# Your top priority: Apply for PPS number | Paperwork | Moving to Ireland > PPS (Personal Public Service) Number is an important document for anyone who moves to Ireland, as it serves as a unique identifier for accessing public… Source: https://www.movingtoireland.co/guides/paperwork/your-1st-priority-apply-for-pps-number/ Paperwork · Step 1 of 7 # Your top priority: Apply for PPS number 3 min read · Updated 13 September 2026 PPS (Personal Public Service) Number is an important document for anyone who moves to Ireland, as it serves as a unique identifier for accessing public services and benefits in the country. ## What is it used for? The PPS number is used for a variety of purposes in Ireland, including applying for social welfare benefits, paying taxes, and accessing healthcare services. It is a crucial document that allows you to participate in the Irish social welfare system and receive benefits and services that you may be entitled to. ## Documents needed to apply To apply for a PPS number, you need to provide a range of documentation, including proof of identity, proof of address, and proof of your right to reside in Ireland. This may include your passport, visa, or work permit, as well as a recent utility bill or bank statement to confirm your address. You may also need to provide evidence of your employment status and your eligibility for benefits and services in Ireland. ## Proof of Address In Ireland, the following documents are generally accepted as proof of address: - Utility bill (e.g., electricity, gas, or water bill) - Bank statement - Rental agreement - Correspondence from a government agency (e.g., Social Welfare, Revenue Commissioners) - A letter from an employer or educational institution ## Potential consequences if you don't get it in time If you do not obtain a PPS number in a timely manner, you may face several potential consequences. This can include being unable to access certain benefits and services, such as healthcare, and being unable to participate in the Irish social welfare system. Furthermore, you may also face difficulties opening a bank account, accessing credit, and paying taxes. ## ★ Important info - You will be paying [Emergency Tax rates](http://www.revenue.ie/en/jobs-and-pensions/emergency-tax/index.aspx) until you have a PPS number. This is why getting a PPS number should be your priority. ## Can you apply for PPS Number if you are living outside Ireland? The short answer is yes, it is possible! Long answer: If you are living outside 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)](http://www.gov.ie/pdf/71515/?page=null) and also provide the following: - [Evidence of your address](http://www.gov.ie/en/service/12e6de-get-a-personal-public-service-pps-number/#evidence-of-your-address) - [Proof of your identity](http://www.gov.ie/en/service/12e6de-get-a-personal-public-service-pps-number/#evidence-of-your-identity) - [Proof of reason for why a PPS Number is required](http://www.gov.ie/en/service/12e6de-get-a-personal-public-service-pps-number/#evidence-of-why-you-need-a-pps-number) - [PPS Number Exceptional Registration Application Form](http://www.gov.ie/pdf/124435/?page=null) - [Consent form](http://www.gov.ie/pdf/124437/?page=null) signed by you if the PPS Number is to be given to a third-party representative, for example, a solicitor or accountant - [Questionnaire](http://www.gov.ie/pdf/124438/?page=null) Completed forms should be emailed to [CIS@welfare.ie](mailto:CIS@welfare.ie) or posted to; Department of Social Protection, Shannon Lodge, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41 KD81, Republic of Ireland. ## Average taking time The process of obtaining a PPS number in Ireland can take many weeks, depending on the volume of applications and the complexity of your individual case. It is important to apply for your PPS number as soon as you arrive in Ireland, as this will help ensure that you can access the benefits and services you are entitled to in a timely manner. ## In conclusion The PPS number is a critical document for anyone who moves to Ireland, as it is used to access public services and benefits in the country. To apply for a PPS number, you need to provide proof of identity, address, and your right to reside in Ireland. Failure to obtain a PPS number in a timely manner can result in difficulties accessing benefits and services, and participating in the Irish social welfare system. The average processing time for a PPS number is several weeks. ![](https://www.movingtoireland.co/apple-touch-icon.png) You have read 27% of this guide ## Keep reading in the Moving to Ireland app The rest of **Your top priority: Apply for PPS number** — about 2 minutes more — is in the app, free to download, alongside 98 other guides and a checklist built around your own move. Still to come in this guide - Proof of Address - Potential consequences if you don't get it in time - ★ Important info - Can you apply for PPS Number if you are living outside Ireland? [Download free on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/moving-to-ireland/id6446055261) iPhone and iPad · no account needed ## More on paperwork [All 7 guides in this section](https://www.movingtoireland.co/guides/paperwork/) - ### [Obtain Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card](https://www.movingtoireland.co/guides/paperwork/obtain-irp-card/) The Irish Residence Permit (IRP), formerly known as GNIB card, is a document that proves a non-European Union (EU) national's right to live and work in… 3 min read · For Non-EU citizens - ### [Open bank account](https://www.movingtoireland.co/guides/paperwork/open-bank-account/) If you're moving to Ireland and want to open a bank account, there are several steps you can follow: 3 min read - ### [The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion for US expats](https://www.movingtoireland.co/guides/paperwork/the-foreign-earned-income-exclusion-for-us-expat/) As you are a US citizen, you must file both your US taxes and your Republic of Ireland taxes, but may claim the Foreign Earned Income exclusion. 5 min read · For US citizens - ### [FBAR Obligation for US Expats: What You Need to Know](https://www.movingtoireland.co/guides/paperwork/fbar-obligation-for-us-expats-what-you-need-to-know/) As a US citizen or green card holder living abroad, you have an obligation to report your foreign financial accounts to the U.S. government. The Foreign… 3 min read · For US citizens Keep going ## Get the full paperwork roadmap in the app Moving to Ireland turns 99 guides into a personal checklist. Tell it your passport, whether you have moved yet, and who is coming with you, and it lays out every step in order — from the visa to the bins. - Step-by-step checklist - Tailored to your passport - Pre-move & post-move - Family & pet sections [![Download Moving to Ireland on the App Store](https://www.movingtoireland.co/images/app-store-badge.svg)](https://apps.apple.com/app/moving-to-ireland/id6446055261) ★★★★★ 4.9 on the App Store [![Expats who settled in Ireland, two five-star App Store reviews, and the Moving to Ireland app showing its relocation checklist](https://www.movingtoireland.co/images/app-social-proof.webp)](https://apps.apple.com/app/moving-to-ireland/id6446055261)