The Immigrant Investor Programme was Ireland's investor residence route. The Government agreed to close it to new applications in February 2023, so this page explains the position rather than promising a path.
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 Immigrant Investor Programme, often called the Irish golden visa, allowed approved investors and their families to gain residence in Ireland through a qualifying investment. It ran from 2012 until it was closed to new applications in February 2023.
Because the route is shut to newcomers, treat this page as a record of the position. Anyone weighing Irish residence today should look at other immigration permissions and confirm the current rules with the official authority.
Under the programme as it operated, applicants chose from a small set of qualifying options that included an enterprise investment, an approved investment fund, a real estate investment trust, and an endowment to a project of public benefit.
New applications are no longer accepted. The Government has signalled that a successor scheme with stronger regional and job creation conditions is under consideration, but no replacement has launched and no figures are confirmed.
For files already in the system, the authority continues to assess applications and processing has stretched across several years. Decisions on the remaining backlog have continued into 2026. Confirm timing for any individual case with the official authority.
The programme set minimum investment levels while it was open. As the route is closed to new applicants, those figures no longer apply to a fresh application and we do not restate them here as if they were live. Verify any current requirement with the official authority before acting.
Approved investors and their families received residence permission in Ireland, with the ability to live in the State and travel within it. Ireland is not part of the Schengen area, so Irish residence does not by itself grant free movement across Schengen. Existing approvals are not affected by the closure.
| Item | Indicative amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Status for new applicants | Closed | Closed to new applications from 15 February 2023 |
| Qualifying investment | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Historic minimums no longer apply to new files |
| Government and processing fees | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Set by the Department of Justice |
| Existing approvals | Unaffected | Closure does not affect approved investors or live projects |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. The Government agreed to close the programme to new applications from 15 February 2023. Applications already submitted before that date continue to be processed by the authority.
The Government has indicated that a successor investment migration scheme is under consideration, but as of the date on this page no replacement has been launched and no investment figures are confirmed. Watch the official authority for announcements.
No. The authority has stated that the closure does not affect existing projects or individuals already approved under the programme.
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.
We introduce you to vetted, independent advisors, in confidence and at no obligation. Your topic is noted for you below.
Independent and paid by the people we help, never by a government and never by a firm.
One short email when a programme rule changes, with the official source named so you can verify it. No hype, unsubscribe anytime.