3,127 Ireland IIP Applications Worth €2.12 Billion Pending After Torrent of Last-Minute Filings
The government indicated the sharply rising application volumes had become “unmanageable” and had informed the decision to close the scheme.
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, Ireland has become the only country in the world whose citizens have the right to settle in both the UK and the EU, while residents of Ireland enjoy freedom of movement (but not settlement) within both areas.
A favorite among Chinese applicants, in no small part owing to its world-class educational institutions, the Irish IIP offers a variety of qualifying contribution types at various minimum thresholds.
Program page sponsor
Program Type | Golden Visa Program |
Time to citizenship | 6 years |
Time to permanent residency | 5 years |
Minimum investment | EUR 400,000 |
Physical presence requirement | 1 day per year to maintain temporary residency, more if permanent |
Application processing time | 5-6 months |
Citizenship grants visa-free travel to | 187 destinations, including Schengen countries and the United States |
Contribution types available | Donation, Business Investment, Fund Investment |
General program requirements
The IIP offers four investment options for potential investors who have a net worth of at least €2 million.
Enterprise Investment: €1 million invested in an Irish enterprise.
Investment Fund: €1 million invested in an approved investment fund. Such funds must be approved and regulated by the Central Bank.
Real Estate Investment Trusts: €2 million in any Irish REIT that is listed on the Irish Stock Exchange.
Endowment (Donation): €500,000 (or €400,000 where 5 or more investors combine their investment) philanthropic donation to a project which is of public benefit to the arts, sports, health, culture or education in Ireland.
All investment options must be held for a minimum of three years.
Dependents may include a spouse and children under the age of 18. It is possible to include unmarried children older than 18, who are wholly dependent on the primary applicant up to the age of 24.
Program benefits
Requirements to qualify for citizenship
After two years of temporary residency, investors can have their Ireland residence permit renewed by submitting evidence that they have maintained their investment for the required holding period (depending on which investment track was selected). As long as the investor has maintained the investment, the residence permit can be extended for another three years.
If the investor has met the physical presence requirements after five years, he can apply for permanent residence and may sell the asset. He then would need to complete 12 months of uninterrupted stay in Ireland before applying for citizenship.
Applications for this program may be directed to:
Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS)
Legislation upon which this program is based:
S.I. No. 258/2012 – Immigration Act 2004
See more statistics on this program, and dozens of others, in the IMI Data Center.
Why Irish IIP?
The Irish Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) is supported by the Irish government and managed by INIS (http://inis.gov.ie), a department within the Department of Justice. The IIP offers fast approval times, with the investment only required to be made after approval.
In addition, Ireland has a well-developed education system and language advantages, very good standard of living, a rapidly developing economy and has become a new hot spot for relocation.
HNWIs can obtain residency without moving;
Approved first, invest later;
Fast approval in 4-6 months;
No language requirements, no interview, no medical check required;
No travel restriction, only one day residency per year required;
What are the IIP application requirements?
The main applicant must be at least 18 years old;
No international criminal record;
Net worth of two million euros;
What are the IIP investment requirements?
Minimum investment of one million euros;
Investment term of at least three years
Is there any requirement for my children to land in Ireland annually and at every visa extension if I register them?
No, the only people who need to fulfil the one-day requirement are dependants over 16 and the main applicant.
Has INIS set out preferred investment sectors?
Yes, Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) has set out a clear investment preference for Nursing Homes, Social Housing and Primary Care Centres.
Why did INIS identify these sectors?
Each delivers key social infrastructure in sectors where the Government wants the private sector to help address the current deficit in supply.
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The government indicated the sharply rising application volumes had become “unmanageable” and had informed the decision to close the scheme.
Minister Harris said he had “taken on board a number of reports and findings from the EU Commission, Council of Europe, and the OECD […].”
Last year, the IIP got more than 5 times as many applications as in 2021, mostly from Chinese. The govt. worries what Brussels will think.
Ireland’s Immigrant Investor program has been receiving applications out of all previous proportion so far in 2022.
Globally, hundreds of millions of people have a great grandparent from an EU country. Too few of them are picking up citizenships for free.
Ireland finally joined the exclusive billion-euro golden visa club at the end of last year, almost entirely thanks to Chinese investment.
Programs that offer citizenship within months in exchange for investments or donations, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Programs that offer citizenship in exchange for investments following a 1-2 year period, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Bulgaria Investor Program (discontinued)
Malta MEIN
Programs that offer residence permits within months in exchange for passive investments, with limited physical presence requirements.
Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity
Anguilla Permanent Residency Program
Australia BIIP Investor Streams
Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence
Barbados SERP Program
Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program
Brazil Investor Visa (VIPER)
Cambodia My 2nd Home
Cayman Islands Investor Visa
Colombia Investor Visas M and R
Costa Rica Investor Visa
Curaçao Investor Permit Program
Cyprus Golden Visa
Georgia Investor Visas
Greece Golden Visa
Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency
Ireland Immigrant Investor Program (discontinued)
Italy Investor Visa
Latvia Investor Visa
Luxembourg Investor Visa
Malaysia M2H Visa
Malta Permanent Residence Program
Mauritius Permanent Residency Program
Monaco Carte de Séjour
Netherlands Investor Visa
New Zealand Investor Visa
Nicaragua Investor Permanent Residency Program
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit
Portugal Golden Visa
Russia Investor Visa
South Korea Investor Visa
Spain Golden Visa
Taiwan Golden Visa (APRC Plum Blossom Card)
Thailand Elite Residence Program
UAE Golden Visa
UK Investor Visa (discontinued)
United States EB-5
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who can demonstrate income or personal wealth above a certain level, usually requiring that the holder not take up employment locally.
Argentina Rentista and Pensionado Residency
Austria Independent Means Visa
Barbados Welcome Stamp
Gibraltar Category 2 HNWI Residence
Greece FIP Visa
Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS)
Ireland Independent Means (Stamp 0)
Italy Elective Residency Visa
Jersey High Value Residency
Mexico Legal Residency Visa
Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas
Panama Rentista Retirado Visa
Paraguay Permanent Residency Program
Portugal D7 Visa
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Uruguay Independent Means Visa
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who physically relocate to start and/or run a business. Startup and entrepreneur visas fall under this category.
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