Republic of Ireland · investor · Leads to settlement
Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Historic golden-visa equivalent; closed to new applications from 15 February 2023.
- Processing time
- Not applicable.
- Government fees
- Not applicable.
- Typical duration
- Closed to new applicants.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
Ireland's Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was the state's residence-by-investment route. It closed to new applications on 15 February 2023. Existing holders continue under the terms of their original grants. Former investors now typically route through STEP or Critical Skills permits.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Route is closed to new applications from 15 February 2023.
- ✓Pre-closure routes required one of: €1m Enterprise Investment for 3 years, €1m Investment Fund participation, €2m REIT investment, or €500,000 Endowment to an approved public-benefit project.
- ✓Existing grantees retain their residence and renewal rights under the original terms; approximately 1,500 primary applicants were approved over the programme lifetime.
Common blockers
- !Route closed to new applicants — no appeal or grandfathering for unsubmitted files.
- !Historic applicants needed to demonstrate net worth of at least €2m and lawful source of funds.
Typical evidence
- ·Existing holders renewing their Stamp 4 continue to evidence ongoing investment or endowment terms.
Application pathway
Route closed
Ireland no longer accepts new IIP applications. Consider STEP or business-led routes instead.
For existing holders — renew Stamp 4
IIP investors renew Stamp 4 at registration expiry, evidencing continued investment or endowment where applicable.
Alternative Irish investor routes
STEP (Start-up Entrepreneur Programme) remains open for founders with €50,000+ HPSU-endorsed business plans.
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 guidanceApplicantReview closed IIP guidance ↗
Use this official page to confirm that new IIP applications are closed and to follow any instructions for existing cases.
Immigration Service Delivery · verified
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: Not applicable.. The issuing authority does not publish a central processing time for this route, so plan against comparable cases. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Related routes
Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
Residence programme for founders establishing a High Potential Start-Up in Ireland.
Critical Skills Employment Permit
Fast-track employment permit for high-skill roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List.
General Employment Permit
Sponsored employment permit for roles not on the Critical Skills list but above the general salary threshold.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Irish IIP open?+
No. The Immigrant Investor Programme closed to new applications on 15 February 2023. Prospective investor migrants to Ireland now typically use STEP (for genuine start-ups) or look at comparable routes in other jurisdictions.
What happens to investors already on the IIP?+
Existing grantees continue on Stamp 4 under the original terms of their approval. Renewal remains available so long as the investment or endowment conditions are honoured. The Minister for Justice may still consider naturalisation after the standard 5-year reckonable residence period.
What are the alternatives to the closed Irish IIP?+
Ireland's remaining business-led residence routes are the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) for genuine high-potential start-ups with €50,000 funding, and the Critical Skills Employment Permit for skilled workers on qualifying Irish salaries. Other EU jurisdictions still operate golden-visa-style routes — Portugal D7/D8 and Spain's digital-nomad visa, though Spain's property-based golden visa also closed in April 2025.
Why did Ireland close the Immigrant Investor Programme?+
The government announced the closure on 14 February 2023, and the programme shut to new applications the following day. Ministers pointed to concerns repeatedly raised by international bodies — including the Council of Europe and the European Commission — about the security, money-laundering, and tax risks attached to residence-by-investment schemes across the EU. Applications already lodged before the deadline continued to be processed; no new files have been accepted since.
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