allocation of a PPS number is free of charge. The only official application channel is MyWelfare; any website charging a 'PPS service' fee is not the official process.
Total: €0

FAQ

General

Is there any fee to get a PPS number?

No. The PPS number is allocated free of charge, and the official application channel is MyWelfare. Any third-party website charging a 'PPS service' fee is not the official process — apply only through the official channel.

Can I apply before I arrive in Ireland?

You must be living in Ireland to apply; you cannot apply from abroad. This point is described in corroborating guidance rather than stated verbatim on the official service page, so treat it as practical guidance and confirm your situation with the Department of Social Protection if you are unsure.

How long does it take to get the number after my appointment?

The Department of Social Protection does not publish a processing time. The official service page states only that, if your application is successful, your PPS number is sent to you by post at a later date. Any specific number of weeks you may see quoted elsewhere is not confirmed by an official source, so plan for a wait without relying on a fixed timeframe.

Do I still need to attend in person if I apply online?

Yes. The online MyWelfare application books an in-person appointment that you must attend to verify your identity. The application is completed at that appointment; walk-ins without a booked appointment are not accepted, so do not travel to a centre expecting same-day service.

Is the PPS number the same as the Public Services Card?

No. The PPS number is the reference number itself. The Public Services Card (PSC) is a separate physical card that contains the number and a separate card number on the back, and is usually issued when you are allocated a PPS number. Applying for the card is outside the scope of this guide.

Is MyGovID the same as a PPS number?

No. MyGovID is the online account you use to log in and start an online PPS application — it is not the number itself. A basic MyGovID account needs only an email; a verified account requires a phone number verified by the Department of Social Protection.

My employer asked for my PPS number during recruitment — is that right?

An employer should request your PPS number only after you have accepted a job offer and are about to begin employment, not during recruitment. You do not need to provide it as part of a job application.

I have started work but do not have my number yet — what happens to my tax?

Without a PPS number, your income is taxed at the emergency rate, which is higher than normal. Apply as early as possible after starting work. Registering the job with Revenue is a separate downstream step once you have your number.

I lived in Ireland before — do I get a new number?

No. If you already had a PPS number, you are not allocated a new one — you retrieve the existing number. If you do not know it, contact your Intreo Centre or local Social Welfare Branch Office and staff can find it for you.

After This Process

  • → Bank account — most Irish banks require your PPS number to open an account
  • → Tax registration with Revenue — your PPS number is the prerequisite for registering your employment so you are not taxed at the emergency rate
  • → Public Services Card (PSC) — a separate physical card containing your number, usually issued when you are allocated a PPS number (outside the scope of this guide)

Sources

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5 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-27

T1 official portal · T2 embassy/consulate · T3 news · T4 community — higher tier wins on conflict. methodology →

  1. T1
    Department of Social Protection (gov.ie) 2026-05-27

    The Department of Social Protection issues PPS Numbers, which are required to access social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland (examples include employment/paying tax, driver's licence applications, social welfare payments, birth registration and passport applications). Applicants aged 18 or older can apply online for themselves and for their child: 'If you are aged 18 years or older you can apply for a PPS Number for yourself and your child online.' Two evidence categories are required — evidence of identity (varying by citizenship class) and evidence of address showing your name and address and not older than 3 months. A postal route uses the REG1 form sent to Client Identity Services, Department of Social Protection, Shannon Lodge, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41 KD81. The page publishes no fee for PPS number allocation and states that, if the application is successful, the number is sent by post at a later date (no processing timeframe published).

    gov.ie
  2. T1
    Revenue (revenue.ie) 2026-05-27

    Revenue independently names the Department of Social Protection (DSP) as the body that issues PPS numbers, and describes the PPS number as a unique reference number needed for all dealings with public service agencies, including Revenue. For a newcomer starting a job, the PPS number is the prerequisite for registering employment with Revenue; without it, income is taxed at the emergency rate.

    revenue.ie
  3. T1
    Citizens Information (citizensinformation.ie) 2026-05-27

    Cited via indexed search snippet (page returns 403 to direct fetch; not read in full). 'Your Personal Public Service (PPS) number is a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland.' You must attend your in-person appointment to complete your application. If staying with friends or relatives without a bill in your own name, an original household bill plus a written note from the bill holder is accepted, as is third-party confirmation from a hotel/hostel administrator, school principal, or accommodation owner. Returning emigrants who previously held a number retrieve the existing one rather than receiving a new one; an employer should request the number only after a job offer is accepted.

    citizensinformation.ie
  4. T1
    Citizens Information (citizensinformation.ie) 2026-05-27

    Cited via indexed search snippet (page returns 403 to direct fetch; not read in full). 'A Public Services Card is usually issued when you are allocated a PPS number.' The Public Services Card is a physical card that proves identity to access public services; it contains the PPS number and a separate card number on the back. It is a downstream product, distinct from the PPS number itself.

    citizensinformation.ie
  5. T1
    Department of Social Protection (assets.gov.ie) 2026-05-27

    Canonical PDF of the REG1 application form for a PPS number, used for the postal application route to Client Identity Services at the Department of Social Protection.

    assets.gov.ie
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