Personal Public Service Number (PPS No.)


What is a PPS No.?

Your Personal Public Service Number (PPS No.) is your unique reference number for all dealings with Government Departments and public bodies. It helps you to gain access to social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland.


How do you get a PPS Number?

In general, you must already be living in Ireland in order to apply for a PPS number. The Department of Social Protection allocate PPS numbers and you can apply at your local registration centre. Not all social welfare centres are registration centres.

The Department of Social Protection website provides a list of PPS Number Registration Centres throughout Ireland.

You will need to fill out an application form and produce documentary evidence of identity and evidence of address – you should note that the evidence required differs depending on your nationality.


What types of documentary evidence is required?

If you were born in Ireland, you need to bring the following documents to show your identity:
· Your Birth Certificate
      and
· Valid photographic ID e.g. a current valid passport or a current driving licence.

If you are from the UK, you need either a current valid passport or a Birth Certificate, another form of photographic ID, for example, a driving licence and evidence of your address (such as a household bill in your name). You must also produce, if available, supporting documentation of either birth, work, unemployment, residence, tax liability or education history.

If you are an EU national or EEA Citizen(*), you need a passport or National Identity Card and evidence of your address (such as a household bill in your name) and, if available, supporting documentation of either birth, work, unemployment, residency, tax liability or education history.

If you are a non-EEA National, you need a passport or Certificate of Registration with the Department of Justice and Equality (Immigration Card), evidence of your address (such as a household bill in your name) and, if available, supporting documentation of either birth, work, unemployment, residency, tax liability or education history.

(*) EEA = European Economic Area and includes EU nationals, citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Swiss nationals are also considered EEA nationals for PPS number purposes.



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