What is a PPS Number?
The Personal Public Service number (PPS No.) is the new name for the RSI number. You need a PPS number to continue to work in in Ireland – it is possible to get a job without having your PPS number, however it must be applied for and given to your employer within a month.
It is your unique reference number. The PPS No. will help you to access benefits and information from public service agencies more quickly and more easily. This includes services such as Social Welfare, Revenue, Public Healthcare and Education.
If you do not know your PPS No you should contact your Local Office of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. This office will try to trace a number for you or, in the event of your not having a number, will request one on your behalf.
- Below is the information you will need to apply for a PPS number.
- Current Valid Passport or National Identity Card
- and
- Evidence of either birth /work /unemployment /residency /tax liability /education in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland
- and
- Evidence of address in Ireland
The first place to ask about a PPS number is your local Social Welfare office – you will find a list of them here. The issue of PPS numbers is currently being restructured within Ireland and your local office will tell you where to apply to.
If you think there is Irish information that should be added to this page please add it below – thanks.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
The link about Social Welfare office list is not working – the blue link where it says “here”
Whole text:
“The first place to ask about a PPS number is your local Social Welfare office – you will find a list of them here
Please, correct it as I would like to know the different Welfare Offices in Dublin. Thanks
Fixed – thanks for telling me. The page had moved.
Hey, your website is a lot of help. But id like to ask whether its possible to come to ireland on a tourist visa and then get a job and apply for a permit? or if your employer is willing to apply for a permit for you. or is there anything else that one can get in order to work there? ive just finished my A levels and im thinking of doing a gap year there. can u help pls??
Hello,
I have basically the same question as Snigdha. I would like to know if I can come in with a tourist visa and then get the PPS number.
Do you know something about this?
Any information or help will be deeply appreciated.
Thanks,
-S
u must have visa to get a pps no
Hi sandra and Snigdha,
I have just arrived in Ireland doing what you 2 were asking. My wife has got a job over here and I have come along for the ride. They seem to be fine about it but you will still need to be living somewhere in ireland before you can get a PPS number.
My wife DID do it the other way round, but her empolyer did all the leg work for her as they were activily seeking people from outside of ireland. So unless you have somebody else over here waiting or are employed by a company bringing you over here, then your best bet is getting a place first and then applying for the PPS.
hope this helps.
We have spent the last 6 hours driving between social welfare offices and have all but given up.
We live just out of Athlone. We phoned beforehand and were told we could go to either Mullingar or Roscommon, so we went to Mullingar because we had other stuff to do there. We waited 2 hours in the queue, and were then told we had to go to Roscommon, our PPS applications couldn’t be done in Mullingar. So we went to Roscommon, and were told we had to go to Athlone because it’s the closest office to where we live (starting to get pretty angry about now). (Remember, before we got in the car we called and they said we had to go to Roscommon or Mullingar)
The guy at Roscommon also said we needed a passport AND the original birth certificate. We were told they wouldn’t entertain any applications without both of these, which is different to what I have read elsewhere (including here).
I’m feeling a bit disgruntled about all this – we got a similar run-around with immigration where I waited 4 hours to see the guy in Dublin to be told to go to Athlone, then Ballinasloe.
I’m not sure if the system here is fundamentally flawed, or what the problem is. Staff can’t even agree on where to go or what to bring and the official websites don’t have clear instructions.
As a new immigrant, how am I supposed to know where to go / what to bring if the Irish authorities can’t even agree on this?
(PS. Sorry about the rant)