Golden Visa in Ireland

The old Irish Golden Visa program (the Immigrant Investor Programme) was terminated, or better said, replaced by the Start-Up Entrepreneur Program (STEP). Through this new visa, applicants can secure residency, while citizenship is available through naturalization only.

Below, we invite you to discover how you can obtain a golden visa in Ireland in 2026 through the new STEP scheme. With a vast experience, our golden visa specialists can help foreign citizens who want to relocate through this program in various countries in Europe and around the world. We can advise if you want to apply for golden passports in other states.

Golden Visa replaced by the Start-up Entrepreneur Program

The Irish government launched the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) in 2012 to enable creative business owners to apply for authorization to set up companies and live in Ireland full-time. At the level of 2026, it remains the only option for investors who want to move to Ireland and apply for residency by investment followed by citizenship.

To be eligible for STEP, you must:

• have a clear criminal record;
• possess the necessary €50,000 in financing;
• come up with a creative business idea.

Electronic applications for the Start-up Entrepreneur Program are accepted at any time. Please be aware that an evaluation committee reviews suggestions included in applications every quarter.

Conditions of the new STEP program replacing the Golden Visa in Ireland

In order to be eligible to apply for a temporary residence permit in Ireland under the Start-up Entrepreneur Program, applicants must ensure their project qualifies as a High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) venture. Also, the applicants must be the founders or decision-makers of the company, such as various executives in the business.

Founders must have raised a minimum of EUR 50,000 for their start-up business in order to be eligible. An extra EUR 30,000 in capital will be needed for each of the other participants in the venture. Compared to the old Irish golden visa scheme, money can be raised through:

• grants from Irish state agencies;
• business loans;
• venture capital;
• business angels;
• one’s own resources.

We remind you that the new STEP initiative does not grant direct citizenship, therefore, if you want to move to golden visa countries that offer this option, you can discuss variants with our specialists.

Project evaluation, mandatory under STEP in Ireland

The following criteria will be used by Enterprise Ireland’s Evaluation Committee to evaluate the business project:

• It is used to launch a new or inventive good or service on global markets;
• It is able to generate €1 million in revenue in 3 to 4 years after launch;
• It can create at least 10 jobs in Ireland;
• It is run by a group of experienced managers;
• Its headquarters and main office are in Ireland;
• The company has no more than 6 years on the market.

Please note that this program does not address investors who purchase existing companies. Such programs may still be available in other countries to purchase golden passports, but not in Ireland.

Requirements for the applicant under the STEP program

Non-EU citizens can obtain work permits under the STEP program, provided they fulfil the following requirements:

• the company must be created in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the application;
• the applicant must be fully employed in the company;
• the candidate cannot apply for social benefits with the Irish state;
• the person must have a clean criminal record.

The application will be evaluated by a committee made of public and civil servants.

If you want to enter this program, our local agents can offer more information on the conditions to be met.

Documents required when applying for the program replacing the golden visa in Ireland

Even if the acquisition of an Irish existing business is not available under STEP, foreign investors can relocate their companies here.

Here are the main documents to draft when filing for a visa under the STEP program:

• the most recent audited financial statements for the applicant’s business, if it is an established enterprise that is moving to Ireland;
• a thorough business strategy in order for the Evaluation Committee to review it;
• a business plan that should list the location for the start-up idea, along with the number of employees;
• proof of the funds to be used for the start-up and their source;
• bank account statement to prove the applicant’s capacity to transfer the money to Ireland;
• full coverage health insurance;
• clean criminal history.

You can rely on our agents in other states if you are looking for citizenship by investment countries where golden visa programs enable you to secure a passport.

We can also offer support to people who want to apply for golden passports in other parts of the world.

Time frame to obtain a Startup Entrepreneur Visa for Ireland

When applying for a golden visa program, in this case the STEP scheme in Ireland, it is good to know how long the process takes to ensure you have sufficient time to prepare your application and relocation. Here is what you need to consider for this type of visa:

• the initial application takes about 2 to 3 months to process;
• the renewal of the visa may take another 2 to 3 months (we also advise you to start the procedure a little ahead of the expiry period);
• if you want to apply for citizenship, the application takes 6 to 12 months to process;
• the issuance of the passport will be done within 4 to 6 weeks.

Our golden visa consultants can also help with the preparation of the documents for renewing your STEP visa.

Extension of residence permits in Ireland

Your Irish resident visa may be extended for an extra three years of validity 3 months before it expires. To be successful in this extension, you must first show that your investment is still eligible and has not been divested. You must also show that you are still in good moral standing and have maintained your financial stability.

Once you have had your residency visa for 5 years, you are eligible to renew it for another 5 years each time as long as you can continue to show evidence of your moral character and financial stability. If you have kept your permission for 5 years and have been an Irish tax resident throughout that time, you may also apply for citizenship.

It is worth noting that, since the first launch of the Golden Visa program in Ireland in 2012 and up to April 2025 (it closed to new applications on 15 February 2023, but pending files were still decided), 2,472 applications were approved.

As such, if you decide to apply for the STEP visa, do not hesitate to consult with our golden visa agents for support with the application.

The main advantages of moving to Ireland after the conclusion of the Golden Visa Scheme

Even if there is no longer a traditional Irish golden visa, the STEP scheme has managed to replace it successfully. As such, more and more non-EU/ EEA citizens are attracted to moving here as entrepreneurs. Some of the advantages of relocation are:

• the significantly lower investment requirements compared to the former Golden Visa program;
• STEP is a Stamp 4 type of visa, meaning it is issued for an initial period of 2 years and can be extended for 3 years more;
• access to permanent residency after 5 years of living here under the Stamp 4 visa;
• the possibility of living and working in Ireland not only for the main applicant, but for his/ her family as well;
• with respect to family, they will be granted the same rights as the main applicant;
• investors can also become eligible for citizenship by naturalization in Ireland (the country also allows dual citizenship).

Businesswise, starting a company under the STEP program has several advantages. One of the most important is that Ireland is an EU member state, which means business owners can expand their activities in the EU market stress-free. Also, considering the visa is issued for launching a startup, it should be noted that this type of venture benefits from support like:

• access to special funding options;
• various resources from business incubators;
• networking opportunities.

Last, but not least, Irish businesses benefit from one of the lowest corporate taxes in Europe.

How many foreigners live in Ireland?

Most foreign citizens who come to Ireland choose employment. However, there are also entrepreneurs who come here to start their own businesses. According to the latest statistics:

• Ireland welcomed 72,000 new long-term or permanent immigrants in 2024, which was 9.6% more than in 2023;
• 44% of them were labor migrants, and 45% came here based on free mobility between EU countries;
• this number of 72,000 immigrants includes 5% of people who moved here for humanitarian reasons, and 6% who came for family reunifications purposes.

In terms of non-EU citizens, Ireland issued 1,500 temporary and seasonal work permits, and 29,000 student permits.  In April 2025, the population of Ireland accounted for 5.46 million people.

Please feel free to contact our team of lawyers in Ireland if you want an alternative to a golden visa in Ireland in 2026. Please get in touch with us for details on other citizenship by investment countries.