{
  "id": "banking/proof-of-address-required-not-ppsn",
  "signature": "AI tells a newcomer to Ireland that a PPS Number (or PPSN allocation letter) plus a passport is enough identification to open a bank account",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(ireland.*bank account|irish bank account|open.*account.*ireland|pps number.*bank)",
  "domain": "banking",
  "category": "administrative_barrier",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Irish banks require photo ID plus a separate proof-of-address document issued to the applicant at their home address within the past 6 months (a utility bill, correspondence from a regulated financial institution, an electoral/polling card, or a Revenue certificate). A Personal Public Service (PPS) Number is not a legal requirement to open a standard personal account - Citizens Information notes banks only ask for it in specific cases such as mortgage interest relief - and AIB's own published requirements explicitly list a PPS Letter issued by the Client Identity Services Department as NOT acceptable as proof of address. Applicants not currently resident in Ireland need two proof-of-address documents instead of one.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Assume a passport plus a PPS Number or PPSN allocation letter is sufficient identification to open an Irish bank account",
      "why_fails": "AIB's published personal identification requirements explicitly state that 'A Personal Public Service (PPS) Letter issued by the Irish Client Identity Services Department' is NOT acceptable as proof of address. Banks require a separate proof-of-address document (e.g. a utility bill or correspondence from a regulated financial institution) issued to the applicant at their home address within the past 6 months, in addition to photo ID - the PPSN letter itself does not substitute for it.",
      "fail_rate": 0.7,
      "condition": "First-time applicant without an established Irish address paper trail",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.aib.ie/our-products/savings-and-deposits/personal-identification-requirements"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Tell an applicant who is not yet resident in Ireland that one proof of address is enough",
      "why_fails": "AIB's non-resident identification requirements state that if you are not currently resident in Ireland you must provide two proof-of-address documents, and for the overseas address a bank statement or utility bill from the home country issued within the last three months is required, on top of an Irish address document once available.",
      "fail_rate": 0.5,
      "condition": "Applicant not currently resident in Ireland",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.aib.ie/our-products/savings-and-deposits/non-resident-personal-identification-requirements"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Before applying, obtain a proof-of-address document dated within the last 6 months from an accepted category (utility bill, correspondence from a regulated financial institution, electoral/polling card, Revenue certificate) rather than relying on PPSN paperwork or a passport alone",
      "success_rate": 0.85,
      "how": "If no utility account exists yet, ask the bank in advance which alternative documents (e.g. a tenancy agreement plus Revenue correspondence) it will accept, since photocopies are not accepted and originals must be produced in person.",
      "condition": "Newcomer with limited Irish paperwork",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.aib.ie/our-products/savings-and-deposits/personal-identification-requirements"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "If applying before or immediately upon arrival, bring two address proofs - a recent (within 3 months) home-country bank statement or utility bill plus visa/residency documentation - and expect enhanced due diligence to take longer than for an established resident",
      "success_rate": 0.7,
      "how": "",
      "condition": "Applying as a non-resident or very recent arrival",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.aib.ie/our-products/savings-and-deposits/non-resident-personal-identification-requirements"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": [
      "policy/pps-number-in-person-appointment-required/ie"
    ]
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.75,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.85,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2026-08-22",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-08-22",
  "last_updated": "2026-08-22",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "banking/proof-of-address-required-not-ppsn/ie"
  ]
}