New applications for identification numbers by Latvian residents who have moved to Ireland jumped by more than 5 percent from 2008 to 2009, according to figures compiled by the country’s Department of Social and Family Affairs.

A total of 3,916 applications for a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) were processed last year for immigrants from Latvia, up from the 3,727 issued in 2008. The increase suggests that migration from Latvia to Ireland is on the upswing.

However, the number of new PPSN applications is far less than in previous years. The greatest number of PPSNs issued for immigrants from Latvia was in 2005—a total of 9,328.

The PPSN is a unique customer reference number used for transactions between individuals and Irish government departments, as well as other public service providers.

Since June 2000, Ireland’s Department of Social and Family Affairs has issued more than 42,700 PPSNs to immigrants from Latvia. PPSNs issued to immigrants from Estonia totaled 3,768, while immigrants from Lithuania accounted for 77,050 identification numbers.

New applications for PPSNs from Estonian and Lithuanian immigrants dropped last year compared to 2008.