Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) in Ireland

Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) · Ireland visa route

longTerm · last reviewed 2026-05-27 · all Ireland routes

For founders with an innovative, high-potential business proposal; this is not a passive investment visa.

Important notes

• STEP applicants must be of good character, have no criminal convictions, have €50,000 funding available, and have an innovative business proposal.
• Permission lets the entrepreneur establish and work full-time in the business; no other employment and must not be a financial burden.
• STEP means Start-up Entrepreneur Programme. It is a selective founder route, not a passive investment or retirement route.
• The €50,000 is funding that must be available for the proposed business and supported with evidence of its source; it is not simply a government fee.
• ‘Must not be a financial burden on the Irish State’ means you must be able to support yourself without relying on Irish State welfare or other public support; the official decision is case-specific.
• IIP means Immigrant Investor Programme, not IPP. It is closed to new applications and must not be treated as an available alternative.

Preparation checklist

• Confirm the financial evidence: STEP funding of €50,000.
• Check work rights and restrictions: permission lets the entrepreneur work full-time only in the business.
• Save your submitted files and track the next application or renewal date.

What do STEP and IIP mean?

STEP means Start-up Entrepreneur Programme. It gives a qualifying founder permission to establish and work full-time in an innovative Irish business. You cannot use it as a general work permit for another employer.

IIP means Immigrant Investor Programme — the acronym is IIP, not IPP. IIP was the old passive-investment residence programme and is closed to new applications. It is mentioned here only to prevent confusion; it is not an available route.

What does “not be a financial burden” mean?

This is an immigration condition, not a promise that the business will immediately make a profit. In practical terms, you should be able to support yourself without depending on Irish State welfare or other public support, while also showing that the €50,000 business funding is genuinely available and that its source is credible. The official authority decides this from the evidence in the individual case.

How hard is this route?

Difficulty: Hard / selective. The €50,000 threshold is only the entry floor. The difficult part is convincing the evaluation committee that the proposal is genuinely innovative and has high-growth potential, rather than being an ordinary local shop, consultancy, or passive investment. Proposals are considered quarterly, so a strong application can still involve waiting for the next evaluation cycle.

What the process looks like

1. Prepare the business proposal, evidence of the funding and its source, identity documents, and good-character evidence.
2. Submit the STEP application and proposal to the Irish immigration authorities for evaluation.
3. If approved, apply for the Irish long-stay D visa if your nationality requires a visa.
4. After arrival, register the immigration permission and operate the approved business full-time, following the conditions of the permission.

Bottom line: this route suits a real technology or other high-growth founder with a credible business plan and enough personal runway. It is a poor fit for someone who mainly wants residence through savings, property purchase, or a normal small business.

Official wording and current forms: STEP guidance · IIP closure notice

Official source

Official source: Ireland official source

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Visa rules change frequently. This page is a research guide, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the official source before applying.