Moving to Ireland? Bank Account, PPS Number and Building Credit From Zero

Disclosure: This page includes an optional sponsored offer: if you complete an offer from our partner (OGAds) to unlock the printable bonus, we earn a commission. No bank, credit union or provider pays us, and we don't recommend specific financial products.

Last reviewed: October 17, 2026 by the Smart Savings Guides editorial team. How we research and update articles.

Moving to Ireland means building your financial identity again: a PPS number, an Irish bank account and, over time, an Irish credit history. Here's the usual order and what each step needs.

General information, not financial advice. We're not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and don't recommend specific financial products. Rates, prices and rules change, so check the provider and the official sources linked on each page.

1. Get your PPS number

A Personal Public Service (PPS) number is your reference for tax, social welfare and public services. According to Citizens Information, you can apply online through MyWelfare if you're 18 or over and have a basic MyGovID account. You'll need evidence of your identity and address and the reason you need a PPS number. If you live in Ireland you'll also attend an in-person appointment, and the number is posted to you.

Give your PPS number to your employer quickly. Without it, Revenue can't apply your tax credits properly and you may pay too much tax until it's sorted.

2. Open a bank account

If you're legally resident in the EU and don't already have a payment account in Ireland, you have a right to a basic bank account, which is free of charge for everyday banking for at least the first year (Citizens Information: basic bank accounts). Banks will ask for photo ID and proof of address. If you don't have an Irish utility bill yet, ask which alternatives they accept.

3. Start your Irish credit history

The Central Credit Register only holds information from lenders in Ireland, so your credit history from another country won't appear. Lenders may ask for other evidence, such as bank statements or a letter from your previous bank. To start a record:

Keep your current account in good order, with no unarranged overdrafts.
Consider a small credit card or credit union loan you can easily repay, paid by direct debit.
Check your free report from the Central Credit Register after a few months (see how).

4. Phone, broadband and energy

A SIM-only plan is usually quickest to set up (see how to compare SIM-only plans). For a rented home, find out whether electricity and broadband are in your name, then compare suppliers using our guides to switching energy and switching broadband.

Coming from Canada or the US? Our sister sites explain building credit as a newcomer to Canada and keeping things running at home while you travel.

Optional: free printable bills tracker + complaint letters

A printable kit from our UK sister site: a household bills and contract-end tracker, fill-in complaint letters and an annual review checklist. The tracker and letters work anywhere, but the escalation steps in it are written for the UK. In Ireland, escalate to the CRU (energy), ComReg (phone and broadband) or the FSPO (financial services).

Unlock the bills tracker + letter templates (requires trying a sponsored offer)

Optional and sponsored: the bonus unlocks after you complete one offer from our partner, such as trying an app or a survey, and we earn a commission when you do. This guide is complete without it.

Free: the 15-minute subscription check-up

A printable checklist for finding the subscriptions and recurring charges you've forgotten about, and for cancelling or downgrading them. Join our email list and the checklist opens right away.

We haven't started sending emails yet. When we do, expect a few a month at most: new guides, reminders and occasionally a sponsored offer, always labeled. Every email will have an unsubscribe link. We store only your email address, the list you joined, the page and the date, and we never sell or share it. See our privacy policy.

Frequently asked questions

Does my credit history transfer to Ireland?

No. The Central Credit Register only records loans from lenders in Ireland, so you start a new Irish record. Some lenders accept other evidence, such as statements from your previous bank.

How do I get a PPS number?

Apply through MyWelfare with a basic MyGovID account, evidence of identity and address and the reason you need one. People living in Ireland usually attend an in-person appointment.

Can I open a bank account in Ireland without a credit history?

Yes. If you're legally resident in the EU and have no other payment account in Ireland, you have a right to a basic bank account.

Sources

Official sources this article relies on, checked October 17, 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm details at the source.

More guides

← Back to the main guide