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Papers · Ireland
Updated September 2026

🌍 I am moving abroad — what do I have to deregister and arrange?

Direct answer

Deregister from the population register at Department of Social Protection — PPS number / Civil Registration Service (0818 927 999) in the days before or after you leave — it ends your municipal obligations and starts your emigration for tax and social security. Then Revenue — appeals and phased payment (Tax Appeals Commission) (01 738 3660): a final tax return, your new address, and whether you stay taxable on income from Ireland. HSE — GP visit card / medical card, GP finder (1800 700 700): what happens to your pension rights, health insurance and any benefits, and the forms to take (S1, U1, A1, pension statements). Keep your digital ID active if the country allows non-residents to use it — it makes everything from abroad easier.

Ireland has no address registration. 'Registering' means getting a PPS number from the Department of Social Protection, then telling Revenue, your GP and the electoral register.

Call firstDepartment of Social Protection — PPS number / Civil Registration Service
Report toRevenue — appeals and phased payment (Tax Appeals Commission)
If that failsHSE — GP visit card / medical card, GP finder

🗣️ What to say

"I am moving to [country] on [date] and will live at [address]. I would like to deregister as of that date, receive confirmation, and know what I must arrange with the tax office and social security before I leave."

🪜 Step by step

  1. Deregister: Department of Social Protection — PPS number / Civil Registration ServiceWithin the deadline around the move date. Get the written confirmation — other countries ask for it.
  2. Tax: Revenue — appeals and phased payment (Tax Appeals Commission)New address, the emigration return, and any continuing tax on property or pensions from Ireland. Double-tax treaties decide.
  3. Social security and health: HSE — GP visit card / medical card, GP finderHealth insurance ends with residence in most countries; the new country covers you. Pension years are kept and added up across the EU.
  4. Documents to takeBirth/marriage certificates (multilingual forms), driving licence, registration history, pension statements, U1 if you may claim unemployment benefit abroad.
  5. MoneyKeep one account open for refunds and the last bills; update the bank with the foreign address (some banks close accounts for non-residents — ask).

📇 All contacts

Department of Social Protection — PPS number / Civil Registration ServicePPS number, birth/marriage certificatesOn arrival and for certificates📞 0818 927 999🔗 www.gov.ie/en/service/12e6de-get-a-personal-public-service-pps-number
Revenue — appeals and phased payment (Tax Appeals Commission)Appeal an assessment within 30 days; phased payment arrangementsWithin 30 days of the notice📞 01 738 3660🔗 www.revenue.ie
HSE — GP visit card / medical card, GP finderFinding a GP, medical card, HSE complaints (Your Service Your Say)For finding a doctor and coverage questions📞 1800 700 700🔗 www2.hse.ie/services/find-a-gp
Your city or county councilNuisances, roads, waste, lost property, environmental complaintsFor anything the council handles🔗 www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/1a5c8-local-authorities

❓ Frequently asked

Can I keep my health insurance?

Usually not once you no longer live in the country, unless you are posted by an employer (A1). Pensioners moving within the EU get the S1 form.

Will I lose my pension years?

No — EU coordination adds them up and each country pays its share when you retire. Keep every statement.

I might come back

Nothing prevents re-registering. Do not keep a fake registration "just in case" — it creates tax and benefit problems.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

  • “moving abroad deregister Ireland”
  • “emigration tax return Ireland”
  • “health insurance when moving abroad”
  • “pension rights moving eu”
  • “deregistration confirmation”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

🚚Register your address→🆘Help abroad→📜Apostille→🔢National ID number→

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