Get a PPS number in Ireland

Apply online through MyWelfare, then go to one short appointment in person. Your number comes by post after extra checks.

You apply for a PPS number (Personal Public Service number) online at MyWelfare.ie and book an in-person appointment as part of the form. You need only a basic MyGovID account, the single login for Irish public services, set up with just an email address.

Do you need one?

Your PPS number is 7 digits followed by one or two letters. You use it for work, tax, social welfare, a driving licence and most public services. Children born in Ireland get one automatically when the birth is registered.

• You must be 18 or over to apply. You can apply for your child in the same application.
• You must have a reason, such as a job offer, a social welfare claim or a public service you want to use.
• If you live abroad, you can apply online, but not if you only plan to move here. Wait until you are in Ireland.
• If you came from Ukraine under the EU Temporary Protection Directive, do not apply online. Go to a PPS Number Allocation Centre instead.

What you need

• A basic MyGovID account (an email address and password). A verified account also works but is not needed.
• Photo ID. The type depends on your citizenship (see the table below).
• Proof of address with your name, dated within the last 3 months: a utility bill, bank statement, lease or official letter.
• Proof of why you need the number, such as a job offer or a letter from a public body.
• For a child: the child's ID, why they need a number and proof you are their parent or guardian.

Step by step: living in Ireland

1. Create a basic account at MyGovID.ie with your email address and a password.
2. Open the PPS number page on MyWelfare.ie and select Apply now. Log in with MyGovID.
3. Enter your reason for applying, your personal details and your child's details if you are adding a child.
4. Read the list of documents the form shows you. You must bring these to your appointment.
5. Book your appointment in the form. Choose a location, date and time.
6. Check MyWelfare for a notification with your appointment details and documents list.
7. Go to your appointment with your original documents. Your child must come too.
8. Wait for your PPS number to arrive by post after the Department of Social Protection finishes its checks.

Step by step: living abroad

1. Create a basic MyGovID account.
2. Start the application on MyWelfare.ie.
3. Upload clear copies of your photo ID, proof of address and proof of why you need a number.
4. Submit the application and wait for your number by post. You can also apply by post using form REG1 (REG1M for children).

How much it costs and how long it takes

The Department of Social Protection does not publish a fee or a fixed waiting time for a PPS number. It says only that the number is posted to you after checks.

Common mistakes

• Bringing proof of address older than 3 months.
• Uploading blurry photos of documents. They must be easy to read.
• Missing your appointment. Your application is not complete until you attend.
• Emailing a paper form. Send REG1 by post. Only third parties, such as employers, can still email it to CIS@welfare.ie.
• Bringing a birth certificate you do not need. Irish-born citizens no longer need one, as birth records are checked directly.

Related guides

• How to get a verified MyGovID
• How to apply for an Irish passport