You need an Irish bank account to get paid and to pay rent, and the usual sticking point for newcomers is proving an Irish address before you have one. This guide covers what you need to open an account, how the traditional retail banks compare with the app-based options that newcomers lean on, and how to bridge the gap before your account is live. It is written for Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians arriving on the Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA).
To open any account in Ireland you must prove your identity (photo ID) and verify your address, under anti-money-laundering law. The Personal Public Service (PPS) number is not generally required to open a basic account, though a bank can ask for it. The catch for newcomers is the proof of Irish address, which you do not have in your first days. The traditional retail banks (AIB, Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB) usually want a document showing an Irish address; the app-based options (Revolut, N26) have lighter requirements and are popular with people who have just landed. Many newcomers open an app account first to start receiving wages, then add a retail account once they have a tenancy or a bill in their name.
Irish banks must establish your identity and verify your address before opening an account. This is set down in anti-money-laundering law, and the Central Bank of Ireland confirms that providers, not the regulator, decide which exact documents they accept. Source: Central Bank of Ireland explainer.
According to Citizens Information, you need at least one photo ID to prove your identity and at least one separate document to prove your address, and you cannot use the same document for both. Accepted proof of address typically includes a current utility bill (gas, electricity or phone), a current car or home insurance policy, a document from a government department showing your address, or a Revenue document such as a Tax Credit Certificate. Proof of address must usually be less than 6 months old (or 12 months for an insurance policy).
The catch is obvious: in your first week you have a passport but no Irish utility bill. A few ways around it:
A bank may also ask for your PPS number in some cases (for example, for tax relief on a mortgage), but it is not generally needed to open a basic everyday account. Source: Citizens Information.
The three main retail banks and the two most-used app banks are below. Retail banks have branches and are the default for many employers and landlords; app banks open faster with lighter proof-of-address requirements. Treat this as a starting point and confirm current requirements on each provider's own site, since banks decide their own accepted documents.
| Provider | Type | Proof of Irish address needed? | What you need | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [AIB](https://www.aib.ie) | Retail bank | Yes, typically | Photo ID plus a separate proof of address | Offers a fee-free Basic Bank Account for the first year for EU residents who do not already hold an Irish account. n/a on exact document list, confirm with AIB |
| [Bank of Ireland](https://www.bankofireland.com) | Retail bank | Yes, typically | Photo ID plus a separate proof of address | Offers a Basic Bank Account on similar terms. n/a on exact document list, confirm with Bank of Ireland |
| [Permanent TSB](https://www.permanenttsb.ie) | Retail bank | Yes, typically | Photo ID plus a separate proof of address | Offers a Basic Payment Account (minimum age 18). n/a on exact document list, confirm with PTSB |
| [Revolut](https://www.revolut.com) | App-based | Lighter, may be requested | A valid government photo ID and your personal details in the app | Proof of address may be requested during verification or for certain features, not always up front. Popular with newcomers |
| [N26](https://n26.com) | App-based | No (ID only to open) | A valid ID, a smartphone, and you must live in an eligible country | Free Standard plan; the Smart plan is EUR 4.90 per month. Opens in the app in minutes |
Sources: Basic bank account rules and proof-of-identity rules from Citizens Information (basic bank accounts) and Citizens Information (proof of identity); Revolut sign-up and proof-of-address requirements from Revolut Ireland help; N26 requirements and pricing from N26.
AIB, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB are the main high-street banks, with branches, ATMs and apps. They will normally ask for photo ID plus a separate document proving your Irish address, so they are easiest to open once you have a tenancy or a bill in your name.
All three also offer a basic account aimed at people who do not already have an Irish current account: AIB's Basic Bank Account, Bank of Ireland's Basic Bank Account, and Permanent TSB's Basic Payment Account. A basic bank account is free of charge for everyday banking for at least the first year, and you can keep free banking for up to 5 years in total if the amount paid into the account each year is less than the minimum wage. To qualify you must be legally resident in the EU and not already hold another current or payment account in Ireland, and the minimum age is 16 (or 18 for PTSB). Source: Citizens Information: basic bank accounts.
Revolut and N26 are app-based providers that newcomers use heavily because they open quickly and the address requirements are lighter. N26 states you can open an account with a valid ID, a smartphone and residence in an eligible country; its Standard plan is free and the Smart plan is EUR 4.90 per month. Source: N26. Revolut requires a valid government ID and your personal details to sign up, and may request proof of address during verification or for certain features rather than always up front. Source: Revolut Ireland help.
Both give you an account with an IBAN you can share with an employer to receive wages. Some employers and landlords still prefer a traditional Irish bank, so many people run an app account from day one and add a retail account later.
For any provider, expect to give:
You can compare current accounts independently using the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's current account comparison tool.
Once your account is open you have an Irish IBAN. Wages in Ireland are paid by bank transfer into that account, so give your employer your IBAN (and register the job with Revenue to avoid emergency tax, covered in the tax guide). Rent typically runs the other way, by standing order or transfer from your account to the landlord or agent, with a deposit plus the first month usually paid upfront.
If you land work before your account is live, an app-based account (Revolut or N26) is the quickest way to have an IBAN ready to receive your first pay. A multi-currency account such as Wise can also give you account details to receive money, and is useful for moving savings between euro and your home currency at transparent rates. Compare the amount that actually arrives on the day.
Not generally for a basic everyday account. A bank can ask for your PPS number in some cases, but it is not a standard requirement to open a basic account. Get your PPS number early anyway, as you need it to be taxed correctly. Source: Citizens Information.
A current utility or phone bill, a current car or home insurance policy, a tenancy agreement, or a document from a government department or Revenue showing your address. It must usually be less than 6 months old, or 12 months for an insurance policy, and cannot be the same document you use for ID. Source: Citizens Information.
The app-based providers have lighter address requirements, so they are the usual route in your first week. N26 states you can open with a valid ID and residence in an eligible country; Revolut may request proof of address only during verification or for certain features. Retail banks normally want proof of an Irish address up front. Confirm current rules with each provider. Sources: N26, Revolut Ireland help.
Both give you an account with an IBAN that can receive wage transfers. Some employers and landlords still prefer a traditional Irish bank, so many newcomers use an app account to get started and add a retail account once they have proof of address.
It varies by provider and account. A basic bank account at the retail banks is free of charge for everyday banking for at least the first year. N26's Standard plan is free and its Smart plan is EUR 4.90 per month. Always read the fee information document before you sign up, and use the CCPC comparison tool. Sources: Citizens Information: basic bank accounts, N26.
Open an app-based account (Revolut or N26) for a fast IBAN, or use a multi-currency account such as Wise, then switch your employer to your main account once it is live.
Verified on 23 June 2026 by the WHE research team. Sources: citizensinformation.ie · centralbank.ie · ccpc.ie · revenue.ie. How we verify →