A bank account in Ireland: the basic account that costs nothing for a year, and the proof of address you don't have yet

Yes, you can open a bank account in Ireland, and if you are legally resident in the EU, you are entitled to a basic bank account: a current account with no charges for everyday banking, at least for the first year. The bank asks for two proofs, photo ID and a proof of address no more than six months old, and they may not be the same document. The trap is that second paper. In your first weeks you don't yet have an Irish energy bill or insurance policy in your name. Until then, your Dutch account can absorb a lot: within the EU a company may not refuse your account because it is held in another country.

What does the bank ask for?

Banks must establish your identity, as the anti-money laundering rules require. Citizens Information lists what they usually accept.

Proof	Examples	Validity
Identity, with photo	passport, driving licence, Irish Residence Permit	must be valid
Address	utility or phone bill, government letter with your address, your Tax Credit Certificate or a Statement of Liability from Revenue	no more than 6 months old
Address, via insurance	current car or home insurance policy showing your address	no more than 12 months old

The name on your ID must match the name on your proof of address. If you open a joint account, each of you provides both proofs. If you don't have the standard documents, ask the bank which alternatives it accepts; Citizens Information explicitly recommends that. A bank can also ask where your money comes from, for example if you transfer the proceeds of your Dutch house.

Note the difference from the PPS counter, which wants a proof of address no more than three months old. How to get such a proof in the first weeks is covered in the PPS number and the proofs of address. A Tax Credit Certificate or a Statement of Liability from Revenue also counts as proof of address at the bank.

What is a basic bank account?

An ordinary current account with a limited package, meant for people who don't have an account in Ireland yet. You may open one if you are legally resident in the EU and have no other current account with an Irish bank.

Rule	What it means
Charges	no charges for everyday banking and no maintenance fees, for the first year
After a year	the bank reviews the account; free for up to 5 years if less than the minimum wage is paid in each year
Free services	ATM withdrawals, paying by debit card in shops and online, transfers, standing orders, direct debits, online banking
What's missing	an overdraft and a cheque book; the card sometimes has no contactless feature
Number	one basic account per person

When opening, ask for the list of charges that do apply, such as for a replacement card or paying outside the eurozone. Every bank must give you a fee information document beforehand, and once a year a statement of what you paid.

Ask for a basic bank account explicitly. It is a right if you are legally resident in the EU and don't yet have an Irish current account, not a favour. Your Europe names the EU anti-money laundering rules as grounds for refusal, and in some countries an account you already hold at another bank; having only just arrived is not one of them.

If you need more, such as an overdraft, an ordinary current account is the next step. You compare those accounts with the comparison tool of the consumer authority CCPC.

May you keep using your Dutch account?

Yes, and for many payments it doesn't even have to be temporary. Whoever accepts SEPA transfers or direct debits from domestic accounts may not refuse your account because it is held in another EU country. That applies to paying bills, to tax refunds and to benefits. If a company refuses your Dutch IBAN anyway, you can file a complaint with the competent authority in that company's country.

You keep your Dutch account anyway: your tax return, your pension and every refund come in there. Why you never close that account and your DigiD is covered in keeping a bank account and DigiD.

How safe is your money?

The Irish deposit guarantee scheme, run by the Central Bank, protects up to €100,000 per person per institution, for current and savings accounts at banks, building societies and credit unions. For a joint account that amount applies per person. Your Europe adds that money from selling a private home is also protected above €100,000 for a limited time, between three and twelve months, depending on the country. Whoever transfers the proceeds of their Dutch house in one go should ask the bank which period applies in Ireland.

How the bank fits into your first weeks is shown in the journey at /ierland.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 4 of 5 of the journey, step 4.3: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Ireland or go straight to step 4.3 in the open plan.