Indian applicants · Republic of Ireland
Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) for Indian citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Residence programme for founders establishing a High Potential Start-Up in Ireland.
This page covers the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) specifically for Indian applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to India. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.
- Processing time
- No fixed national clock publishedUse the current Irish Immigration Service — STEP service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
- Government fees
- Stamp fees €300 per year; funding requirement €50,000 minimum.
- Typical duration
- Initial 2-year permission; renewable; leads to Stamp 4 after 5 years.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
- Commonwealth
Consular processing: New Delhi
Tourist entry vs. this route
Indian nationals require a visa for any entry into Republic of Ireland. The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
Key figures for Indian applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
No fixed national clock published
Irish Immigration Service — STEP does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
Use the current Irish Immigration Service — STEP service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
Verified 10 September 2026 · Irish Immigration Service — STEP
Time to permanent residence
Separate clocks: CSEP and other specified permissions may qualify for a Stamp 4 upgrade after 21 months of employment; ordinary GEP/ICT after 57 months. Long Term Residency has its own 60-month qualifying-residence test. Naturalisation normally requires five years of reckonable residence, including the final continuous year; neither Stamp 4 nor Long Term Residency guarantees citizenship or a decision date.
Leads to Long Term Residency (separate from a Stamp 4 upgrade), then Irish citizenship.
Visa overview
The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) grants residence to non-EEA founders establishing a High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) in Ireland. The business must be introducing a new product or service with potential to create at least 10 jobs in 3–4 years and €1m turnover.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓High Potential Start-Up credentials: new product or service in an internationally traded sector.Immigration Service Delivery (Ireland) / Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration ↗
- ✓Funding of at least €50,000 for the business.Immigration Service Delivery (Ireland) / Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration ↗
- ✓Business plan showing potential to create 10+ jobs and €1m turnover in 3–4 years.
Common blockers
- !Business is primarily retail, catering, or similar non-traded sector.Immigration Service Delivery (Ireland) / Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration ↗
- !Funding below the €50,000 threshold.Immigration Service Delivery (Ireland) / Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Detailed business plan.Immigration Service Delivery (Ireland) / Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration ↗
- ·Evidence of funding.Immigration Service Delivery (Ireland) / Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration ↗
- ·Proof of qualifications and experience.Immigration Service Delivery (Ireland) / Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration ↗
Application pathway
Develop HPSU business case
Refine the business concept in consultation with Enterprise Ireland or an experienced advisor.
Apply to STEP
Submit business plan and supporting documents to the Immigration Service Delivery evaluation committee.
Secure visa and travel
Once approved, apply for an entry visa and travel to Ireland.
Register and build
Register with ISD, receive Stamp 1 permission, and execute the business plan with reviews at 2 and 5 years.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Ireland. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantApply for STEP ↗
Use the official STEP page to download forms and follow the email submission and fee-payment process.
Immigration Service Delivery · verified
Other Republic of Ireland routes covered for Indian applicants
Critical Skills Employment Permit
An Irish employment permit for qualifying skilled job offers: compare the listed-occupation and higher-remuneration branches, then plan family permission and the later Stamp 4 application.
General Employment Permit
Sponsored employment permit for eligible roles that meet the General Employment Permit conditions, including the applicable salary, occupation, employer and labour-market checks.
Stamp 4 permission
Time-limited Irish residence permission allowing employment without an employment permit and business activity, subject to the permission conditions. An employment-based Stamp 4 upgrade is separate from Long Term Residency and citizenship.
Join Family (Irish national or EEA national)
Family reunification permission for spouses, civil partners, and dependants of Irish or EEA nationals resident in Ireland.
Not sure Republic of Ireland is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer entrepreneur routes that Indian nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Indian citizens eligible for the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)?+
Eligibility for the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) is set by Immigration Service Delivery (Ireland). Indian applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
Where do Indian applicants typically file the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)?+
New Delhi. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Immigration Service Delivery (Ireland) — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Indian applicants need a tourist visa for Republic of Ireland as well?+
Indian nationals require a visa for any entry into Republic of Ireland. The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
How long does the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) take to process from India?+
Irish Immigration Service — STEP does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route. Use the current Irish Immigration Service — STEP service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying. Indian applicants usually file via New Delhi, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: Irish Immigration Service — STEP, verified 10 September 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Republic of Ireland?+
Separate clocks: CSEP and other specified permissions may qualify for a Stamp 4 upgrade after 21 months of employment; ordinary GEP/ICT after 57 months. Long Term Residency has its own 60-month qualifying-residence test. Naturalisation normally requires five years of reckonable residence, including the final continuous year; neither Stamp 4 nor Long Term Residency guarantees citizenship or a decision date. The route leads to Long Term Residency (separate from a Stamp 4 upgrade), then Irish citizenship. See ISD — Irish citizenship by naturalisation for the qualifying-residence rules.
Can STEP founders bring their family?+
Yes. Spouses and dependants can accompany STEP founders, with spouses on Stamp 3 (no work) or eligible to apply for their own permit.
What are the requirements for the Irish STEP visa?+
STEP is for founders of a High Potential Start-Up: a business in an internationally traded sector, introducing a genuinely new product or service, with the potential to create at least 10 jobs and €1m in sales within three to four years. You need at least €50,000 in funding committed to the business and a credible business plan. Retail, catering, and similar local-service businesses do not qualify. Always confirm the current criteria with Immigration Service Delivery before applying.
How much money do I need for the STEP visa?+
The minimum is €50,000 committed to the business, and it can come from the founder, a business angel, a venture fund, or a combination. That figure is investment into the company rather than a fee. On top of it, residence registration costs €300 per year. Treat the €50,000 as a floor, not a guarantee of approval — the evaluation committee still assesses whether the start-up is genuinely high-potential.
How we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Immigration Service Delivery (Ireland)
Last checked: 8 July 2026