Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) vs Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Lower capital: Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) (500,000 USD) vs 1,090,000 for Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP).
Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) Ireland · investment | Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) Portugal · investment | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Ireland | Portugal |
| Category | Investment | Investment |
| Application Fee | $1,500 | $5,400 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | $1,090,000 | $500,000 |
| Processing Time | 6 months | 6 months |
| Family Included | Spouse and dependent children were included under the programme when it was active | No additional investment required for dependent family members |
| Path to PR | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 5 years |
| Physical Presence | No minimum physical presence requirement was imposed under this programme — one day's presence in Ireland per year was sufficient to maintain the permission. | Only 7 days per year in the first year, and 14 days per every subsequent 2-year period |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Allowed |
| Tax Impact | Ireland's tax residency rules apply based on physical presence (183 days in a year, or 280 days across two years). Since the programme imposed no minimum presence requirement, many holders did not become Irish tax residents. | Minimal physical presence means most holders do not trigger Portuguese tax residency; those who do may qualify for NHR status |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | — | $2,700 |
About Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP)
IMPORTANT: The Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was officially suspended on 15 February 2023 and is no longer accepting new applications. When it was active, the programme offered Stamp 4 residence permission to non-EEA nationals making a minimum qualifying investment of €1 million in an Irish enterprise, Irish government bonds, a real estate investment trust, or a qualifying endowment. No replacement programme had been announced as of mid-2024.
Full Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) profile →About Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)
Portugal's Golden Visa (Autorização de Residência para Investimento) grants residency through qualifying investment, with a minimal physical presence requirement of just 7 days per year. As of 2024, real estate investment is no longer eligible; qualifying routes include fund subscriptions, capital transfers, and job creation.
Full Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP)
- ⚠CLOSED TO NEW APPLICATIONS since 15 February 2023
- ⚠Irish government cited concerns over anti-money-laundering and due diligence as closure reasons
- ⚠No direct replacement programme — Ireland does not currently have a residency-by-investment path
- ⚠Alternative routes: Critical Skills Employment Permit, Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)
- ⚠Real estate investment no longer qualifies as of October 2023 reform
- ⚠AIMA backlog means residence card issuance currently takes 1-2+ years
- ⚠Investment must be maintained for minimum 5 years (citizenship eligibility window)
- ⚠IFICI tax regime generally does not apply to passive investors
- ⚠Source-of-funds AML documentation is strictest among EU Golden Visas
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.