Ireland · Startup · Temporary residence

Ireland Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)

Initial two-year residence for innovative entrepreneurs with qualifying business funding.

Value scoreCheckingPassport data under review

5-year costCheckingone applicant, not recoverable

DecisionCheckingComparable time under review

Official program page

Value: what the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) gives you

Passport reach 25 pts weightChecking

Path to citizenship 25 pts weightChecking

Work, family, healthcare 20 pts weightChecking

Stay rule 15 pts weightChecking

Tax on foreign income 10 pts weightChecking

Policy stability 5 pts weightChecking

Passport: visa-free destinations: Checking
Years to permanent residence: Checking
Years to citizenship: Checking
Leads to citizenship: YesOfficialImmigration Service Delivery, checked 2026-11-15Guidelines expressly permit ordinary naturalisation applications, with no preferential access.
Can work for a local employer: NoOfficialImmigration Service Delivery, checked 2026-11-15The founder must work full-time on the approved business and cannot be employed in another capacity.
Same application for spouse and children: YesOfficialImmigration Service Delivery, checked 2026-11-15Spouses or qualifying partners and minor dependent children may accompany the applicant.
Public healthcare: Checking
Minimum stay per year: Checking
Tax on foreign income: Checking
Dual citizenship allowed: Checking
Rule changes, last 24 months: Checking

Cost: what the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) costs over five years

Government fees: CheckingOfficialImmigration Service Delivery, checked 2026-11-15EUR350 STEP application fee confirmed; immigration registration and visa charges are not completely verified.
Non-refundable contribution: $0OfficialImmigration Service Delivery, checked 2026-11-15No government donation is part of the published eligibility requirements.
Due diligence: Checking
Compulsory extras, first year: Checking
Renewal fees, first 5 years: Checking
Investment you may get back: $55kOfficialImmigration Service Delivery, checked 2026-11-15EUR 50,000.00. Qualifying business funding, not a state donation; funding must be transferred on approval. Conversion: EUR 50000 to USD at 2026-11-13 reference rates.
Minimum income per month: Checking
Extra for a spouse and two children: Checking
Typical adviser fees (not in the total): Checking

USD estimates use the 13 November 2026 reference rates of the European Central Bank, Central Bank of Armenia and Central Bank of the UAE, and the Central Bank of Uruguay rate for UYU. The Panamanian balboa uses its official one-to-one parity.

Speed: how long the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) takes

Official processing time: Checking
Reported processing time (median): Checking
Approval to card or passport: Checking

Sources

Start-up Entrepreneur Programme, Immigration Service Delivery. Checked 2026-11-15.
STEP Guidelines, September 2023, Immigration Service Delivery. Checked 2026-11-15.

Every figure on this page last reviewed 2026-11-15. General information, not legal advice. Spotted an error? Email us from the contact page.

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