Pension question, Ireland
How do I check my PRSI record from abroad?
The online application and an instant copy of your PRSI record need a verified MyGovID account; a verified account needs a Public Services Card and a mobile number verified in person at an Irish Intreo Office; and the Department's published position is that you must be resident in Ireland to be registered for the card and that it will only be issued to an Irish address. The documented fallback posts a paper statement only if your PPS number, date of birth and the address the Department still holds all match automatically, which is exactly what fails for someone who left years ago.
- Source: gov.ie and welfare.ie, read 3 October 2026
What to do next
- Find your PPS number on old payslips, tax letters or a P60.
- Note the last Irish address the Department may still hold for you.
- Run our free check, then order a report if you want us to identify what is held in your name.
Check your own working life for free
Tell us where you worked. The free check shows which countries may hold a pension for you, and which can be ruled out and why. No sign in, no charge.
Run the free checkQuestions people also ask
What is the official route?
MyWelfare: State pension contribution record and welfare entitlements.
Do you give advice on what to do?
No. We identify where a pension is likely held and the official route to it, and we name each source with the date we read it. We do not give financial, tax or legal advice.