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THE CITIZENSHIP DESK

Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP)

Ireland IRL

Last verified 2026-04-20Official source

IMPORTANT: The Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was officially suspended on 15 February 2023 and is no longer accepting new applications. When it was active, the programme offered Stamp 4 residence permission to non-EEA nationals making a minimum qualifying investment of €1 million in an Irish enterprise, Irish government bonds, a real estate investment trust, or a qualifying endowment. No replacement programme had been announced as of mid-2024.

Program Details

Category
Investment
Processing Time
6 months
Application Fee
$1,500
Minimum Income
Minimum Investment
$1,090,000
Family Included
Spouse and dependent children were included under the programme when it was active
Path to PR
Yes — 5 years
Path to Citizenship
Yes — 5 years
Physical Presence
No minimum physical presence requirement was imposed under this programme — one day's presence in Ireland per year was sufficient to maintain the permission.
Dual Citizenship
Allowed
Tax Impact
Ireland's tax residency rules apply based on physical presence (183 days in a year, or 280 days across two years). Since the programme imposed no minimum presence requirement, many holders did not become Irish tax residents.

Application Timeline

Apply

6mo processing

Visa Granted

Initial permit

Permanent Residency

After 5 years

Citizenship

After 5 years

Key Requirements

  • PROGRAMME SUSPENDED — no new applications accepted since 15 February 2023
  • Minimum qualifying investment of €1,000,000 (enterprise investment, investment fund, real estate investment trust, or endowment)
  • Proof of legally acquired net worth of at least €2,000,000
  • Clean criminal record
  • Valid passport
  • Business plan or investment proposal (for enterprise investments)

Am I eligible for Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP)?

Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.

  • Minimum investment / capital

    Programme requires $1,090,000.

Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.

This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.

Application Process — Step by Step

  1. 01

    NOTE: Immigrant Investor Programme SUSPENDED since February 2023

    home country

    The Irish Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) stopped accepting new applications on 15 February 2023. Existing approved applicants continue to be processed. No new investor path into Ireland via this programme.

    Typical duration: N/A — closedsource ↗

  2. 02

    Historical route (closed): €1M investment in enterprise/fund

    home country

    Required €1M investment in approved enterprise/fund for 3+ years, OR €2M real estate investment (REIT), OR €500k philanthropic donation.

    Typical duration: N/Asource ↗

Documents Required

DocumentIssued ByApostilleTranslate toValidity (days)
Historical requirements no longer applicableN/ANo

Realistic Costs

Government fee
$0
Lawyer fee (low–high)
$0
$0
Translations
$0
Apostilles
$0
Health insurance (year 1)
$0
Relocation misc.
$0
Total first year
$0
$0
Total 5-year
$0
$0

Programme closed to new applicants.

Realistic Timeline

  • Consulate wait00 weeks

Existing pre-Feb 2023 approved applicants continue to be processed. No new applications accepted.

Renewal

First renewal after
0 months
Subsequent cycle
0 months
Renewal fee
$0
Requirements
N/A for new applicants; existing approved IIP holders follow legacy renewal rules.

Path to Permanent Residency — Details

Years required
5
Integration test
Not required

Path to Citizenship — Details

Years required
5
Language test
No
Civic test
Not required
Oath
Required
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Tax Residency

Trigger
183 days/year of presence
Taxation scope
Worldwide income
Exit-tax country
Yes

Health Insurance

Mandatory
Yes

Examples: VHI, Laya, Irish Life Health

Family Specifics

Spouse work rights
N/A
Child school enrolment
N/A
Parent inclusion
Not eligible
Sibling inclusion
Not eligible

Gotchas — Things to Watch For

  • CLOSED TO NEW APPLICATIONS since 15 February 2023
  • Irish government cited concerns over anti-money-laundering and due diligence as closure reasons
  • No direct replacement programme — Ireland does not currently have a residency-by-investment path
  • Alternative routes: Critical Skills Employment Permit, Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)

What This Visa Does NOT Allow

  • ×New applications

Common Rejection Reasons

  • Application submitted after 15 February 2023 (not accepted)

Recent Legislative Changes

  • 2023-02-15

    Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme closed to new applications.source ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any way to invest into Ireland for residency?+

Not via a dedicated IIP path as of February 2023. Alternatives: (1) Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) with €75,000+ startup investment, (2) Critical Skills Employment Permit for skilled workers, (3) Join spouse/family of Irish citizen. Ireland does not plan to reopen IIP as of 2024.

Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.

Related Guides

investmentinvestorsuspendedeuropeireland

Other Visa Programs in Ireland