Before you arrive
- Check whether you have the right to work in Ireland or need an employment permit. A PPS number does not itself give you permission to work.
- Gather identity documents such as passport, national ID card or driving licence.
- Prepare proof of address documents. Banks, PPS applications and other services usually need your name and address on a recent official document.
- Budget for rent deposit, first month rent, temporary accommodation, transport, and the delay before your first full payslip.
Sources: WRC — Coming to work in Ireland, CCPC — Opening an account
First few weeks in Ireland
| Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Apply for a PPS number | Needed for Revenue, employment tax records, social welfare and many public services. |
| Create Revenue myAccount | Lets you manage tax credits, jobs, tax returns and refunds. |
| Register your first job | Helps avoid or fix emergency tax if you are starting PAYE work. |
| Open a current account | Useful for salary, rent, bills and everyday payments. |
| Keep tenancy records | Lease, rent receipts and RTB registration can help with tax credits and proof of address. |
Check your first payslip
Your first payslip may show PAYE, USC and PRSI. If Revenue does not have the right details, emergency tax may apply. That is common for new arrivals and is usually fixed by getting your PPS number and employment record set up properly with Revenue.
Once your tax record is corrected, overpaid PAYE is generally refunded through payroll or after a tax review. See the guides on starting work in Ireland and emergency tax.
Know the Irish tax year
Ireland uses the calendar year for personal tax. If you arrive part-way through a year, tax residence and split-year treatment may matter. Employment income earned abroad before you arrive may be ignored for Irish tax if you qualify for split-year treatment, but you need to check Revenue's conditions.
Keep records from day one
Save your employment contract, payslips, rent receipts, tenancy agreement, bank statements, proof of address documents and official Revenue messages. They can be useful for refunds, tax credits, tenancy issues, mortgage applications and proving your financial history later.