Citizeo
Pathway

Ireland Startup Founder Residence

Ireland Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

This residence pathway is for founders building a startup or innovative business in Ireland. It generally requires an eligible business idea, enough funding or support, and approval through the country's startup process.

Type
Startup residence
Startup fit
Founders building an approved startup in Ireland
Core requirements
Startup approval, business plan, and funding proof
What to know
Meeting the listed requirements does not guarantee approval; the authority retains discretion
Minimum investment
€50,000
Who may qualify
High-potential startup founders

Summary

The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) lets a non-EEA founder establish an innovative, high-potential start-up and live in Ireland to run it full time. It is not a general self-employment, small-business or investment visa. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can establish a business under free-movement rules, and British citizens use Common Travel Area rights instead.

The founder needs an innovative business proposal and at least €50,000 in available, lawfully sourced funding. Where multiple unrelated principals each seek STEP permission, the first must show €50,000 and each additional principal €30,000. ISD currently states that it will not accept new STEP applications from Russian or Belarusian citizens.

Pathway fit check

Eligibility

An applicant must be of good character, have no criminal convictions in any jurisdiction, have the required funding available and present an innovative proposal. The official guidelines define the target “high potential start-up” as one that:

These are evaluation criteria, not a promise that the business must already have achieved those results. ISD expressly says there is no initial job-creation target, but the committee must be satisfied that the proposal is genuinely innovative and has significant export potential.

Funding may come from the founder's resources, a business loan, angel or venture-capital funding, or an Irish State-agency grant. The file must prove the amount, lawful source and ability to transfer it to Ireland. Character evidence includes police records for countries where the applicant lived for more than six months during the prior ten years, followed by an Irish-law affidavit after approval.

What This Route Allows

The current guidelines provide an initial two-year permission, renewable for three further years if the start-up remains in place, the committee considers it successful or viable, and the founder maintains good character, private medical insurance and no recourse to public funds. Later renewals may be granted in five-year periods.

The founder can reside in Ireland and work full time on the approved business. A spouse or partner and minor children may receive related residence after their family relationship is proved. A de facto partner normally needs evidence of two years' cohabitation.

After five years, the guidelines describe eligibility to seek long-term residence. Naturalization remains a separate application under the ordinary citizenship law with no STEP preference.

What This Route Is Not

STEP is not designed for retail, personal services, catering, ordinary consulting, a local professional practice, passive property investment or buying an established small business without a genuine innovation and export case. Merely possessing €50,000 does not make a proposal approvable.

The permission is tied to establishing and working full time on the approved start-up. The founder may not take other employment. A refusal is final under the program and has no review or appeal, although a later new application is not barred. The €350 application fee is non-refundable.

Next Steps

  1. Test the proposal honestly against every high-potential start-up criterion before paying the fee.
  2. Build a detailed plan covering the product, innovation, international market, Irish headquarters and control, team, three-year jobs and sales case, funding use and locations.
  3. Assemble proof of at least €50,000, its source and transferability; add €30,000 for each additional unrelated principal seeking permission.
  4. Obtain the required police records and prepare the current application form.
  5. Submit electronically and pay the €350 fee. Proposals are considered quarterly, even though applications may be submitted at any time.
  6. If approved, transfer the identified funds to a qualifying Irish business account, complete the character affidavit, obtain any needed visa and register the permission.
  7. Maintain separate records proving business activity, insurance, funds and compliance for renewal.
Compare your options

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