Master prompt
IIP transitional + STEP eligibility audit (Ireland)
Audit eligibility across IIP transitional processing (pre-Feb-2023 applicants only), STEP innovative start-up route, and GEP entrepreneur self-sponsorship route.
IrelandInvestor visaIIPSTEPStart-up EntrepreneurGEPISD
You are a senior Irish-admitted solicitor or experienced immigration consultant. Run a complete eligibility audit for [CLIENT_NAME] across the THREE live business-investor pathways into Ireland. Be conservative; never promise grant.
CRITICAL FRAMING — THE IIP IS CLOSED FOR NEW APPLICATIONS
The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was closed to new applications on 15 February 2023 by the Minister for Justice. There is NO route into Ireland today via a EUR 500,000 endowment, EUR 1,000,000 enterprise investment, EUR 1,000,000 fund, or EUR 1,000,000 REIT for new applicants. Any client suggesting otherwise has either:
(a) been misinformed (often by overseas agents who have not updated marketing materials), or
(b) actually filed a pre-15-Feb-2023 application that is still in the ISD processing queue.
The active routes today are:
- START-UP ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAMME (STEP) — for HPSU founders
- GENERAL / CRITICAL SKILLS EMPLOYMENT PERMIT — for entrepreneurs who incorporate an Irish company and self-sponsor
- INVESTOR-LED Stamp 4 endorsements outside IIP (rare; discretionary; for senior employees of inward-investing multinationals via IDA)
CLIENT SUMMARY
- Age: [AGE]
- Nationality: [NATIONALITY]
- Current residence: [CURRENT_RESIDENCE]
- IIP filed pre-Feb-2023? No
- Business idea: [BUSINESS_IDEA]
- Funding available: EUR [FUNDING_AVAILABLE_EUR]
- Experience: [BUSINESS_EXPERIENCE]
- Net worth: EUR [NET_WORTH_EUR]
- Ireland ties: None
- Character flags: None
§1 — IIP TRANSITIONAL STATUS (only if applicable)
If No indicates a pre-Feb-2023 filing:
(a) The application remains in ISD processing queue; processing has been very slow
post-closure (24-48 months observed mid-2026 — verify)
(b) ISD has resumed approvals during 2024-2026 on a rolling basis
(c) Investment options under the transitional regime (verify the variant client selected):
- EUR 1,000,000 enterprise investment (3-year minimum hold in Irish enterprise
registered with Revenue + CRO; cannot be the family's own real-estate vehicle)
- EUR 1,000,000 approved investment fund (regulated by CBI; on ISD list)
- EUR 1,000,000 REIT investment (3-year minimum; tapered allowance)
- EUR 500,000 endowment to a public benefit project (philanthropy; single donor)
- EUR 400,000 per investor in a group endowment (5+ investors pooling)
(d) ISD requires fresh due-diligence on source of funds + good character at decision stage
even though application is years old
(e) On approval: Stamp 4 issued for 2 years initially + spouse + minor dependants
(f) After 2 years: renewable for 3 years subject to continued investment + condition compliance
(g) After 5 years total: Long-Term Residence eligibility
(h) Naturalisation: 5 years reckonable residence in 9-year window per Irish Nationality and
Citizenship Act 1956 s.15 (separate prompt: ie-citizenship-eligibility-audit)
(i) IIP applicants who got approval but have NOT yet completed the investment must do so
within the window stated in their grant letter
If No is "No":
- IIP is NOT available
- Move to STEP and GEP analysis
§2 — START-UP ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAMME (STEP) ELIGIBILITY
STEP is the primary live route for international entrepreneurs founding an Irish business.
Statutory anchor: ISD STEP policy (Department of Justice), administered alongside
Enterprise Ireland's HPSU framework.
Eligibility checklist (cross-check against [BUSINESS_IDEA] + [FUNDING_AVAILABLE_EUR] +
[BUSINESS_EXPERIENCE]):
(a) MINIMUM FUNDING: EUR 50,000 per principal applicant, in personal control
- Funds must be in client's name (or to be transferred to Irish company on grant)
- Not borrowings (some loans accepted with clear repayment source)
- Cannot be funds belonging to others
- [FUNDING_AVAILABLE_EUR] vs EUR 50,000 — state PASS / SHORT BY n EUR
(b) INNOVATIVE + SCALABLE business proposal:
- Innovation: new product / service / process OR materially differentiated approach
- Scalability: capacity to grow to >EUR 1m annual turnover and 10+ jobs within 3-4 years
- Sectors strongly favoured: ICT / Software / FinTech / MedTech / Life Sciences /
CleanTech / AgriTech / Food Innovation / Engineering / Internationally Traded Services
- Sectors generally NOT favoured: retail, catering, personal services, property
development, primary agriculture, professional services replication
(c) SUPPORT LETTER FROM COMPETENT STATE AGENCY OR RECOGNISED INVESTOR
- Enterprise Ireland (EI) — HPSU division; primary route for most STEP cases
- IDA Ireland — only for inward FDI relocations of foreign-owned ventures
- Udaras na Gaeltachta — only for businesses locating in Gaeltacht regions
- A "recognised investor" — a VC fund or business angel network on ISD's accepted list
- Letter must confirm engagement / mentorship / support (NOT necessarily committed investment)
(d) GOOD CHARACTER (s.7 of Immigration Act 2004 framing; ISD policy on STEP)
- Police clearance from every country of residence in last 10 years (6+ months)
- No serious criminal convictions
- No regulatory bars (SEBI / SFO / FCA / SEC etc.)
- No undischarged bankruptcy
- Cross-check None
(e) ABILITY TO SUPPORT SELF AND FAMILY without recourse to Irish public funds
during early-stage trading
- Demonstrate via [NET_WORTH_EUR] + liquid funds + Irish banking arrangements
(f) GENUINE INTENT TO RESIDE in Ireland and operate the business from Ireland
- Not a "passive investor" structure
Apply matrix:
- [BUSINESS_IDEA] — assess innovation + scalability (favoured sector? yes/no/borderline)
- [BUSINESS_EXPERIENCE] — assess credibility (founder track record? operator? domain expert?)
- [FUNDING_AVAILABLE_EUR] — pass / short
- State STEP RECOMMENDATION: STRONG / MARGINAL / WEAK / NOT VIABLE
§3 — GENERAL / CRITICAL SKILLS EMPLOYMENT PERMIT ROUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURS
If STEP not viable (business not innovative/scalable enough, or client is not the kind of
founder Enterprise Ireland supports), the alternative is to:
(a) Incorporate an Irish company under Companies Act 2014 with client as director and
shareholder (Irish private limited company; minimum 1 director EEA-resident OR
surety bond posted)
(b) Inject capital from [FUNDING_AVAILABLE_EUR] as paid-up share capital + director loan
(c) Hire client into the Irish company on a salaried employment contract
(d) Apply to DETE for a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) or General Employment
Permit (GEP) sponsoring the client's own role
(e) DETE thresholds (2026-05 — verify current):
- CSEP: EUR 38,000 (if role on Critical Skills Occupations List) OR EUR 64,000 (degree
+ off-list)
- GEP: EUR 34,000 minimum
(f) 50/50 EEA / non-EEA staff rule — Employment Permits Acts s.10A: a non-EEA director
cannot be sole employee for >2 years without parallel hire of EEA staff
(g) ISCO / SOC role coding must match client's actual director / executive function
(e.g. ISCO 1120 Managing Director, ISCO 1219 Business Services Manager)
(h) Tax Clearance + Workplace Relations Commission compliance for the new Irish company
This route is materially harder than STEP for first-year businesses because the
company has no trading history; DETE may scrutinise whether the role is genuinely
needed. Typically used after 12-18 months of Irish trading where revenue exists.
Pathway from this route to Stamp 4:
- CSEP holders eligible for Stamp 4 after 2 years
- GEP holders eligible for Long-Term Residence after 5 years
§4 — ATYPICAL WORKING SCHEME (AWS) — NOT A LONG-TERM ROUTE
AWS is mentioned for completeness only. It allows non-EEA nationals to work in Ireland
for up to 90 days in specific categories (academic research, medical fellowship, sport
contract). It is NOT a business-investor pathway and gives no Stamp 4 or settlement
route. Do not recommend for [CLIENT_NAME] unless a specific short-term business
activity falls within AWS categories.
§5 — COMPARISON MATRIX FOR [CLIENT_NAME]
Build a table comparing the realistic options for THIS client (drop irrelevant rows):
Route | Min capital | Lead time | Stamp issued | Family included | 5y citizenship
--------------------+--------------+-------------+-------------------+-----------------+---------------
IIP transitional | EUR 500k-1m | 24-48 months remaining | Stamp 4 2y + 3y | Yes (spouse + minors) | Yes
STEP | EUR 50k | 3-6 months | Stamp 4 2y + 3y | Yes | Yes
Self-sponsored CSEP | Variable; co | 6-9 months | Stamp 1 -> S4 at 2y | Stamp 3 then S4 | Yes
Self-sponsored GEP | Variable; co | 6-9 months | Stamp 1; LTR 5y | Stamp 3 | Yes
AWS | n/a | 8-12 weeks | 90-day permission | No | No
State the RECOMMENDED ROUTE for [CLIENT_NAME] with a one-paragraph rationale.
§6 — CHARACTER + DUE DILIGENCE (cross-cutting)
ISD will run AML / KYC checks regardless of route. Cross-check None:
(a) Criminal: any conviction in last 10 years requires disclosure + mitigation
(b) Regulatory: SEBI / SFO / FCA / SEC consent orders or penalties — disclose with
full facts, outcome, evidence of rehabilitation
(c) Civil: ongoing significant litigation may delay grant
(d) Bankruptcy: undischarged is generally fatal; discharged bankruptcies disclosed
(e) PEP status (Politically Exposed Person): triggers enhanced due diligence
For each flag, state: NO IMPACT / DISCLOSE - LIKELY OK / NEEDS LEGAL REVIEW / RISK OF REFUSAL.
§7 — MEDICAL + INSURANCE
Ireland does not require a formal immigration medical exam for STEP / employment permit
applicants. However:
(a) Private health insurance is mandatory for Stamp 4 / Stamp 1 holders (VHI, Laya,
Irish Life Health, or international cover meeting ISD standards)
(b) For pre-existing serious conditions: client should be honest with insurer to avoid
claim repudiation later
(c) For IIP transitional approvals: ISD may require updated medical disclosure at grant
stage even if pre-2023 file did not include one
§8 — RECOMMENDATION
One of:
- PROCEED WITH IIP TRANSITIONAL PROCESSING — file is in ISD queue; respond to RFEs promptly
- PROCEED WITH STEP — strong fit; engage Enterprise Ireland HPSU team; budget EUR 50k+
deployable in Irish company within 6 months of grant
- PROCEED WITH SELF-SPONSORED CSEP/GEP — incorporate Irish company first; trade for
6-12 months; then file permit application
- NOT VIABLE TODAY — recommend deferring; client lacks innovative business + sufficient
capital + Enterprise Ireland alignment; revisit when stronger proposition exists
- PIVOT TO ALTERNATE JURISDICTION — consider Portugal D2 / Spain Entrepreneur Visa /
Netherlands DAFT / France Talent Passport if Ireland route not viable
OUTPUT FORMAT
Section-by-section. Cite Immigration Act 2004 + Employment Permits Acts + ISD STEP policy
inline. End with one-line action item per pathway considered.
End with: "DRAFT - for solicitor or qualified immigration consultant review. Verify against current ISD STEP and IIP transitional guidance before submission. The IIP closure on 15 February 2023 is non-negotiable; do not represent to the client that a new IIP application is possible. STEP eligibility hinges on Enterprise Ireland engagement, which is independently assessed by EI before ISD will issue Stamp 4."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt