Ireland — EU residence in an English-speaking common-law jurisdiction

Programme overview

The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was closed to new applications in February 2023 and remains closed at the date of publication. No direct successor has been announced. Applications already submitted before the closure continue to be processed, and Ovata maintains active capability for legacy IIP applicants — but new clients now access Ireland through the conventional residence routes described below.

For internationally mobile families and entrepreneurs, the principal current routes into Ireland are: Stamp 0 long-term residence for persons of independent means (a retirement-style route with a minimum income test); the Critical Skills Employment Permit for senior professionals taking up qualifying employment with an Irish employer; the Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) for founders of high-potential innovative businesses; and intra-company transfer routes for executives moving within multinational groups.

Ireland's strategic case is straightforward: it is the only English-speaking common-law jurisdiction inside the European Union (post-Brexit), it has a deep international business community, and it offers a comparatively short five-year path to naturalisation. The headwinds are equally clear: there is no current open passive-investor route, and the Irish tax position for new residents has tightened relative to a decade ago.

Eligibility

• Non-EEA/Swiss national (EEA and Swiss citizens have free movement and do not require a residence permission).
• Clean criminal record and demonstrable lawful source of wealth.
• Sufficient personal net worth — historically EUR 2 million minimum for the IIP, with proportionate proof for other routes.
• Genuine intention to spend at least one day per calendar year in Ireland (IIP), with higher residence requirements for routes leading to naturalisation.
• Private health insurance covering the principal and family for the duration of the residence.
• Suitable accommodation in Ireland.

Current route requirements

• Stamp 0 (persons of independent means): demonstrated annual income of approximately EUR 50,000+ per applicant from sources outside Ireland, plus access to a lump sum sufficient to meet any major contingency. Renewable annually; does not by itself accumulate towards Irish citizenship without further conversion.
• Critical Skills Employment Permit: minimum annual salary thresholds set by the Department of Enterprise (currently around EUR 38,000 for occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List and EUR 64,000 for off-list roles, subject to periodic uplift). Leads to Stamp 4 after two years and counts towards naturalisation.
• Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP): EUR 50,000 in a new innovative business with high-potential start-up status, demonstrable to Enterprise Ireland's evaluation panel.
• Intra-Company Transfer Permit: minimum salary thresholds set by occupation; permit tied to the employing group.
• Legacy IIP applications: applications submitted before February 2023 continue to be processed under the prior thresholds (EUR 1M enterprise / EUR 1M fund / EUR 500k endowment); Ovata maintains capability for legacy applicants.

Minimum investment / income requirements only. Total programme costs (government fees, legal fees, due-diligence costs, and applicable Irish taxes) will be higher and are discussed in your private consultation.

Processing timeline

1. Eligibility & programme selection — 2–4 weeks to identify the appropriate route given family circumstances and the current state of the IIP.
2. Documentation assembly — 6–12 weeks for source-of-funds, KYC, business plan (if applicable) and supporting evidence.
3. Investment / commitment — depending on route, the qualifying investment is made or committed in escrow.
4. Submission & review — Department of Justice review typically 4–8 months, with an oral interview in some cases.
5. Approval, entry & registration — issuance of permission, entry to Ireland, registration with the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

Benefits

• EU residence with associated rights of establishment, education and healthcare access.
• English-speaking, common-law jurisdiction — familiar legal and commercial environment for Anglo-business families.
• Strong international school sector and globally-ranked universities (Trinity College Dublin, UCD).
• Path to Irish citizenship — and therefore EU citizenship — after five years of lawful reckonable residence.
• Dual citizenship permitted (Ireland does not require renunciation of prior citizenships).
• One of the world's strongest passports for visa-free travel.

Tax considerations

Irish tax residence is determined by physical presence (183 days in a year, or 280 days across two years). Ordinary residents who are not domiciled in Ireland may be taxable on a remittance basis on non-Irish source income — a meaningful concession for internationally-mobile families, but one whose application is technical and whose interaction with the residence permission requires careful planning.

Irish corporate tax remains highly competitive at 12.5% for trading income, though the Pillar Two global minimum-tax regime is changing the calculus for very large groups. For private clients, the interaction between residence, domicile, remittance basis and the EU automatic-exchange-of-information regime requires named Irish tax counsel from the outset.

This is orientation, not advice. Ovata always works alongside qualified Irish tax counsel before any decision is taken.

Our process for Ireland

1. Initial consultation — confirming whether Ireland is genuinely the right answer, given the current state of the IIP and the family's specific circumstances.
2. Programme selection — written memo on the IIP (status), STEP, Stamp 0 and the critical-skills routes, with a recommended sequence.
3. Tax positioning — Ovata engages Irish tax counsel to set out the remittance-basis position, succession implications and treaty interactions before any move.
4. Documentation & investment — Ovata coordinates the file with named Irish counsel.
5. Submission & review — local counsel files; Ovata project-manages the Department of Justice review.
6. Settlement & ongoing support — banking introductions, GNIB registration, our curated referral network of local professionals, and ongoing residence calendar management for the naturalisation pathway.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Irish Immigrant Investor Programme still open?

No. The IIP was closed to new applications in February 2023 and has not reopened. There is no current open passive-investor route into Ireland. New clients access Ireland through Stamp 0, the Critical Skills Permit, the Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme or intra-company transfer routes. Ovata advises on each.

How long until I can apply for Irish citizenship?

Five years of "reckonable" lawful residence in Ireland, with the year immediately before the application being continuous. Naturalisation requires good character and an intention to continue residing in Ireland.

Can I keep my existing citizenship?

Yes. Ireland permits dual citizenship and does not require renunciation of prior nationalities for naturalisation.

What is the residence requirement under the IIP?

Historically, IIP holders were required to spend at least one day per calendar year in Ireland. Routes leading to naturalisation require materially higher physical presence (broadly, 183 days per year in the qualifying year and reasonable residence in earlier years).