Is the Public Services Card a national ID card?

No. Ireland has no mandatory national identity card, and the PSC is not, in law, a national identity card.

How do I get a Public Services Card?

Through SAFE 2 face-to-face registration at an Intreo centre or social welfare office, where your photo is taken and signature recorded after your identity and address are verified.

🇮🇪 Ireland · National ID card

Public Services Card

Public Services Card (PSC)

The Public Services Card proves a person's identity to access public services such as social welfare payments, passports and driving licences, and underpins verified MyGovID. It is issued through face-to-face SAFE 2 registration. In law it is not a mandatory national identity card, and Ireland does not operate one.

What it does

Identity verification / KYCMobile credential (in person)

Country:🇮🇪 Ireland

Type:National ID card

Status:Live

Launched:2011

Issuer:Department of Social Protection, Government of Ireland

Who can get it:People in Ireland accessing public services, usually issued alongside a PPS number

Format

Physical card

Identity attributes

NamePhotographSignaturePPS NumberCard numberExpiry date

Authentication methods

SAFE 2 in-person registrationPhysical token

Common use cases

Accessing social welfare paymentsPassport applicationsDriving licence (NDLS)Foundation for verified MyGovID

Standards

Not notified under eIDAS

Coverage

The Data Protection Commission found facial-image data was collected from roughly 70 percent of Ireland's population over about 15 years

Interoperability

Provides the high-assurance identity-proofing basis for verified MyGovID and Ireland's EUDI-compliant Government Digital Wallet

Privacy and trust

The Data Protection Commission ruled in 2019 that requiring the PSC beyond welfare services had no lawful basis and in 2025 fined the Department over biometric processing breaches.

Identity verification providers

Independent identity verification vendors that support documents like this for KYC and onboarding. Exact document coverage varies by provider and region, so confirm support before relying on it.

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Official source

https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/how-to-get-a-public-services-card-psc/

Public Services Card: frequently asked questions

Is the Public Services Card a national ID card?: No. Ireland has no mandatory national identity card, and the PSC is not, in law, a national identity card.
How do I get a Public Services Card?: Through SAFE 2 face-to-face registration at an Intreo centre or social welfare office, where your photo is taken and signature recorded after your identity and address are verified.

Educational reference, not official guidance. Confirm current details with the issuing authority. all Ireland schemes · identity verification vendors