Ireland offers a developing economy, a great business hub as well as a developed education system for its residents. In addition, it welcomes new residents via the Ireland Immigrant Investor Program (IIP).
Also known as Ireland Citizenship Investment, the program offers European residency for international applicants. Since 2012, the program has provided 1200 investors with Irish residency.
Ireland Investment Visa in Detail
IIP was introduced in 2012 and aims at business people and investors who want to invest in the country. In exchange for this, the country grants such applicants Irish residency. You can apply for the program at any time of the year.
Citizenship by investment in Ireland provides its applicants four investment options to choose from. These are:
- Enterprise Investment
- Investment Fund
- Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), and
Enterprise Investment
This option requires you to invest a minimum of €1 million in an Irish enterprise for three years. The enterprise can already be an existing or a new one.
Investment Fund
This option entails a minimum investment of €1 million in an investment fund regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
To qualify with this option for an Ireland investment visa, you need to make a minimum investment of €2 million in an Irish REIT. REITs need to be isted on the Irish Stock Exchange. Again, you need to keep the investment for between three to five years.
Endowment
Minimum of €500,000 donation in a project of public benefit in Ireland is the endowment route. If there are at least five investors investing in an endowment project, the minimum amount per applicant drops to €400,000.
Who Can Apply for the Program?
Golden Visa Ireland accepts applicants who satisfy the following requirements:
- Having a clean criminal record
- Being at least 18 years of age
- Being a non-EEA citizen
- Proof that you’ll not get a loan to make the Golden Visa investment
- Having a net worth of €2 million.
What About Citizenship?
Citizenship by Investment in Ireland doesn’t lead to immediate citizenship. After you’ve stayed in Ireland for a certain period of time, you can apply for citizenship.
Find the required periods of residency below:
- You and your family members must be residents in Ireland for four years out of the preceding eight years, and
- You must be a resident of Ireland for a minimum of one year immediately before the application date. This applies to your family members as well.
What are the Benefits of Ireland Citizenship Investment?
Find the advantages of the program below:
You’ll Have an Irish Residency and Citizenship
Upon the approval of your Ireland Citizenship Investment approval, you and your family members will get your residence permits. In this way, you can live, work, and study in Ireland for the following two years.
If you’ve resided in Ireland for five years and paid your taxes, you can apply for Irish citizenship. With your Irish passport, you can travel to over 185 countries. In this way, you can live, work and study in any EU country without an additional visa.
You Don’t Need To Stay in Ireland If You Don’t Want To
If Irish citizenship is not among your plans, you don’t need to stay in Ireland for more than one day a year. In fact, this is one of the lowest residency requirements among other European Golden Visa programs.
Family Inclusion
The following family members are eligible to apply for Ireland Citizenship Investment:
- Spouse or partner,
- Children under 18 years of age
- Not married and financially dependent children between 18-24 years of age.
No Need To Pay Taxes
You don’t need to pay taxes in Ireland if you don’t plan to stay in Ireland. The income you gain in Ireland will still be subject to taxation though.
No Need To Prove English Language Proficiency
Ireland Citizenship Investment doesn’t entail any English test.
You Can Have Access to the UK
The right to live and work will be possible both in the EU and the UK after you get Irish citizenship. The Common Travel Area Agreement also allows citizens of both countries to study, work, and travel freely between the UK and Ireland.
First Get Approval, Then Invest
Ireland Citizenship Investment allows you to wait for approval until the investment process. This is a distinguishing feature of Ireland compared to other Golden Visa countries.
So, Ireland is full of opportunities and benefits. Start your application today!
