Ireland Start-up Entrepreneur Programme

Non-EEA entrepreneurs with an innovative, high-potential start-up proposal and the required funding.

• Be a non-EEA national

  The programme is for non-EEA nationals.

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• Be of good character

  You must be a person of good character and must not have been convicted of criminal offences in any jurisdiction.

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• Have start-up funding

  The first principal must demonstrate access to €50,000; where a proposal has more than one principal seeking to use the programme, each second or subsequent principal must demonstrate access to €30,000.

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• Show where the funding comes from

  Provide evidence of the funds, their source and your ability to transfer them to Ireland; the required funds must be transferable to Ireland and convertible to euros.

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• Propose an innovative business

  The evaluation committee must be satisfied that the proposal is genuinely innovative and has significant export potential; domestically orientated businesses such as retail or hospitality are not appropriate for the programme.

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• Meet the high-potential start-up definition

  The guidelines define a high-potential start-up as introducing a new or innovative product or service to international markets; being involved in manufacturing or internationally traded services; being capable of creating 10 jobs in Ireland and realising €1 million in sales within three years of starting up; being led by an experienced management team; being headquartered and controlled in Ireland; and being less than five years old from the date of registration.

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• Provide a business plan

  A comprehensive business plan is required; it should identify all locations for the start-up proposal and how many employees will be located in each country.

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• Provide police statements

  Submit a statement of character from the police authorities of each country where you have lived for more than six months during the 10 years before applying.

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• Complete the conditions for permission

  After approval of the business proposal, the required funding must be transferred to a financial institution regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, and the applicant and, if relevant, their spouse or partner must submit the required affidavit of good character and lack of criminal convictions before residence permission is issued.

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• Work on the approved business

  You must establish the business described in your application, work on it full time, not be employed in any other capacity, not become a financial burden on the Irish State, and not be convicted of a criminal offence in any jurisdiction.

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• Maintain private medical insurance

  Beneficiaries must have private medical insurance during their residence permission.

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• STEP application fee; covers the principal applicant and all nominated family membersResearched just now · being double-checkedSource€350 once
• Immigration registration fee, if applicableResearched just now · being double-checkedSource€300 per person

1. Get ready

   • Prepare your business proposal

     Prepare an innovative, high-potential start-up proposal and comprehensive business plan.

     You’ll need: Business plan, Business proposal

   • Document your funding

     Gather evidence of the required funding, its source and your ability to transfer it to Ireland.

     You’ll need: Evidence of funding, Evidence of the source of funding, Evidence that the funds can be transferred to Ireland

   • Obtain police statements

     Obtain a statement of character from the police authorities of each country where you lived for more than six months in the preceding 10 years.

     You’ll need: Police statements of character

2. Apply

   • Email your STEP application

     Email the completed application form, supporting documents and business proposal to the address on the STEP route page.

     You’ll need: Completed STEP application form, Supporting documents, Business proposal

   • Pay the application fee

     Pay €350 by electronic funds transfer using the payment instructions on the STEP route page; the application will not be processed until the fee is paid in full.

   • Complete the post-approval conditions

     If your proposal is approved, transfer the required funding to a regulated financial institution in Ireland and submit the required affidavits before residence permission is issued.

     You’ll need: Evidence of transferred funding, Required affidavits

3. Visa

   • Arrange a visa if required

     The guidelines say applicants will be facilitated with an Irish visa, if required, to pursue the affidavit, and that visa-required applicants granted residence permission will receive a multiple-entry visa.

4. Travel

   • Travel to Ireland

     Use your permission letter and, if required, visa to travel to Ireland.

     You’ll need: Permission letter, Visa, if required

5. Settle in

   • Register your permission

     Register your STEP residence permission and bring the required passport, permission letter and medical or travel insurance documentation.

     You’ll need: Valid passport, STEP permission letter, Private medical insurance or qualifying travel insurance policy

   • Run the approved business

     Establish the business described in your application and work on it full time without taking other employment.

Successful applicants and nominated family members can receive two years’ residence, renewable for a further three years; the guidelines say participants become eligible for long-term residence after five years.

• irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/STEP-Guidelines-Sep-20…Official
• Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) - Immigration Service Deliveryirishimmigration.ieOfficial
• irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisionsOfficial
• Required Documents - Immigration Service Deliveryirishimmigration.ieOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.