Ireland Start-up Entrepreneur Programme Alternative

Ireland does not offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. The most structured alternative for a founder audience is the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP), a permission route for innovative entrepreneurs who want to establish a business and reside in Ireland full time.

STEP is not a general remote-worker or freelancer route. The official conditions require the applicant to establish the business described in the application, work on it full time, avoid employment in any other capacity, avoid becoming a financial burden on the Irish State, and keep a clean criminal-record position. For historic investor files, see the separate Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme record.

Start Here

Need	Best page
Check whether Ireland fits a remote-founder profile	Main guide
Plan STEP evidence, fee, committee review, registration, and renewal	Timeline and documents
Review company setup, tax registration, VAT, and operating evidence	Tax and business setup
Understand the closed investor route	Ireland IIP ended explainer

Programme Snapshot

Item	Current Rule
Dedicated digital nomad visa	No
Main alternative	Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
Target applicant	Innovative non-EEA founder establishing a business in Ireland
Core funding signal	EUR 50,000 available funding
Character requirement	Good character and no criminal convictions in any jurisdiction
Application timing	Electronic applications can be submitted any time
Review cadence	Proposals are considered quarterly by an evaluation committee
STEP fee	EUR 350, non-refundable, paid by electronic fund transfer
Work boundary	Full-time work on the approved business; no other employment
Initial residence signal	EU Immigration Portal material states 2 years for successful applicants and nominated family members
Renewal signal	Further 3 years may be available, subject to compliance checks
Long-term residence signal	EU Immigration Portal material states participants can apply after 5 years residence
Investor route warning	Ireland’s Immigrant Investor Programme closed to new applications from February 15, 2023

Application Flow

1. Confirm that the case is an innovative founder case, not foreign payroll work, ordinary freelancing, passive investment, or a generic small business.
2. Prepare the STEP application form, innovative business proposal, evidence of EUR 50,000 funding, source-of-funds evidence, and good-character evidence.
3. Email the STEP file to the Irish Immigration Service.
4. Pay the EUR 350 non-refundable application fee by electronic fund transfer with the required reference.
5. Wait for evaluation committee review and the Minister’s decision.
6. If approved, use the permission letter as the basis for residence registration after arrival where required.
7. Establish and work on the Irish business full time, keeping company, tax, funding, accounting, and founder-role records aligned.
8. Renew only if the STEP conditions and business basis continue.

Good Fit

This route is strongest for founders with an innovative business proposal, available funding, a serious Ireland operating plan, and the ability to work on the Irish business full time.

Poor Fit

It is usually a poor fit for foreign payroll employees, ordinary freelancers, consultants with no innovative startup case, passive investors, applicants who need to work for another employer, and people looking for a simple digital nomad permit.