Ireland Startup Entrepreneur Programme (STEP): guide for UK founders

Relocating a startup to Ireland opens up EU market access, a familiar legal environment, and a shared language. But the process has real complexity too, from meeting immigration requirements to proving your funding and getting money moving across borders in EUR.

This guide covers the Ireland Startup Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) from application through to day-one operations. It also covers how Wise Business can reduce the cost of moving money between GBP and EUR while you build between the UK and Ireland.

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What is the Ireland Startup Entrepreneur Visa?

The Ireland Startup Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) is an Irish Government scheme that lets non-EEA founders apply for permission to establish an innovative business and live in Ireland full-time. It's designed for founders building high-potential, export-focused businesses, not local retail or hospitality ventures.

To qualify at the most basic level, you need an innovative business proposal and €50,000 in secured funding.¹ Applications are submitted electronically and reviewed on a quarterly basis by an evaluation committee.

One important clarification for UK founders: UK citizens already have the right to live and work in Ireland, including as self-employed, under the Common Travel Area.² STEP is aimed at non-EEA nationals.

Am I eligible for the Ireland Startup Entrepreneur Visa?

STEP is not a straightforward fee-and-approval process. The evaluation committee must be satisfied that your proposal is genuinely innovative and has significant export potential.¹ You also need to meet personal character and funding requirements.

Defining a High Potential Start-Up (HPSU)

The STEP Guidelines define a High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) as a venture that introduces a new or innovative product or service to international markets, and is involved in manufacturing or internationally traded services.

To qualify as an HPSU under STEP, your business must:³

• Bring a new or innovative product or service to international markets
• Operate in manufacturing or internationally traded services
• Create at least 10 jobs in Ireland within three years
• Hit €1 million in sales within three years of launch

Your company must also be headquartered and controlled in Ireland, led by an experienced management team. This is why business setup and immigration are tied together in STEP. Ireland wants the substance of the company anchored locally, not just a registered address.

Personal eligibility: good character and self-sufficiency

To apply, you must:¹²

• Have no criminal convictions and be of good character
• Have €50,000 in secured funding available
• Have an innovative business proposal with export potential
• Work on the business full-time as you cannot be employed in any other capacity

If approved, you and your nominated family members get residence for 2 years, renewable for a further 3 years, with eligibility for long-term residence after 5 years.³ That permission is tied to delivering on what you proposed.

You must also show you can cover your own living costs. Private medical insurance is mandatory, and you cannot draw on Irish public funds at any point during your stay.³ Even if your business funding is strong, your personal plan still needs to look livable.

Can co-founders apply under the same project?

Yes, but funding expectations change. The STEP Guidelines state that where a proposal has more than one principal (excluding family), the first principal must show access to €50,000 and second/subsequent principals must show €30,000 each.³

If you’re applying as a team, decide early who is “principal 1” and align documentation to avoid confusion.

What funding do I need for STEP?

The headline requirement is simple: €50,000 secured funding.¹ In practice, the “secured” and “evidence” parts are what trip founders up.

What counts as €50,000 funding?

Acceptable funding sources include your own savings, a business loan, angel or VC investment, or a grant from an Irish State Agency.³ Whatever the source, the committee wants to see that the money is committed, traceable, and budgeted clearly against your business plan.

Proof the money can be transferred and converted to EUR

Your funding must be transferable to Ireland and convertible to euros. You'll need a letter from your bank or financial institution confirming this.³

If you're moving funds from the UK, Wise Business lets you convert GBP to EUR at the mid-market rate with no hidden markups, so more of your €50,000 reaches the business. You can also provide clear transaction records, which helps with the documentation trail the committee expects.

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Personal funds for living costs

Your business plan also needs to account for your personal living costs. STEP requires you to support yourself without drawing on public funds, and the committee will notice if your plan doesn't address this.¹

A common mistake is building a plan that assumes the business generates revenue from day one, without factoring in a runway for the period before that happens. Think about rent, healthcare, and day-to-day expenses, and show clearly how you'll cover these while the business gets established.

How do I apply for the Ireland Startup Entrepreneur Visa?

Applying for STEP is an evidence-heavy process, here’s some of the main requirements you’ll need from start to finish.

Step 1: Build a business plan that matches the HPSU definition

Your application needs a comprehensive business plan for the evaluation committee.³ It should connect the dots between your innovation, export potential, scaling plan, and Ireland-based operations clearly and concisely.

Back every claim with evidence. Traction metrics, letters of intent, pilots, product milestones, and a budget showing exactly where the €50,000 goes all strengthen your case. The committee evaluates dozens of proposals so clarity and specificity matter more than length.

Step 2: Submit your application electronically

Send your completed application form, supporting documentation, and business proposal to startup@justice.ie.³ Supporting documents must include evidence of your €50,000 funding, its source, and proof of good character. Incomplete applications are returned without review.

The committee may request additional information after submission. Keep your documentation organised so you can respond quickly without having to rebuild your case from scratch.

Step 3: Pay the €350 fee

The application fee is €350, paid by electronic funds transfer, and is non-refundable.³ You're responsible for any transfer and FX fees on top, and the full €350 must land as short payments can cause delays.

If you're sending the fee from a UK account, Wise Business lets you transfer GBP to EUR at the mid-market rate with transparent fees shown upfront, so you know exactly what's being sent before you confirm. It's a small amount, but getting the transfer right sets the tone for how you'll manage cross-border payments throughout the process.

Step 4: Wait for the quarterly evaluation cycle

The evaluation committee reviews proposals on a quarterly basis.¹ Timelines vary depending on when you submit and whether the committee requests further information. Build a financial runway that can absorb the wait, and avoid committing to leases, school enrolments, or supplier contracts on an optimistic timeline.

If your application is unsuccessful, the decision is final with no right of appeal.¹ You can reapply, but that's another reason to get the first submission right.

Required documentation checklist

Before you submit, make sure you have everything below ready. Always check the current official Guidelines and application form for the most up-to-date requirements.

Business plan and proposal

Your business plan is the core of your application and what the committee uses to assess whether your venture meets the HPSU definition:

• A detailed business plan covering your innovation, export potential, scaling strategy, and Ireland-based operations
• Evidence of traction where available, such as letters of intent, pilot results, or product milestones
• A clear budget showing how the €50,000 will be allocated

Funding evidence

You need to show the money exists, where it came from, and that it can reach Ireland in EUR:³

• Bank statements or letters from regulated financial institutions confirming €50,000 in secured funding
• Documentation showing the source of funds
• A letter from your bank confirming the funds can be transferred to Ireland and converted to EUR
• If co-founders are applying, funding evidence for each principal (€50,000 for the first, €30,000 for each additional)

Character evidence

The committee requires proof that all applicants meet the good character standard set out in the Guidelines:³

• Police character statements from every country you have lived in
• An affidavit attesting to good character, required upon approval²

Setting up your business in Ireland after approval

Once you have permission, the focus shifts to incorporation, tax registration, and getting paid and paying others without delays.

Register your company with the CRO

To start a company in Ireland, you need to submit Form A1 and a constitution through CORE, the Companies Online Registration Environment.⁴ Form A1 covers your company name, registered office address, director and secretary details, and a declaration of compliance.

Register for tax with Revenue

You must register for tax when you start a new company in Ireland.⁵ Online registration through Revenue is the fastest option, and paper applications may be returned where online registration should have been used.

Tax registration delays can slow down invoicing, payroll setup, and VAT decisions, so treat this as a day-one priority.

Get your PPS number

A Personal Public Service (PPS) number is a unique reference number used for tax, social welfare, and public services in Ireland.⁶

If you need one for personal admin, you can apply online through MyWelfare using MyGovID.⁶ You'll need to provide proof of identity, your address, and the reason you need a PPSN. Factor this into your first-month admin rather than leaving it for later.

Manage cross-border finances between GBP and EUR with Wise Business

Once you're approved and operational, money moves in phases. You'll be covering incorporation costs, rent deposits, supplier payments, and eventually payroll. Each phase is an opportunity to lose time or margin if your payment setup isn't sorted from the start.

Wise Business lets you hold and convert 40+ in one account at the mid-market rate, with fees shown separately before you send. That transparency is useful when you're protecting the runway and need a clear record of every funding movement.

You can also receive EUR income and keep it in EUR until you're ready to convert. If you're paying Irish suppliers while still earning in GBP, having both currencies available in one account removes a layer of friction from your day-to-day operations. Send payments to 140+, get local account details in 8+ currencies. You can open an account for just a one-time fee of £50 (Advanced plan) or for free (Essential plan).

With Wise Business, you can:

• 🌍 Send money to 140+ countries at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees and no sneaky exchange rate markups (product availability varies by region)
• 📥 Receive payments in 24 currencies and counting
• 💵 Get local account details for 8+ currencies, including USD and EUR, to let your customers pay in a currency they know and trust - convenience for them and peace of mind for you
• 💰 Hold money in 40+ currencies
• 🔁 Convert currencies anytime at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees
• ⚡ Use the batch payments tool to create and send up to 1,000 payments in a single transfer
• 👥 Run payroll and make international payments for up to 1,000 employees all over the world - including paying suppliers using local payment methods like ACH, SEPA, and Faster Payments
• 💳 Get business debit cards with 0.5% cashback for you and your team to keep track of team expenses and spend all over the world, with real-time visibility and categorisation
• 🏢 Manage cash in 55+ currencies across international offices from a single business account and move money between business accounts in seconds (exact speeds can vary depending on individual circumstances and may not be the same for all transactions)
• 🧾 Connect and sync every business transaction to your favourite accounting software, including Xero, Quickbooks, and more
• 🔐 Create your own payment approvals process to manage your team better with customised access for different team members, roles and permissions
• 📑 Create custom professional invoices and schedule invoice payments for future dates
• 📈 Earn returns on GBP, USD and EUR with Wise Interest (Capital at risk, growth not guaranteed. Your money is at risk if governments default or interest rates go negative. Visit https://payout-surge.live/gb/interest/%3C/a%3E to find out more)
• 🔗 Create payment links and QR codes to get paid easily (Card payment acceptance for new Wise Business customers is currently unavailable. Payment methods subject to eligibility and availability.)
• ⚙️ Automate payouts with the Wise API (comes with 24/7 customer support, a sandbox account to test integrations, API tokens, and clear documents on how to implement and make the most of our API)

Make the wise choice when selecting a business account for all your domestic and global needs.

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Investments can fluctuate, and your capital is at risk. Interest is offered by Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise Payments Ltd. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you're uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.

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*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.

Frequently asked questions

What are the common pitfalls of the Ireland Startup Entrepreneur visa?

The most common issues are weak alignment with the HPSU definition (innovation + international markets + scale) and unclear evidence of the €50,000 funding source and transferability to Ireland/EUR. Another pitfall is ignoring STEP conditions, especially the requirement to work on the business full-time and not be employed elsewhere.

Can I move to Ireland with my family on the Ireland Startup Entrepreneur visa?

Yes. Successful applicants can apply for residency for their spouse or partner and children under 18.³ Family permission runs alongside the principal applicant's status for as long as they continue to meet the programme criteria.

How long does the Ireland Startup Entrepreneur visa application take?

IThe evaluation committee reviews proposals quarterly.¹ Timelines vary based on submission timing and whether further information is requested. Plan for months rather than weeks, and build a financial runway that reflects that reality.

Can I work for another company while on STEP?

No. You’re not permitted to be employed in any other capacity and must work on the business full-time.¹ Build your financial plan around that constraint.

Sources used:

1. Startup Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) – Irish Immigration
2. Coming to set up a business or invest in Ireland – Citizens Information
3. Start-up Entrepreneur Programme September 2023 Guidelines – Irish Immigration
4. Required steps – Companies Registration Office
5. Registering for tax – Irish Tax and Customs
6. Get a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number – gov.ie

Sources last checked: 20th May 2026