Republic of Ireland · Processing time
Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP): how long does it take?
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
Source auto-reconfirmed 23 July 2026 by the daily automated check (figure unchanged since last review).
Business-plan assessment by the STEP evaluation panel runs 6–12 weeks. Immigration permission stage is separate.
How long does the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) take to process in Ireland?
The typical published decision window is 6 weeks – 3 months from a complete application. Business-plan assessment by the STEP evaluation panel runs 6–12 weeks. Immigration permission stage is separate.
Verified against Irish Immigration Service — STEP on 22 June 2026.
Typical wait
6 weeks – 3 months
from complete application
Government fees
Stamp fees €300 per year; funding requirement €50,000 minimum.
Last checked
22 June 2026
Reality vs official timing
- Official clock
- Official window only
- Delay trigger
- After 84 days
- Source checked
- 22 June 2026
Use 6 weeks – 3 months as the published decision window; delays usually start after the upper end if the source has not issued a newer figure.
What is the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)?
Residence programme for founders establishing a High Potential Start-Up in Ireland.
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.
- Sponsorship: No job offer or employer sponsor is required.
- Settlement: This route can lead to permanent residence.
- Typical permit length: Initial 2-year permission; renewable; leads to Stamp 4 after 5 years.
- Indicative government fees: Stamp fees €300 per year; funding requirement €50,000 minimum.
How to read this estimate
The 6 weeks – 3 months window is the time Irish Immigration Service — STEP typically associates with the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) — measured from a complete, correctly-lodged application through to a decision, not from when you start gathering documents.
- Collecting documents, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the clock starts.
- If the authority requests more information, the clock pauses until you reply — so a fast, complete response keeps your place in the queue.
- Processing times shift with application volumes and policy changes. The Irish Immigration Service — STEP page linked below is the only figure that is current on the day you apply.
Official source
Irish Immigration Service — STEP
https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-work-in-ireland/what-are-my-options-for-working-in-ireland/coming-to-work-for-more-than-90-days/start-up-entrepreneur-programme-step/
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) processing time dataset", https://visaatlas.org/processing-times/ireland/step-startup-visa. Last verified 22 June 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/processing-times
Primary source (1)
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) take to process?+
The typical wait is 6 weeks – 3 months from submitting a complete application. Business-plan assessment by the STEP evaluation panel runs 6–12 weeks. Immigration permission stage is separate. These figures come from Irish Immigration Service — STEP and were last verified on 2026-06-22. Always confirm on the primary source before you apply.
When does the 6 weeks – 3 months clock start?+
The clock starts when Irish Immigration Service — STEP receives a complete, valid application — not when you begin collecting documents. Gathering evidence, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the window starts.
Is there a way to speed up the decision?+
Some Ireland routes offer a priority or premium service for an additional fee. Check the linked primary source for current options — availability changes and varies by consular post.
What makes an application take longer than expected?+
The most common reasons for delays beyond the published window are: missing or incorrect documents, a request for more information (which pauses the clock until you reply), background or medical checks, and consular appointment backlogs in your country. Submitting a complete, well-organised application on day one is the single biggest thing you can do to stay inside the published window.
When should I treat my Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) application as delayed?+
Wait until you have passed the upper end of the published window (6 weeks – 3 months) before treating it as delayed. At that point, a single polite status enquiry through the official channel is reasonable. Do not chase repeatedly, as this tends to slow a case rather than speed it up.
Next steps
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.