Italy runs an open investor residence route. Ireland closed its Immigrant Investor Programme to new applicants in 2023. Here is how the two compare and what is still possible today.
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.
Italy and Ireland sit at opposite ends of the investor migration picture. Italy keeps an active investor residence route with several entry points. Ireland stopped accepting new Immigrant Investor Programme applications in 2023, so the table below describes Italy as a live option and Ireland as a closed one.
Both countries are members of the European Union. Neither route grants a passport on day one. Each is a residence pathway, with citizenship possible only after years of lawful residence and on the terms each country sets.
The Italy Investor Visa is built around four investment levels published by the Italian authority: EUR 250,000 into an Italian innovative startup, EUR 500,000 into an Italian limited company, EUR 1 million into a philanthropic project, and EUR 2 million into Italian government bonds. The capital must be the applicant's own and held while the visa is valid. Government and administrative fees apply on top.
Ireland's programme is closed, so there is no current price to quote. Earlier enterprise and endowment figures no longer represent an available route. Do not rely on older cost tables for Ireland.
Italy issues a two year residence permit that can be renewed for a further three years when the investment is maintained. Applicants first obtain a clearance, then the visa, then complete the investment within the set window.
Ireland is not issuing new approvals. Applications already on hand at the 2023 closure continue through their own process under the authority's transitional handling.
An Italian residence permit gives access to Italy and travel within the Schengen Area on the usual terms. Italian citizenship, with the strong Italian passport, is a separate step generally available after ten years of lawful residence.
Irish citizenship carries a strong passport and the right to live in the United Kingdom under the Common Travel Area, but that outcome is not reachable through a new investor application now that the route is closed.
Italy suits an applicant who wants an open, flexible European residence with a choice of investment levels and no minimum stay to keep the permit. Ireland is only relevant to those already inside the closed programme. For anyone starting now, Italy is the live comparison and Ireland is context.
| Item | Italy Investor Visa | Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Open to new applicants | Closed to new applicants since 2023 |
| Outcome | Residence, renewable | Residence, route closed |
| Lead routes | EUR 250,000 startup, EUR 500,000 company, EUR 1 million philanthropy, EUR 2 million government bonds | Closed, formerly enterprise and endowment routes |
| Minimum stay | No minimum stay to keep the visa | Not applicable |
| Authority | Investor Visa for Italy Committee | Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Investor Visa for Italy Committee, Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. Ireland closed the programme to new applicants on 15 February 2023. Applications already on hand at that date are handled under the authority's transitional arrangements. Confirm the current position with Immigration Service Delivery.
The Italian authority publishes four routes: EUR 250,000 into an innovative startup, EUR 500,000 into a limited company, EUR 1 million into philanthropy, or EUR 2 million into government bonds. Fees apply on top. Confirm the current figures with the official authority.
No. Both are residence routes. Citizenship is a later step that depends on years of lawful residence and each country's separate naturalisation rules.
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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