How to get a Public Services Card (PSC)

To get a Public Services Card (PSC), you will need to attend a PSC Centre. PSC Centres are available throughout the country and offer either an appointment or walk-in service.

The quickest and easiest way to make a Public Service Card (PSC) appointment is to contact your local PSC Centre directly. If you don’t have access to email, you can contact us by phone and the National Intreo Contact Centre team will email your local PSC centre to arrange an appointment on your behalf.

If your local PSC Centre offers a walk-in service, you will need to go to the centre during the opening hours for that centre.

You can find contact details to make an appointment and opening hours for walk-in centres on the Public Service Card (PSC) Centres page.

When making your appointment or going to a walk-in centre, you will need to provide your Personal Public Service (PPS) Number and some personal details.

You must be living in Ireland to receive a PSC.

You will need to bring:

• the letter confirming your appointment (if you received one)
• your Social Services Card (if you have one)
• documents to prove your identity
• documents to prove your address
• your mobile phone (if you have one). If you bring your mobile phone with you, your phone number can be verified by the department. You need a verified mobile phone to access public services online

Documents to prove your identity

If you are an Irish citizen born in Ireland:

• your current Irish passport OR your current Irish or UK driving licence or Irish learner driver permit (if you have one)

For all persons born in Ireland, SAFE officers check the birth records held by the General Register Office (GRO) when verifying a person’s identity details.

It should be noted that for adopted persons SAFE officers can contact GRO to verify their details. SAFE officers do not have access to adoption records.

Where no record can be found and the SAFE officer is unable to verify your birth information provided, you will be asked to provide your birth certificate** to allow your birth details to be verified.

** Irish Birth Certificate – issued in pursuance of Civil Registration Act 2004

OR

Irish Birth Certificate – Certified Copy of entry in Adopted Children Register issued in pursuance of Adoption Act 2010.

If you are an Irish citizen born in Northern Ireland or a UK citizen:

• your current passport
• OR your birth certificate AND your current driving licence (if you have one)

If you are an Irish citizen through naturalisation or Foreign Birth Registration:

• your current Irish passport ORCertificate of Naturalisation OR your Foreign Birth Registration Certificate
• AND your Irish or UK driving licence or Irish learner driving permit (if you have one)
• your adoption certificate if this applies

If you are an EU/EEA citizen (other than Irish and UK):

• your current passport OR national identity card

If you are a Non-EU/EEA citizen:

• your current passport OR 1951 travel document

If you are a Ukrainian customer:

• current Passport AND Temporary protection letter

If you are an International Protection (IPO) customer:

• IPO (blue) card AND 3-page IPO document

If you don’t have a passport or driving licence, you may still get a PSC

You should contact your local PSC Centre before you arrive. They will give you more information about what documents you can provide to help verify your identity.

Other helpful documents

If you have any of the items listed below, please bring them to your appointment as they may help to confirm your identity:

• medical card
• European Health Insurance Card
• credit/debit card and statement from financial institution
• student card
• evidence from Revenue of employment
• Free Travel Pass

If you do not have any of these, you should bring any other supporting documents or any other form of photo ID you have.

Documents which are not accepted

The following items are not accepted as proof of identity:

• baptismal certificate
• work ID card
• Garda form ML-10
• Garda Age Card
• photocopied certificates or documents
• expired documents

Documents to prove your address

You will be asked for evidence of your Irish address at your appointment.

Your evidence of address document must show your name and full address and must be dated within the last 6 months. Examples of acceptable documents include:

• a household utility bill
• an official letter/document from a government department
• a financial statement
• a property lease or tenancy agreement
• confirmation of address by a third party such as a hotel or hostel administrator or manager, school principal or property owner

If you are staying with friends or relatives, an original household bill and a note from the bill holder is allowed. This note confirming that you live there can be written on the bill itself.

When you attend the PSC Centre, your identity will be verified. This is known as SAFE Registration. It will take around 15 minutes.

During SAFE registration your:

• your photograph will be taken
• your signature will be recorded

If you are unable to attend your appointment

If you have made an appointment and you will not be able to attend, you should notify the centre as soon as possible so that the appointment can be offered to another person.

After you have attended the PSC centre and completed the SAFE registration process, your Public Services Card (PSC) will be posted to you. This will take 7-10 working days.

A PSC can only be sent to an Irish address.

An out-of-date card can still be used to:

• collect social welfare payments at the post office
• avail of your free travel entitlement (this is a temporary measure introduced for people unable to renew their PSC due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
• set up a MyGovID account

If you want to renew your PSC you can do so:

• online at MyWelfare.ie or
• at your local Public Service Card (PSC) Centre

Comprehensive guide to SAFE registration and the Public Services Card

If you have a question on this process, you can send us an enquiry or contact the Public Services Card helpdesk.