STEP Guidelines Sep 2023
STEP Guidelines Sep 2023
STEP Guidelines Sep 2023
September 2023
Guidelines
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
Guidelines
1. Introduction
c) These Guidelines detail the terms for conferring, maintaining and where
necessary withdrawing residency status in relation to non-EEA nationals and
their families legally residing in the State on the basis of a residency
permission granted by the Minister for Justice and Equality under the terms of
this Start-up Entrepreneur Programme.
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
Ireland is probably the most open economy in the developed world. Being open
means Ireland benefits from the boom in world trade; equally it means it must adapt
quickly to changing market conditions. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is not new to
Ireland. The national drive to encourage overseas companies to locate here began
back in the middle of the 20th century. Today, success is measured by Ireland’s
continuing ability to attract cutting-edge Foreign Direct Investment as US, European
and Asia-Pacific countries demonstrate their growing confidence in locating their
overseas business here. Almost 1,000 companies – including many of the best-known
world brands – have placed Ireland at the hub of their European networks because of
the combination of winning factors Ireland offers. Overseas business and
entrepreneurs from abroad find a welcome home in Ireland.
Talent
Ireland is a small country that has re-invented itself over the last forty years through
the combined force of sheer determination and growing, vibrant ambition. Its young,
highly educated workforce has seized the opportunity provided by Foreign Direct
Investment and continues to transform Ireland into a dynamic, knowledge based
economy for the 21st century.
Track Record
Tax Regime
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
These features all go to make Ireland one of the top global business locations.
www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/Start-a-Business-in-Ireland/Startups-from-Outside-
Ireland/
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
Successful applicants and their nominated family members will be granted residence
in Ireland for two years which will be renewable for a further three years. After 5
years residence, participants under the programme will be eligible for long term
residence in the State. Where required the applicant will be granted a multiple entry
visa for Ireland for the same duration. This will allow successful candidates to reside
in Ireland and to travel freely to Ireland for the duration of the permission. The
conditions of residence and the conditions for renewal are detailed below.
[Note: This Programme does not provide for Irish citizenship for successful
candidates. Persons granted residence under the Start-up Entrepreneur
Programme may apply for Irish citizenship under the terms of the Irish Nationality
and Citizenship Acts and will be assessed according to the criteria provided for in
those Acts.]
Who will qualify for residency under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme provides that migrants with a proposal for a
high potential start-up in the innovation economy and funding of €50,000 can be
given residency in this State for the purposes of developing their business. No initial
job creation targets will be set as it is recognised that such businesses can take some
time to get off the ground.
Note: Where a proposal has more than one principal, (other than family
members), seeking to avail of this programme then the first principal will be
required to demonstrate access to €50,000 funding while second and subsequent
principles will be required to demonstrate access to €30,000 each.
Who will not qualify for residency under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme.
The scheme is not intended for retail, personal services, catering or other businesses
of this nature. While each application will have to be considered on its merits the sort
of business intended for this programme are those that are part of the innovation
economy, in areas of high potential growth in the future. The State agencies will play
a key role in evaluating the suitability of proposed business proposals for the
programme.
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
Applicants are required to have secured funding of €50,000 for their business
proposal.
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
In the application stage candidates will submit their application forms and all
supporting documentation as well as the required details of their enterprise proposals
for approval by the Evaluation Committee. The Evaluation Committee will consider
the proposal and may seek further information from the candidate if required. It
should be noted that the Evaluation Committee will only communicate with the
candidate and their nominated legal or financial representative.
The Evaluation Committee will decide and inform the Minister for Justice and
Equality as to whether or not the person and their proposal is acceptable under the
programme.
N.B. It should be noted that merely meeting the financial condition set out above
does not guarantee approval. The Committee must be satisfied that the proposal
is genuinely innovative and has significant export potential.
Application Fee
The application fee of €350 must be paid by electronic funds transfer. The €350 fee
covers the principal applicant and all nominated family members. Application fees
are non-refundable in the event of unsuccessful applications.
Note: Candidates should only submit applications for high potential start-up
businesses.
Applicants who are successful and whose business proposals are approved will be
issued with the residence permissions when the following conditions have been met
2. The applicant, and if relevant their spouse/partner, has submitted the required
affidavit attesting to their good character and lack of criminal convictions.
Applicants will be facilitated with an Irish visa, if required, to pursue this
affidavit.
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
In all cases a comprehensive business plan for the innovation start-up proposal
will be required for scrutiny by the Evaluation Committee. Business plans
should be completed in the Sample Business Plan template available on
Investment and Entrepreneur page of the INIS website.
The business plan should indicate all locations for the Start-up proposal (i.e.
Ireland and elsewhere) and how many employees will be located in each
country.
The applicant must provide evidence of the funds that are to be used for the proposed
start-up, the providence of those funds and the ability of the applicant to transfer those
funds to Ireland. This should be done by;
If the funds are coming from the applicants own resources, then the applicant should
supply;
A letter from a financial institution regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland showing
the amount of funding available in the name of the applicant,
or
If the funds are not held in a financial institution regulated by the Central Bank of
Ireland, personal bank statements from a bank that is regulated by the home regulator
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
(official regulatory body for the country in which the financial institution operates and
the funds are located), showing the amount of funding available in the name of the
applicant. The applicant should provide bank statements, covering the three full
consecutive months before the date of application. The most recent statement must be
no more than one calendar month old at the date of application. All bank statements
provided must be original documents and not copies, be on the official bank stationary
and each must show the full amount of the available funds.
or
A letter from a bank that is regulated by the domestic regulator (official regulatory
body for the country in which the financial institution operates and the funds are
located). If the applicant cannot provide bank statements, we will require a letter
from his/her bank, stating that the account has held the required amount of money on
the day the letter was produced and for the three full consecutive months immediately
before the date of the letter. The letter must be dated no more than one calendar month
before the date of application. The letter must be an original letter and not a copy; on
the institution’s official headed paper; and it must have been issued by an authorised
official of that institution. The letter must confirm the following:
the name of the applicant, and that the money is available in their name/s;
the bank is regulated by the home regulator;
the dates of the period covered. This must include both the day the letter was
produced and three full consecutive months immediately before the date of the
letter; and
the balance of the account to cover the amount claimed as a credit balance on
the date of the letter and the three full consecutive months before the date of
the letter.
If the letter does not confirm a minimum sufficient credit balance for the full
period required, the applicant must also provide further evidence of the source
of the money, from the list below.
If the applicant has secured the financing by way of a business loan or business
angel/venture capital financing
A letter from each financial institution, venture capital firm, seed funding
competition, or Irish State Agency providing the funds, confirming –
A combination of funding from the above sources, amounting to the required level of
€50,000 will be accepted by the Evaluation Committee as fulfilling the minimum
funding requirement for the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme.
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
All of the funds required to meet the conditions of the Start-up Entrepreneur
Programme must be capable of being transferred to Ireland and convertible to Euros.
Many jurisdictions have controls over the transfer of currency and it will be necessary
for the applicant to prove that the funding can be transferred to Ireland if the
application is successful.
Applicants should provide a letter from their bank or financial institution as evidence
that the funds can be transferred into Ireland. This must be an original letter, on the
official letter-headed paper of the bank or financial institution. It must have been
issued by an authorised official of that institution and must confirm the following
details –
the name of the beneficial owner of the funds, which should be the applicant,
the date of the letter,
the amount of money to be transferred,
that the money can be transferred to Ireland if the application is successful,
that the institution will confirm the content of the letter to the Irish
Naturalisation and Immigration Service upon request.
The bank or financial institution must be regulated by the official regulatory body for
the country in which the institution operates and the funds are located.
Evidence of Character
All applicants must submit their application with a statement of character from the
police authorities of each country in which you have resided for more than six months
during the 10 year period prior to you making an application. Applicants who are in a
position to supply screening reports from reputable international risk management
companies are invited to do so.
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
b) Once the applicants have provided verifiable evidence that they have
transferred the funds identified in their application for approval to a
business bank account in Ireland, they will be granted the following
residency permission in Ireland.
Naturalisation
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
Residency status, on similar terms, to the principal applicant is also available for
spouses/partners and minor children (i.e. children under 18 years of age) for
whom the principal applicant and/or their spouse or partner has legal
guardianship.
Partners: Applicants should provide evidence that they have been cohabiting
with their partner in a common law/de facto relationship for the previous two
years.
Children: The minor children of the applicant shall qualify for residency
status provided that the applicant qualifies for residency status and provided
that;
In respect of each child, the applicant must supply birth certificates detailing
parentage or legal documentation verifying the applicant’s
custody/guardianship.
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
Application for Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
It is recognised that Start-up ventures have a high rate of failure. In the event
of the venture failing the immigration status of the participant will be reviewed
and they will need to make application to remain in Ireland on another basis.
This could include a further application under the entrepreneur programme or
an application for an employment permit or green card. Such applications
would be subject to any immigration rules in place at the time.
Rejection of Applications
Applications
Applications, including a copy of the original application form, should be
submitted by email to [email protected]
The Subject Bar should clearly identify the Name of the Applicant, Project
Name and STEP Programme.
Please note: Applications that do not include all of the relevant documents
and the application fee cannot be considered and will be returned.
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IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE