🇮🇪 Dublin · Paperwork
Registration, banking and utilities in Dublin
A PPS number, a Revenue registration and an address you can prove — done in that order, in English, and quicker than most of Europe once the proof-of-address problem is solved.
The thing people get wrongThe trap is emergency tax. Getting a PPS number is not enough; you must also register the employment with Revenue through myAccount, and until you do, a punitive rate comes off every payslip and takes weeks to reclaim.
PPS number
The Personal Public Service number is the identifier for tax, social welfare, healthcare and public services, applied for through MyWelfare with proof of identity, proof of address and a stated reason such as a job offer. Photographic identification and evidence that you are living in Ireland are the two things applications fail on. Once issued it does not change and you will be asked for it constantly.
- Apply through MyWelfare; a verified MyGovID account makes the process much easier.
- Proof of address: a signed lease, a utility bill or a letter from an employer.
- The number is issued by post or online; keep the letter, not just the number.
Revenue and getting taxed correctly
After the PPS number, register for Revenue myAccount and add your employment using the employer's registered number, which produces a Revenue Payroll Notification for the employer and your tax credits. Do this before the first payday. Ireland's PAYE system is otherwise very simple and reconciles annually through a Statement of Liability, which is also where you claim reliefs such as medical expenses.
- Register the job in myAccount as soon as you have a start date and the employer's number.
- Emergency tax is reclaimed automatically once you are registered, but not instantly.
- Medical and some other expenses are claimed back through myAccount at year end.
Banking, address proof and Eircode
Irish banks want proof of address, which usually means a lease, a utility bill or a Revenue or Department of Social Protection letter — the classic loop where the bank wants an address and the landlord wants a bank account is broken by an employer letter or a signed lease. Ireland uses Eircodes, a unique seven-character code for each individual address rather than a district code, and you will need yours for deliveries, forms and every service registration. Digital banks are widely used but some landlords and employers still prefer an account with an Irish IBAN.
- Eircode is per-property, not per-street — find yours on the free national finder.
- Acceptable proof of address is narrower than you expect; ask the bank for its list first.
- A revolut-style account is fine for daily life but check what your employer will pay into.
Immigration registration
What you need in order to live and work here depends on your nationality and route, and non-EEA nationals register in person with the immigration service and receive an Irish Residence Permit card. Appointment availability, required documents and the rules themselves change, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current requirements with the Department of Justice's immigration service or a professional rather than relying on second-hand advice.
- EEA and UK nationals do not register in the same way — check what applies to you.
- Non-EEA registration appointments in Dublin are booked online and can be scarce.
- Bring originals; photocopies are generally not accepted at registration.
In order
- Set up MyGovID and apply for a PPS number with proof of address.
- Register for Revenue myAccount.
- Add the employment in myAccount before your first payday.
- Open an Irish bank account with a lease or employer letter as address proof.
- Note your Eircode and use it on every form.
- Complete immigration registration if it applies to you.
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