Entrepreneur visa routes in Republic of Ireland
Thinking about Republic of Ireland as a place to work? Below are the 2 Republic of Ireland visa routes that most commonly fit entrepreneurs, with what each one needs and a link to the official government source. Always confirm the current rules on the primary source before acting.
Also searched as: startup founder, business owner, company director.
What this means for entrepreneurs
Of the 2 Republic of Ireland routes that commonly fit entrepreneurs, 0 need a sponsoring employer and 2 do not, and 2 can lead to permanent residence. Entrepreneurs are not usually a licensed profession, so your main gates are securing a qualifying job offer where a route needs a sponsor, and meeting any salary or points threshold, rather than re-credentialing.
The most-used skilled route into Republic of Ireland overall is the Critical Skills Employment Permit; it is not specific to entrepreneurs but is worth understanding as the benchmark route.
Typical figures — Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
6 weeks – 3 months
Business-plan assessment by the STEP evaluation panel runs 6–12 weeks. Immigration permission stage is separate.
Verified 1 June 2026 · Irish Immigration Service — STEP →
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → Stamp 4 (2 years on CSEP, 5 on GEP) → citizenship (5 years reckonable, typically year 6–7 from arrival).
Leads to Long-Term Residence / Stamp 4, then Irish citizenship.
Routes that fit entrepreneurs
Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
Residence programme for founders establishing a High Potential Start-Up in Ireland.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Initial 2-year permission; renewable; leads to Stamp 4 after 5 years.
Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed)
Historic golden-visa equivalent; closed to new applications from 15 February 2023.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Closed to new applicants.
Figures by route
Verified salary floor and processing window per matched route, each primary-sourced. Indicative, not legal advice.
| Route | Salary floor | Processing | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) | — | 6 weeks – 3 months | Yes |
| Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed) | — | — | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
Which visa routes suit entrepreneurs moving to Republic of Ireland?+
Republic of Ireland has 2 routes that commonly fit entrepreneurs: Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP), Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed). The best fit depends on whether you already have an employer sponsor, your salary, and your qualifications — open any route below for its full eligibility criteria and primary government source.
Do entrepreneurs need a job offer to move to Republic of Ireland?+
Not always. 2 of the 2 matched Republic of Ireland routes can be pursued without an employer sponsoring you (such as the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)), while 0 need a sponsoring employer or a confirmed job offer. If you do not yet have an offer, start with the no-sponsor routes.
Can entrepreneurs settle permanently in Republic of Ireland?+
Yes. 2 of the 2 matched routes lead toward settlement or permanent residence. Permanent-residence timelines vary by route, so check the settlement detail on each visa page.
How long does the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) take to process?+
The typical published decision window is 6 weeks – 3 months (Irish Immigration Service — STEP, verified 1 June 2026).