Irish Business Visas
If you are a non-EEA citizen who wants to come to Ireland to do business, you should apply for an Irish Business Visa. or, if you want to invest money, you might be eligible for the Immigrant Investor Programme. Find out more about what your options are if you want to engage in business activities in Ireland.
For expert legal advice and assistance with your visa application, call our consultants on 0333 305 9375.
Travelling to Ireland for business purposes
As Ireland has an open business environment and is home to many international companies, it is a common destination for foreign citizens who want to do business abroad.
If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country, you can come to Ireland on business without a visa and stay in the country for up to 90 days.
However, if you are a national of a non-EEA country, you have to apply for the Business Visa to Ireland to be able to travel to Ireland and engage in business activities there. Alternatively, if you want to invest a large sum of money in Ireland, you can apply to come to Ireland under the Immigration Investor Programme.
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What is the Irish Business Visa?
The Irish Business Visa is intended for non-EEA nationals who want to travel to Ireland for business purposes. You should apply for it if you are thinking of coming to Ireland to, for example, attend a business meeting, negotiate a contract, consult with Irish business associates, or to take part in a business convention.
The Irish Business Visa is a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa, which means that its holders can stay in Ireland temporarily, for up to 90 days. The Business Visa to Ireland cannot be extended so you have to finish all your planned business activities in Ireland before your permit expires.
If you come to Ireland on the Business Visa, you will be able to work for up to 14 days but you will not have the right to seek gainful employment that requires a work permit.
What are the requirements for the Business Visa?
To be able to obtain the Business Visa to Ireland, you have to meet the following requirements:
- You have a passport valid for at least six months past your proposed leave date from Ireland
- You intend to come to Ireland for business purposes
- You intend to leave Ireland before your visa expires
- You do not intend to seek employment in Ireland that would last longer than 14 days
- You have enough funds to cover your expenses while you visit Ireland.
To prove your eligibility for the Business Visa, you have to submit a number of supporting documents, which include:
- An application letter in which you explain the reason for your intended travel to Ireland
- Details of your accommodation in Ireland
- Letter of invitation from an Irish company you will be doing business with
- Proof of having enough finances to support yourself during your stay in Ireland
- Proof of having ties in your home country that will make you return there once your visa expires.
If you are not sure whether you are eligible for the Business Visa, or you do not know what documents to submit, talk to our immigration consultants. They will help you determine whether the Business Visa is the right one for you and will help you gather all the necessary evidence
What is the Immigrant Investor Programme?
Note that as of 15 February 2023, the Irish Immigrant Investor Programme will no longer be accepting new applications.
Foreign nationals wishing to immigrate to Ireland for business purposes may wish to consider the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP). Alternatively, those who are self-sufficient and wish to retire in Ireland may consider applying for Stamp 0.
The Irish Immigrant Investor Programme is a system intended for non-EEA nationals who want to invest large amounts of money in Ireland. Those who are accepted, will receive Stamp 4 and will be able to reside in Ireland.
There are four routes within the Immigrant Investor Programme that you might be eligible for. These are:
- Enterprise Investment – intended for foreign citizens who want to invest at least €1 million in a new start-up or an existing business in Ireland. The investment has to be retained for a period of at least three years.
- Investment Fund – intended for foreign citizens who want to invest at least €1 million in a small or medium-sized business in Ireland. The investment has to be retained for at least three years.
- Real Estate Investment Fund – intended for those who want to invest at least €2 million in any Irish Real Estate Investment Fund. The investment has to be retained for at least three years.
- Endowments – intended for foreign nationals who want to donate at least €500,000 as a philanthropic contribution and who do not expect any financial returns from their investment. The endowment has to benefit a certain community in Ireland.
If you want to make an investment in Ireland but you are not sure which route to venture down, get in touch with our immigration consultants. They will analyse your circumstances and will help you successfully apply for the Immigrant Investor Programme.
What are the requirements for the Immigrant Investor Programme?
Regardless of which route you want to use to apply, the main requirement for the Immigrant Investor Programme is having enough money to make an investment in Ireland. How much money you need to have depends on the type of investment you want to make. To qualify for the Immigrant Investor Programme, the investment has to be made using your own money. It is not possible to finance it through a loan or third-party payment.
In addition to the financial requirement, to be eligible for the Immigrant Investor Programme, you have to be of good moral character. There are several ways to prove it. You can, for example, submit a statement of good character issued by the police in your home country, or you can undergo a screening by an international risk management organisation.
If you meet the eligibility requirements and are accepted into the Immigrant Investor Programme, you will receive Stamp 4. That means that you will be granted the permission to work in Ireland and access state services. Initially, you will be able to remain in Ireland for 2 years but you might be able to extend your stay in Ireland after that.
How can IAS help?
At IAS we have a team of experienced immigration consultants who can help you travel to Ireland to do business. Regardless of whether you want to apply for the Business Visa or the Immigrant Investor Visa, our experts can assist you with submitting your application and gathering the necessary supporting documents.
As opposed to hiring an immigration lawyer, thanks to the help of our immigration consultants you can be sure that your application has been completed to the highest standard and that no information is missing. Throughout the application process, your immigration consultant will liaise with the Department of Justice and Equality, keeping you updated about any changes to the status of your application.
IAS has a proven track record of success in helping people apply for permits allowing them to come to Ireland to do business.
Call us today on 0333 305 9375 to find out more about how we can help.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Business Visa to Ireland is issued to foreign citizens who want to engage in business activities in Ireland. Hence, if you apply for it, the main purpose of your trip to Ireland should be to do business. If you want to travel to Ireland primarily for tourism, you should apply for the Tourist Visa to Ireland instead.
Nevertheless, your Business Visa to Ireland allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days. That means that if you have some free time after finishing all your business activities, you can travel around and explore the country.
The processing time of applications for the Ireland Investor Programme takes between 3-4 months on average. The waiting time is long because there are many documents that need to be reviewed. If you fail to submit some of the required documents, there will most likely be a delay in the processing of your application.
Successfully obtaining the Business Visa means that you can travel to Ireland but, unfortunately, it does not automatically give you the right to enter the country. When you arrive at the border, immigration officials will review your documents such as your passport and your accommodation details and decide whether or not to allow you in.
If they determine that you can enter Ireland, they will put an immigration stamp in your passport.
The amount of money needed for the Immigrant Investor Visa depends on the type of investment you want to make in Ireland for an Enterprise Investment and Investment Fund, you have to invest at least €1 million for the Real Estate Investment Fund, at least €2 million is needed. Finally, for Endowments, you need to invest €500,000 or more.