How to invest in Ireland from the UK

Interested in investing in Ireland from the UK? It’s easy to see why, as Ireland offers a highly competitive, pro-business environment, low corporate tax rates and seamless access to the EU single market.

If you’re just getting started with overseas investment, read on. This guide runs through ways to invest in Ireland, including buying stocks on Euronext Dublin, buying real estate and direct investment in Irish businesses.

We’ll also introduce Wise as the smart solution for sending large sums internationally –– with over 14.8 million people worldwide moving £36 billion each quarter.

With Wise you get low, transparent fees, mid-market exchange rates, and secure, trackable transfers, with dedicated support and volume discounts when sending large amounts. On a £50,000 transfer, you could save up to £1,000 with Wise vs your bank.

➡️ Learn more about large amount transfers with Wise

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to future change. The content of this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice.

Investments in a currency other than GBP are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in GBP terms. You could lose money in GBP even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

Why invest in Ireland?

There are lots of reasons UK investors choose Ireland as a safe place to put their money:

• Low corporate tax - at just 12.5%, this acts as a major incentive for foreign direct investment (FDI)¹
• Access to the EU single market
• A young, highly educated and skilled workforce
• It’s a hub for tech, startups and innovation - as well as being home to the European headquarters of major companies such as Google, Meta and LinkedIn
• A business-friendly environment, with a stable regulatory framework, efficient business setup and proactive government support.

Can foreigners invest in Ireland?

Yes, foreign nationals can invest in Ireland with minimal restrictions. The country’s investment and real estate markets are highly regulated - which is of course a plus point for potential investors.

Foreigners from the UK and all over the world can buy stocks and shares, and buy property in Ireland - including getting a mortgage from an Irish bank if needed.

It’s recommended for foreigners and new investors to stick to mainstream investments, as these have the lowest risk. Although as all investing comes with risk, it’s also a good idea to get professional advice.

Ways to invest in Ireland from the UK

Three of the most popular ways for UK citizens to invest in Ireland include:

• Buying stocks and shares
• Real estate (property)
• Direct investment in businesses, or starting their own business in Ireland.

Read on for more information on each of these routes.

How to buy stocks in Ireland

If you’re mainly interested in the Irish stock market, you can easily buy and sell shares from the comfort of your own home in the UK.

All you need is an account with one of the UK online investment platforms which offers trading in Irish company stocks.

Key things to know:

• The main stock exchange in Ireland is Euronext Dublin
• The main price index is the ISEQ 20, tracking the 20 largest and most liquid companies listed on Euronext Dublin

Here’s how to get started with buying shares in Irish companies:

1. Open a share trading account

There are lots of investment platforms available in the UK, and many offer trading in Euronext stocks.

Some options to check out include:

• eToro
• IG
• Hargreaves Lansdown
• Trading 212
• Interactive Brokers
• Interactive Investor.

When trying to find the right platform for you, it’s important to do your research and compare fees, features and customer reviews.

Once you’ve opened your account and completed verification/security steps, you’ll need to link a bank account - or an alternative account like Wise - in order to fund your transactions and receive returns.

2. Calculate the cost

Your chosen trading platform will tell you how much your shares will cost, but you also need to factor in fees and currency conversion costs. Remember, platforms may charge annual fees or per-transaction commission fees for trading.

This means that your British pounds (GBP) will need to be converted to EUR, you may also incur foreign currency fees.

To give you an idea of these costs, here are the fees charged by a handful of popular platforms:

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Investing abroad can be stressful, with different rules and regulations to follow. Some of the most overlooked aspects of investing overseas is the actual cost of converting currency and sending the payment abroad.

Banks may claim to have “no fees” but they could be adding a sneaky mark-up to their exchange rate. This can impact your budget by up to 2% when sending money abroad. For example, on a £50,000 transfer, you could save up to £1,000 with Wise vs your bank.

Wise has built its own payment network that allows customers to send money internationally for less. You’ll get the mid-market exchange rate (close to the one you see on Google) with no hidden markups and low, transparent fees.

✅ Sign up with Wise for free

**Investments in funds are never guaranteed and your capital can be at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

3. Decide which Irish shares to purchase

The last step is to decide which Irish shares to purchase, and then place the order using the platform’s tools. This is usually as simple as searching for the company, clicking ‘buy’ and entering the amount or value of shares you’d like to buy.

You might want to get some professional advice on which company to invest in, or whether you should invest in a fund instead.

A fund is a basket of stocks and other investment products chosen according to your attitude to risk. It’s managed by a professional fund manager, and is a good way to diversify your portfolio and spread risk. However, it does come with fees.

How to buy real estate in Ireland

Buying property in Ireland is very popular with British investors, as it represents a stable, long-term investment.

The Irish property market offers high rental yields (especially in cities like Dublin), accessibility for foreign buyers and diverse market options.

There are no restrictions for UK or other foreign nationals to buy a main home, second home, holiday let, commercial or other investment property. You may just need a higher deposit for a mortgage compared to a local applicant.

The actual process of purchasing property is very similar to the UK, involving these steps:

1. Setting a budget and getting a mortgage in principle - some buyers also choose to open a Irish bank account or international account in euros
2. Find a property and arrange viewings
3. Make an offer
4. Appoint a solicitor and carry out due diligence checks
5. Pay the booking deposit - a solution like Wise can be useful for sending money overseas, without the high fees
6. Get a building survey
7. Sign the contract for sale, and have your solicitor carry out Requisitions on Title and draft a Deed of Conveyance.
8. Get mortgage approval, exchange contracts and pay all relevant fees and taxes.

For info on fees and taxes, average property prices, pitfalls to avoid and other tips, read our essential guide to buying property in Ireland.

How to invest in an Irish business

Another popular option is to invest in an Irish business, through one of the following routes:

• Starting your own new business in Ireland
• Setting up an Irish branch or subsidiary of an existing overseas company
• Investing in an Irish company to become an owner or majority shareholder.

A good starting point is to look at initiatives and websites aimed at foreign investors, including IDA Ireland and Invest in Ireland.

Open a Wise Business account online

How to get advice on investing in Ireland

It’s always sensible to seek professional advice before investing, whether it’s an investment specialist to help you structure your portfolio or a tax adviser to give you information on UK and overseas tax obligations.

To find the right specialist, look for an accredited expert with expertise in the type of investment you’re interested in, with an understanding of the Irish market.

If you seek advice from an Irish financial advisor, first check that they are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

You should also check and compare the costs of receiving advice in advance.

Can I invest in Ireland and get residency?

Ireland used to have a scheme called the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP). This was a kind of Golden Visa scheme which granted residency to non-EEA nationals who made a qualifying investment in an Irish business, project, real estate investment trust or endowment.

However, the IIP closed to new applications in February 2023.⁸

The good news for UK nationals though is that they can move to Ireland anyway, without the need for a visa or to qualify for a residency or citizenship by investment scheme. This is because of the Common Travel Area (CTA) agreement between the UK and Ireland.

Key takeaways

• Ireland offers a highly competitive 12.5% corporate tax rate, acting as a primary incentive for foreign direct investment alongside seamless access to the EU single market.
• Foreign nationals face minimal restrictions when investing in Ireland, allowing UK citizens to freely buy stocks, acquire real estate, or directly purchase and establish local businesses.
• The Irish stock market is anchored by Euronext Dublin, with the ISEQ 20 serving as the main price index to track the 20 largest and most liquid companies listed on the exchange.
• UK online trading platforms provide easy access to Irish shares, though users must budget for foreign exchange markup fees ranging from 0.15% to 0.99% when converting GBP to EUR.
• There are no legal restrictions on foreign property ownership, meaning UK buyers can purchase residential or commercial real estate, though non-residents may face higher deposit requirements from Irish mortgage lenders.
• The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) closed in February 2023; however, UK nationals do not require an investment visa to live or work in Ireland due to the Common Travel Area agreement.

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Sources used:

1. Revenue - Corporation Tax (CT)
2. eToro - Fees and Charges
3. eToro - Conversion Fees
4. IG - Charges
5. Hargreaves Lansdown - Overseas share dealing
6. Trading 212 - Terms and fees
7. Interactive Investor - Fees & charges
8. KPMG - Ireland – Closure of Immigrant Investor Programme

Sources last checked: 28-Apr-2026