Ireland Citizenship by Investment

The Ireland Golden Visa scheme, also know as the Ireland Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) , was introduced by the Irish Government in 2012 to encourage inward investment for the creation of business and employment opportunities, while in turn offering residency to business professionals with a proven record of success. The program gives great opportunity to invest in the country and get residency.

Known for being adorned in 40 shades of green, Ireland is a stunning island nation on the westernmost edge of Europe. Steeped in rich history and culture, this small nation offers a wealth of opportunities when it comes to lifestyle, business, and education. From lush green fields to rugged rocks, spectacular natural vistas abound on the Emerald Isle.

In order to be eligible to apply for Irish citizenship by investment, the country's legislation requires all immigrant investors to be physically resident in Ireland for at least 12 months prior to their application date and to be resident in Ireland for four of the immediately preceding five years prior to their application date.

Ireland's residency program offers four different investment pathways:

Enterprise Investment: A minimum of €1 million invested in an Irish enterprise for at least 3 years.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT): A minimum investment of €2 million in any Irish REIT that is listed on the Irish Stock Exchange, for at least 3 years.
Endowment: A minimum €500,000 philanthropic donation to a project which is of public benefit to the arts, sports, health, culture or education in Ireland.
The Irish Diaspora Loan Fund (IDLF): A minimum investment of €1 million in an approved investment fund, for at least 5 years.

*At the moment, High Net Worth Immigration only supports the Irish Diaspora Loan Fund (IDLF) investment fund option.

Irish Diaspora Loan Fund introduction

The IDLF is an asset-backed, mutualized, low-risk investment fund regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. It has two main goals:

Offering a very secure option for foreign investors seeking to access the Irish Investor Visa Programme and securing long-term residency status, and
Finance a portfolio of Irish businesses which will help increase employment levels.

How much does it cost to obtain an Irish golden visa?

In addition to the minimum investment of €1 million, there are several other required fees:

A non-refundable application fee of €1,500 by electronic funds transfer.
€5,000 due diligence fee for the investor only.
A non-refundable advisory fee which covers HNWI managing the entire application process on your behalf.

Discount for Education Expenses

Investors who plan to educate themselves or their family members in Irish higher education institutions can take advantage of a discount on their investment. The following conditions apply:

Investors can discount their approved investment with eligible education expenses that they commit to incur within the first five years after their permission has been granted.
The education expenses must be for an Irish University or Institute of Technology.
The expenses must be for the investor and/or their family member who has been accepted on an academic programme in one of the above educational institutions.
The expenses must be indicated as part of the application process.
The maximum discount is €50,000.

In addition to the financial requirements, there are several other conditions that immigrant investors must meet in order to qualify for the Ireland residency program. Applicants must:

Be of good character
Not have been convicted of any criminal offences in any jurisdiction
Be able to make a minimum investment of €1 million, fully refunded after 5 years
Be able to clearly prove a legally-acquired, through legitimate business and commercial activity, inheritance, endowment and/or divorce, minimum net worth of €2 million
Spend 1 day a year in Ireland

Does the Ireland Investor Visa leads to Irish citizenship and passport?

“Successful applicants are free to apply for irish citizenship by naturalisation in the normal manner under the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (as amended). This legislation requires applicants for Irish naturalisation to be physically resident in Ireland for the 12 months prior to application and to be physically resident in Ireland for four of the preceding eight years, i.e. 5 years.”

Source: Department of Justice and Equality

What documents are needed for Irish residency through investment?

Evidence of Funds for Investment
Evidence of Source of Funds - can be any of the following: business and investment activities, deeds of sale, inheritance and gifts, or a divorce settlement
Evidence of good character - statement of character from the police authorities of each country in which they have resided for more than six months during the 10-year period prior to your making an application. Applicants must supply a due diligence report from a reputable international risk management and security screening organisation
Overview of all main applicant’s financial activities for the previous 12-month period

Eligible dependents

The following relatives of the main applicant are eligible to be included on the application:

Spouse/partner; Ireland does recognize the same sex marriage as well
Minor children under 18 for whom the main applicant and/or their spouse or partner has legal guardianship
Children between the ages of 18 and 24 will be considered if they are unmarried, financially dependent upon their parents (e.g. they are in full time education)

How to apply for an Irish visa?

Fill out the application, without committing any investment funding, for one of the 4 investment options
Application approved by the Evaluation Committee
Make the investment per you your approved application within 90 days of receiving approval letter
Provide evidence that you have made the investment

Where do I submit my completed application?

A copy of the original application form and supporting documentation, must be submitted by email first.
The subject bar should clearly identify the name of the applicant.
The original signed application form and proof that the application fee of €1,500 has been transferred must be forwarded by post to our partner's office in Dublin, Ireland.

Benefits of the Ireland residency by investment program include:

No requirement to learn English
Minimal residency requirement
Full Stamp 4 visa provided for five years and renewed every five years, even after the investment period is closed and the investors money is returned
Can lead to securing full Irish citizenship if the applicant fulfills all of the necessary requirements

The Irish Passport provides many benefits and opportunities when it comes to lifestyle, freedom of mobility, wealth management, an advantageous business climate, and accessibility to the rest of Europe.

Lifestyle

Education system is among the global top 10
Excellent health care
Ireland is committed to staying part of the EU, yet Irish passport holders can also travel freely to the UK even after Brexit due to their Common Travel Area agreements, so you’ll have the best of both worlds when it comes to travel.
Irish passport is one of the most powerful in the world with visa-free access to 172 countries
Only English-speaking country in the EU
Ireland has the youngest population in Europe with almost half of it under the age of 34
Friendly and welcoming local community
Holders of Irish visa have no residence requirements except visiting Ireland once a year
Investment discount available for educational expenses in Ireland

Business

Ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the best countries for businesses of all sizes
Considered one of the top 10 most innovative countries
Economy driven by a variety of sectors, including financial services, the alcoholic beverage industry, aircraft leasing, engineering, Information and communications technology (ICT)
Home to many of the world’s leading high-performance companies including top pharmaceutical, software, medical tech, financial services, internet companies
Corporate tax rate is 12.5%
Ireland has tax treaties with 73 countries
Well-educated and adaptable workforce

Financial

Ireland has one of the fastest growing economies in Europe and the 7th most competitive economy in the world.
Named best country in the world for attracting high-value foreign direct investment for six consecutive years
One of the top countries in the world for GDP growth
First in the world for investment incentives
The IDLF program ensures maximum protection of investor funds, by following a conservative, low risk loan investment policy.

Get started on your immigration journey today with a complimentary consultation!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A: No, assets solely owned by other individuals, including a spouse, will be not accepted as evidence
of net worth.

A: Yes, the investor can add additional nuclear family members (spouse and dependent children under 24) to the permission. Documentary evidence of the marriage and/or birth will be required.

A: Ireland can only issue permissions for residence in this State. You should check the residence requirements of other EU member states with the relevant immigration authority.

A: Yes, provided it has been obtained legally and can be legally transferred and the applicant can demonstrate a net worth of at least €2m.

A: Yes, provided you have authority to transfer that money into the proposed investment.

A: No but you must be in a position to make the investment within 90 days of your pre-approval letter issuing.

A: Currently, the Ireland Residence Program has no limit on the number of permissions available.

A: No, family members will be given Stamp 4 permission to reside in Ireland which will allow them to study here.

A: Yes, provided your permission is still valid.

A: There are no countries excluded from the IIP although international sanction agreements to which Ireland is party may apply to some nationalities.

A: Upon receipt of your pre-approval letter from the The Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS).

How to Become an Irish Citizen - Ireland Citizenship by Investment

Ireland Investor Visa Overview