How do I get a PPS number after moving to Ireland?
You apply after you arrive, not before: returning emigrants cannot use the service for people living abroad. Apply online through MyWelfare with a basic MyGovID account, or through your local Intreo centre, and expect an in-person appointment as part of the process; the number itself arrives by post afterwards. You need three proofs: why you need the number (a job starting, a welfare claim), who you are (passport plus your birth certificate), and an Irish address. If you are staying with family, the bill payer can write on their utility bill confirming you live there. One trap avoided: if you were born in Ireland from 1971 on, or worked here after 1979, you very likely already have a number. Ask Client Identity Services before applying for a new one.
Useful pages: Irish in USA · The Irish surnames map · Trace your Irish roots · Coming home · Irish around the world
Sources
- Department of Social Protection: Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers and MyWelfare, gov.ie
- Citizens Information: returning to Ireland, PPS numbers and the Habitual Residence Condition, citizensinformation.ie
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