Ireland: Immigrant Investor Program (IIP)

The Irish Immigrant Investor Program allows major investors and philanthropists to move to Ireland with their family, with a path to citizenship.

Benefits

Includes right to work, study, and start a business
1 annual visit to Ireland required
$60,000 incentive if dependents attend Irish university
Path to citizenship in 5 years
Bring family
Renewable after 2 years

Introduction

Ireland’s open economy, attractive tax rates, innovation-focused government, E.U. membership, close ties to the U.K., and strategic location for business with Europe and the U.S.A. make Ireland one of the best places in the world to invest.

Residents of Ireland enjoy its high standard of living and education, growing artisanal food scene, friendly people, and dramatic natural beauty, not to mention its deep history of music and literature.

This powerful residence permission includes the right to work, study, and start a business, and only requires 1 visit to Ireland each year. Investors who live in Ireland have a path to citizenship in 5 years.

Internet Speed

Fixed broadband: 114.65 Mbps download/ 30.71 Mbps upload

Mobile: 51.16 Mbps download/12.00 Mbps upload

Cost of living

No. 12 globally

Requirements

Investment paths include:

$1.2 million invested in 1 or several businesses that create jobs (can be a new business), for 3+ years
$1.2 million in approved investment fund, for 3+ years
$2.4 million in real estate investment trust (REIT), for 3+ years
$595,000 donated to a philanthropic project in arts, sports, health, culture, or education in Ireland ($476,000 each if 5 people apply together)

And investor must:

Have a $2.4 million personal net worth
Visit Ireland once per year

Funds for investment cannot be financed with a loan.

Fees

$1,786

Application Process

Begin your application for the IIP before making any investment. Complete the application form and provide all documentation, including financial information and evidence of good character. You will apply by email and post—instructions are on the application form.

Pay the application fee ($1,786, non-refundable) by EFT when you apply.

Your application will be considered and approved by the Evaluation Committee.

After approval, make the investment.

Provide evidence of your investment. Permission to reside in Ireland will be issued at this point.

Documents Required

The documents required for each investment path are listed in detail in the application form. General documents may include:

Passport
Evidence of relationship to dependents, such as marriage and birth certificates
Evidence of personal net worth
Record of all financial activities in the past year, including income, investments, and loans
Evidence of investment funds and their source
Police clearance/statement of character for applicant and all dependents over 16 years old, from every country they have lived for 6 months in past 10 years
Due diligence report from approved screening organization

Documents related to investment can include:

Audited accounts of business in which you plan to invest, for the past year
Business plan (template is here)
Plan to create jobs in Ireland
Plan for investor to receive equity or financial return
Details of investment fund for intended investment
Declare intent to invest in a REIT (do not identify the specific REIT in the application)
Explanation of how philanthropic endowment funds will be used by the recipient organization and how these funds will benefit Ireland (business plan template can be adapted for this purpose)

After application is approved, make the investment and submit proof of investment. Depending on the investment path, this proof can include:

A letter from a solicitor (lawyer) confirming funds have been invested
Letter from the business, fund, REIT, or organization stating the financial value of investment
Evidence of funds transfer, including payment remittance and bank statement

After receiving permission to reside and arriving in Ireland, you must register in person at Dublin’s Burgh Quay registration office.

Other documents may be requested. All documents must be apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Embassy in the country where you live.