Ireland - Self-employed worker

Where and how to apply

Immigrant Investor Programme

The Immigrant Investor Programme provides a range of investment options which allows approved non-EEA investors and their immediate family enter Ireland on multi-entry visas and are granted residence in Ireland for 2 years, renewable for a further 3 years. After 5 years residence, participants will be entitled to apply for long term residence in Ireland.

In order to be considered for the Programme, the proposed investment must be in one of the following categories:

• A once off endowment of a minimum of €500,000 to a public project benefiting the arts, sports, health, culture or education. (The endowment figure is reduced to €400,000 per person where 5 or more individuals pool their endowment for one appropriate project).
• A minimum €1 million aggregate investment into new or existing Irish businesses for a minimum of three years.
• A sum of €1 million invested in an approved fund. The funds will have to be regulated for the purpose of doing business in Ireland and the investment strategy of the fund must be compatible with the aims of the scheme.
• A minimum investment of €2 million in any Irish Real Estate Investment Trust that is listed on the Irish Stock Exchange. The €2 million investment may be spread across a number of different Irish REITs.

Applications are only accepted during certain periods.

There are four steps to the Immigrant Investor Programme application:

1. Make an application, without committing any investment funding, on the basis of one of the above investment options.
2. Application approved by the Evaluation Committee.
3. Make the investment in accordance with your approved application.
4. Provide evidence that you have made the investment.

Documents required

The application shall be made on the appropriate application form and provide all the information requested together with the application fee (€1,500 non-refundable). It shall be accompanied by the travel document of the applicant (and any accompanying family members) and any necessary supporting documentation such as:

• Evidence of Identity;
• Evidence of Family Relationships (if applicable);
• Evidence of Net Worth;
• Evidence of Investment;
• Character Report.

NOTE: A comprehensive list of required documents for each investment type is set out in the Immigrant Investor Programme Guidelines available on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website.

When applicants have fulfilled all investment and documentary requirements and have been issued with a letter granting them permission to reside in the State.

All successful candidates and their nominated family members will be granted a residence permission in Ireland under “Stamp 4” conditions. “Stamp 4” conditions permit foreign nationals to work, to study or to start their own businesses in Ireland.

Duration of validity of permits

The Immigrant Investor Programme recognises that investors who benefit from the programme may have substantial business and financial interests outside of Ireland.

Therefore, actual physical residence in Ireland is not a condition for renewal of your residency permission under the Immigrant Investor Programme. This condition applies to both investors and their nominated family members. The programme simply requires investors and their family members to visit Ireland at least once per calendar year.

Successful applicants and their nominated family members will be granted residence in Ireland for two years, which will be renewable for a further three years. Where required the applicant will be granted a multiple entry visa for Ireland for the same duration. This will allow successful candidates to reside in Ireland and to travel freely to Ireland for the duration of the permission.

Please note that only residence where you physically reside in Ireland is considered for the calculation of the minimum residency period in naturalisation applications. Investors and their family members who exercise their right not to reside in Ireland under the Immigrant Investor Programme will not fulfil the residency requirements for naturalisation.

Appeals

Where and how to apply

Start-up Entrepreneur Programme

The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme provides that migrants with a proposal for a high potential start-up in the innovation economy and funding of €75,000 can be given residency in Ireland for the purposes of developing their business. No initial job creation targets will be set as it is recognised that such businesses can take some time to get off the ground.

The aim of the Programme is to support High Potential Start-Ups which are defined as start-up ventures that are:

• Introducing a new or innovative product or service to international markets;
• Capable of creating 10 jobs in Ireland and realising € 1 million in sales within three to four years of starting up;
• Led by an experienced management team;
• Headquartered and controlled in Ireland;
• Less than 5 years old.

This scheme does not apply to retail, catering, personal services or similar businesses.

The application for Residence under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme must be made to the ‘Investment and Entrepreneur Unit’ at the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, Department of Justice and Equality.

The application process has two stages:

• Stage one – application for investment and immigration approval.

In the application stage candidates will submit their application forms and all supporting documentation as well as the required details of their enterprise proposals for approval by the Evaluation Committee.

See application dates for current year

Where a candidate is successful:

• Stage two – issue of residence permission.

Applicants for the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme who have their investment proposals approved by the Minister for Justice and Equality shall be invited to apply for residency permission under the Programme.

Documents required

The application shall be made on the appropriate application form and provide all the information requested together with registration fee (€ 350 non-refundable). It shall be accompanied by the travel document of the applicant (and any accompanying family members) and any necessary supporting documentation.

Please provide original documents:

• Evidence of Net Worth
• Evidence of Funds for investment
• Details of Start-up;
• Evidence of character.

NOTE: A comprehensive list of required documents for the Start Up Entrepreneur Programme is set out in the Guidelines available on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website.

Applicants who are successful and whose business proposals are approved, will be issued with the residence permissions when the following conditions have been met:

• The required funding has been transferred to a financial institution regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
• The applicant, and if relevant their spouse/partner, has submitted the required affidavit attesting to their good character and lack of criminal convictions.

Duration of validity of permits

Successful applicants can expect to receive an initial permission for two years and following a review at that point to ensure the entrepreneur is continuing to progress with the business proposal a further period of 3 years will be granted.

Appeals

Further information

More on Start-up Programme

Long-term residence

Change of activities

It is recognised that Start-up ventures have a high rate of failure. In the event of the venture failing, the immigration status of the participant will be reviewed and they will need to apply to remain in Ireland on another basis.

This could include a further application under the entrepreneur programme or an application for an employment permit or Critical Skills Employment Permits. Such applications would be subject to any immigration rules in place at the time.

Long-term residence