Get a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
A Personal Public Service (PPS) Number is a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland.
You can find a list of State agencies that use PPS Numbers here
A PPS Number is always 7 numbers followed by either one or two letters.
In order to get a PPS Number, you must provide evidence of
Evidence of your identity:
If you are: | You will need to produce the following as evidence of your identity: |
An Irish citizen born in the Republic of Ireland | Your birth certificate and photographic ID, such as your passport or driving licence |
An Irish citizen via naturalisation or Foreign Birth Registration | Your current passport or Certificate of Naturalisation OR your Foreign Birth Registration certificate AND Irish or UK driving licence or Irish learner driving permit |
An Irish citizen born in Northern Ireland or a UK citizen | Current passport OR Your birth certificate showing your mother’s birth surname AND your current driving licence |
EU citizens (other than Irish and UK) | Current passport or national identity card |
Non-EU citizens | Current passport |
The following are not accepted as evidence of your identity:
Evidence of why you need a PPS Number:
If you are applying for a PPS Number to take up employment, you must have a signed offer of employment from your employer confirming when your job is due to start or when it started. This letter should be on company headed paper and with the employer’s contact details together with the employer/company registered number. You do not need a PPS Number if you are looking for work or for an employer to make an offer of employment.
Some other examples of why you may need a PPS Number are:
Evidence of your address
You need to show evidence of your address. You can use any of the following documents to do this.
The document must show your name and address and not be older than 3 months:
*If you are staying with friends or relatives, an original household bill plus a note from the bill holder confirming your residency at the bill address is acceptable. This note can be written on the bill itself.
An online PPS Number application service is available at mywelfare.ie for people living in Ireland who are at least 18 years of age.
In order to apply for a PPS Number online, you will need to have a basic MyGovID account. If you do not have a MyGovID account get one here.
You will need to upload photos or scanned copies of:
You should ensure that all the documents that you upload are easy to read.
Children born in the Republic of Ireland are usually given a PPS Number when their birth is registered with the General Register Office (GRO). This means you do not need to apply for a PPS Number for a child born in the state. However, if the birth is not registered within 3 months, a parent or guardian must make an application.
PPS Numbers for children living in, but not born in the Republic of Ireland, must be applied for by the parent or guardian. One of the parents or guardians must have a PPS Number for the child to be registered.
The parent, foster parent or guardian should complete an application form REG1M (below) for a PPS Number for their child aged under 18 years , and provide evidence of:
Evidence of address should also be provided.
You should submit the completed PPS Number application for the child to the Personal Public Service (PPS) Number Allocation Centres by County PPS Number Allocation Centre.
After you have submitted the application, and once everything is in order, the department will post a letter to you with details of the PPS Number.
A person who is under 18 years of age is considered as a child for PPS Number allocation purposes.
Application form for a PPS Number for a child under 18 (REG1M)
DownloadIf you are living outside the Republic of Ireland and require a PPS Number for an interaction with a specified body in Ireland such as the Office of the Revenue Commissioners for reasons such as Taxation, Probate and the buying of property, you need to complete an application form Application form for a PPS Number (REG1) and also provide the following:
Completed forms should be scanned and emailed to CIS@welfare.ie or posted to;
Department of Social Protection,
Shannon Lodge,
Carrick on Shannon,
Co. Leitrim,N41 KD81.
Republic of Ireland
Application form for a PPS Number (REG1)
DownloadPPS Number Exceptional Registration Application Form
DownloadPPS Number Third Party consent form
DownloadPPS Number Questionnaire
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