HSE Organ Donation Opt Out: How to Register in Ireland
If you’d rather your body stayed intact after death, Ireland’s opt-out register lets you lock in that decision with the HSE — and legally bar your family from overriding it. The process takes minutes online or over the phone.
Average daily opt-outs in Ireland: Almost 300 people · Official opt-out register: HSE.ie · Phone to opt out: 1800 700 700
Quick snapshot
- Exact total registrations since launch
- Whether policy changes are planned
- Remove your name anytime to reverse the decision
- No opt-in register exists — inform family instead
- Family cannot override once you’re on the list
The key facts table below summarizes essential opt-out register details.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Opt-out register URL | www2.hse.ie/services/organ-donation-opt-out-register/ |
| About page | www2.hse.ie/services/organ-donation-opt-out-register/about/ |
| Citizens Information | www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health-services/blood-and-organ-donation/organ-and-body-donation/ |
| Daily opt-outs | Almost 300 |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Residency requirement | 1 year in Ireland |
How do I opt out of organ donation in Ireland?
To register on the HSE organ donation opt-out register, you must be aged 18 or older, hold a PPS number, and have been living in Ireland for at least one year (HSE). If you lack a PPS number or hit a snag during registration, HSE Live is your fallback — call 1800 700 700 (or 00 353 1 240 8787 from abroad). Someone else can ring on your behalf with your consent, providing your personal details to complete the process.
Online registration steps
Head to www2.hse.ie/services/organ-donation-opt-out-register/ and follow the prompts. You’ll need to provide your name, PPS number, and date of birth. Confirm you’re opting out, submit — and that’s it. The register stores only the information needed to identify you and your decision, nothing more. No documents to upload, no forms to print.
Phone opt-out process
If online feels daunting or you don’t have a PPS number handy, dial 1800 700 700. HSE Live agents walk you through it. For international callers, the number is 00 353 1 240 8787. You or an authorised third party can complete the call — just have the relevant personal details ready.
Eligibility requirements
The opt-out register applies only to adults normally living in Ireland for one year or longer. Children under 18 need their next of kin to consent; those without capacity to decide before death are excluded; and short-term visitors or recent arrivals don’t qualify (HSE). The rest of us can register whenever we like — there’s no deadline or closing date.
If you’re not on the opt-out register, Ireland’s soft opt-out system presumes you’re a donor — and your next of kin will still be asked for their views, even if you intended to donate. Registering removes that ambiguity entirely.
What is the opt-out register?
The HSE opt-out register is an official record that flags individuals who do not consent to organ donation after death (Irish Kidney Association). Healthcare professionals check it first when a potential donor dies. If your name is on the list, your organs will not be donated — and your next of kin will not be consulted (HSE). They cannot reverse your decision after you’re gone.
About the HSE register
Ireland operates a “soft opt-out” system, meaning adults aged 18 or older who are normally resident are presumed potential donors unless they explicitly opt out (Gov.ie). The HSE register is the legal mechanism for that opt-out — it protects your wishes as a point of law (Irish Kidney Association). There’s no equivalent opt-in register; if you want to donate, you currently inform your next of kin of your wishes instead.
Effects on family consent
Under the soft opt-out model, family is still involved in the process — but only if you’re not on the register. If you are registered, doctors will not ask your next of kin about organ donation (HSE). Their consent is neither required nor sought. This is the key difference from the old express-consent system, where next of kin held the decision power.
Changing your decision
You can change your mind at any time. To reverse an opt-out, simply contact the HSE to have your name removed from the register (HSE). The same online or phone channels handle removals. There’s no penalty for flipping back and forth — the system is designed for whenever your preferences evolve.
How many people have opted out of organ donation in Ireland?
Roughly 300 people add their names to the HSE opt-out register on an average day, according to the most recent publicly available figures (Citizens Information, updated 17 Jun 2025). The register has processed a significant volume of applications since its launch, though exact cumulative totals aren’t published on the main HSE pages.
Daily opt-out averages
The 300-per-day figure reflects steady public uptake — both from people who object to donation on principle and those simply making their wishes explicit. Because there’s no opt-in alternative, the register captures everyone who wants to opt out, rather than tracking a balanced flow of entries and removals.
Trends and totals
Precise total registrations since the system’s launch aren’t disclosed on the primary HSE pages, which makes trend analysis difficult. What’s clear is that the daily volume has remained consistent enough to generate that 300-average figure cited by Citizens Information. Healthcare professionals do check the register routinely for every potential donor (Irish Kidney Association), confirming the system is actively in use.
The 300-daily figure signals that tens of thousands of Irish adults have already formalised their non-donor status. For patients on transplant waiting lists, every opt-out reduces the donor pool — making the case for clear family communication even if you choose to donate.
Can I change if I don’t want to be an organ donor?
Yes — the HSE register is reversible. You can remove your name at any time, effectively reversing your opt-out and returning to the default presumption (HSE). There’s no penalty, no waiting period, and no paperwork beyond a simple removal request through the same channels you used to register.
Removing from register
Contact the HSE via the online portal or call 1800 700 700 to request removal. You’ll need to confirm your identity using the same details you provided during registration. The process is typically faster than the initial opt-out since there’s no new assessment — you’re simply reversing a flag on your record.
Opting back in
Once removed from the register, you return to Ireland’s default soft opt-out status — meaning you’re treated as a presumed donor unless you re-register. There’s no formal opt-in pathway, so the most reliable way to communicate a desire to donate is to tell your next of kin directly. The Irish Kidney Association notes that family retains a central role in the donation conversation (Irish Kidney Association), making that conversation worth having even if you’re on the opt-out register.
There’s no official opt-in register — but opting back in means reverting to the default donation presumption. For those who reversed their opt-out and then changed their minds again, the cycle can feel like administrative limbo. Clear, written wishes shared with family remain the most durable solution.
Is organ donation mandatory in Ireland?
No — organ donation is not mandatory in Ireland. Adults who don’t want to donate must actively register on the HSE opt-out register; those who are fine with donation need not do anything unless they want to document their wishes clearly for family (HSE). The system is a soft opt-out, not a hard one: next of kin are still consulted in most cases where the deceased wasn’t registered.
Opt-out vs opt-in
Before the opt-out register existed, Ireland used an express-consent model — donation required next of kin to agree (Gov.ie). The shift to soft opt-out means the baseline assumption flips: you’re presumed willing unless you’ve registered otherwise. The Department of Health described the change as aiming to “shift the culture” around organ donation.
Comparison to England
Northern Ireland operates its own opt-out system, named Dáithí’s Law after Dáithí Mac Gabhann, who has been on a heart transplant waiting list since 2018 (NHS). Like the Republic, Northern Ireland’s law consults family even if the deceased hasn’t opted out. The key difference is registration method: Northern Ireland uses the NHS Organ Donor Register (Organ Donation NI), while the Republic uses the HSE register requiring a PPS number and proof of residency.
Upsides
- Legal certainty: your wishes are locked in and cannot be overridden
- Simple process: online or phone, free of charge
- Reversible anytime if your circumstances change
- Protects family from making a hard decision during grief
Downsides
- No opt-in register means donors cannot lock in their preference the same way
- Daily opt-outs (~300) reduce the already tight donor pool for transplant patients
- Next of kin consulted under soft opt-out still face the question if you’re not registered
- Requires PPS number — not accessible to all Irish residents
“If you are on the opt-out register, your organs will not be donated. Your next of kin will not be asked about organ donation. They cannot change your decision after you die.”
“The Minister of Health expects from such a system ‘a change in the culture’, to make organ donations the norm and increase citizens’ awareness of the topic.”
Related reading: HSE hospital visiting hours · Free eye tests Ireland
Ireland’s HSE opt-out mirrors aspects of the UK opt-out process across the Irish Sea, where family input remains essential before any donation.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I am on the opt-out register?
If your name is on the HSE opt-out register, your organs will not be donated after death. Your next of kin will not be asked for their views, and they cannot change your decision. Healthcare professionals check the register for every potential donor.
Can my family override my opt-out?
No. Once you’re on the register, the decision is legally yours. Family cannot override it, and hospitals will not seek their consent.
How do I opt in after opting out?
Contact the HSE to have your name removed from the register. There’s no formal opt-in list, so the removed flag returns you to the default presumption. Inform your next of kin of your wishes to ensure they align with your intent.
Is there a deadline to opt out?
No. You can register or remove your name at any point in your life. There is no closing date or eligibility window.
What organs are covered?
The opt-out covers organ and tissue donation generally. For specifics on which organs and tissues qualify, check the HSE about page or consult the Citizens Information guide.
Differences from England opt-out?
Northern Ireland runs a separate opt-out law (Dáithí’s Law) via the NHS Organ Donor Register, with its own registration process. The Republic uses the HSE register requiring PPS proof and residency. Both are soft opt-out systems where family is consulted unless the deceased registered.
Living donation rules?
The opt-out register covers deceased donation only. Living donation follows a separate pathway through HSE living donor programmes. The register has no bearing on whether you can donate an organ while alive.
For Irish adults who know they don’t want to be organ donors, the HSE opt-out register is the only tool that legally removes the decision from their family’s hands. Registering online or calling 1800 700 700 takes minutes, costs nothing, and can be reversed at any time. The implication: if you do nothing, you’re presumed willing — and your next of kin will face that question during an already unbearable moment. The path forward is straightforward: either lock in your refusal with the HSE, or have a clear, documented conversation with those closest to you about what you want.
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