Neither of these is a live, reliable option. Ireland closed its Immigrant Investor Programme in 2023. North Macedonia has reopened its citizenship route on paper but has little to show for it. This page exists so the position is clear.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
One route is closed. The other is open in name only. The table sets out where each stands.
Ireland no longer accepts new Immigrant Investor Programme applications, so the contribution and enterprise figures once attached to it are historic and not available. North Macedonia quotes 200,000 euros into an approved investment fund held for at least two years, or 400,000 euros into a qualifying business employing at least ten people. Confirm anything current with the official authority and be cautious of anyone marketing the closed Irish route.
There is no current Irish timeline, because the programme is closed to new applicants and only cases submitted before the closure date continue to be processed. North Macedonia advertises a short processing window, but actual outcomes have lagged well behind. Plan for delay and verify before committing funds.
Ireland is a European Union member, and its passport carries full EU rights, but the investment route to it is closed. North Macedonia is outside the EU, so its passport does not grant EU free movement. Neither route offers a reliable new path to an EU passport today. Verify current access with the official authority.
For most readers, the practical answer is neither. The Irish route is shut to new applicants, and the North Macedonia route is unproven. If you want a European outcome, look at routes that are actually open and documented, and verify their status directly. When a route cannot show real results, the burden is on the provider to prove it, not on you.
| Item | Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme | North Macedonia Citizenship by Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Status in 2026 | Closed to new applicants since 2023 | Reopened but largely unproven |
| Outcome | Was residency | Citizenship, in theory |
| Indicative entry | Historic only | From 200,000 euros into an approved fund |
| EU status | EU member, route closed | Outside the EU |
| Official authority | Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice | Government of the Republic of North Macedonia |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Ireland publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. Ireland closed the programme to new applications in February 2023. Only cases submitted before then continue to be processed. Confirm with Immigration Service Delivery.
It is not a like for like replacement. North Macedonia is outside the EU and its investment route is largely unproven. Verify directly with the Government of North Macedonia before considering it.
Yes, several European countries still run residency routes, though terms change often. Research current, documented programmes and confirm their status with the official authority before acting.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The rules for this route changed recently. Confirm the current position with current guidance before you act.
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