Best Citizenship by Investment Lawyers in Carrigaline

About Citizenship by Investment Law in Carrigaline, Ireland

People living in Carrigaline and across Ireland sometimes search for citizenship by investment. Ireland does not offer citizenship by investment. There is no legal route that grants Irish citizenship in exchange for a donation, a real estate purchase, or a set investment. Irish citizenship is normally obtained by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation after a period of lawful residence. Ireland formerly operated the Immigrant Investor Programme, often called the IIP, but the Government closed the programme to new applications in February 2023. The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme remains in place for qualifying founders, but it does not provide direct citizenship. Any pathway to citizenship involves residence, good character, and compliance with the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts.

If you live in Carrigaline and are considering investment or business activity as part of a long term immigration plan, legal advice can help you align your plans with the actual Irish rules. Your location in Carrigaline does not change the national framework, but it will affect practical steps such as local immigration registration, access to courts, and use of local professional services in County Cork.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

People exploring citizenship by investment options often need a lawyer because the phrase can be misleading in Ireland. A solicitor can explain what is and is not possible, assess eligibility for residence and eventual naturalisation, and reduce the risk of costly mistakes.

Common situations where legal help is valuable include clarifying that Ireland has no citizenship by investment route, structuring a compliant move to Ireland through an existing immigration permission such as employment, family, study, or start-up routes, confirming whether time spent in Ireland will count as reckonable residence for a future citizenship application, addressing gaps in residence or past visa overstays, preparing a naturalisation application and ensuring you meet residence, good character, and supporting evidence requirements, advising founders and investors on the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme, corporate set-up, and source of funds documentation, guiding family reunification for spouses, civil partners, and dependent children, responding to refusals, including statutory review in some categories or judicial review before the High Court where appropriate, and avoiding scams and unregulated offers that claim to sell Irish citizenship or EU passports.

Local Laws Overview

The core legal framework is national and applies in Carrigaline as it does throughout Ireland.

Citizenship law. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts set the requirements for naturalisation. In general, an adult applicant needs five years of reckonable residence in the past nine years, including one year of continuous residence immediately before applying, to be of good character, to intend to reside in Ireland after naturalisation, and to make a declaration of fidelity and loyalty at a citizenship ceremony.

Investment and immigration. There is no citizenship by investment. The Immigrant Investor Programme closed to new applications in 2023. The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme allows qualifying founders with an innovative business and minimum funding to seek residence, not direct citizenship. Other immigration routes include employment permits, intra company transfers, study, research, and family permissions. Permission types are evidenced by stamps in your passport, such as Stamp 1 for employment, Stamp 2 for students, Stamp 3 for dependants without work, Stamp 4 for long term residence without work permit requirements, and Stamp 0 for limited, self sufficient stays. Each stamp type has specific conditions.

Reckonable residence. Not all permission types count fully toward naturalisation. Time on certain stamps may be non reckonable or only partly reckonable. Periods outside Ireland and immigration breaches can interrupt the residence clock. Accurate calculation is critical before you apply.

Compliance and due diligence. Irish law includes strict anti money laundering and counter terrorist financing rules. Solicitors, banks, and investment providers must verify identity and the lawful source of funds. Tax compliance and clear financial records are important if your route involves investment or business activity.

Procedures in County Cork. Individuals living in Carrigaline typically register immigration permissions with the local Garda immigration office serving County Cork if registration is required for their stamp. Naturalisation applications are processed nationally by the Department of Justice. Citizenship ceremonies are scheduled at various locations in Ireland. Court challenges, if any, are usually brought in the High Court, which sits in Dublin and on circuit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ireland offer citizenship by investment

No. Ireland does not grant citizenship in return for an investment, donation, or real estate purchase. Any path to Irish citizenship requires meeting the naturalisation criteria, most notably sufficient reckonable residence and good character.

What happened to the Immigrant Investor Programme

The Immigrant Investor Programme closed to new applications in February 2023. Existing approved projects continue under their terms, but the programme cannot be used as a new entry route. It did not grant direct citizenship in any case.

Can investing in a business in Carrigaline help me get Irish citizenship

Investment alone will not lead directly to citizenship. If you qualify for a lawful residence permission, such as under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme or an employment based route, time spent living in Ireland on a reckonable permission may count toward naturalisation. You still need to meet all statutory criteria.

How long do I need to live in Ireland before I can apply for citizenship

Most adult applicants need five years of reckonable residence in the nine years before applying, including one year of continuous residence immediately before the application. Some residence types are not reckonable. Legal advice can help calculate your specific position.

Does buying property in Ireland count toward citizenship

No. Buying a home or other property does not confer any immigration status or citizenship. You still need an appropriate immigration permission to live in Ireland and to build up reckonable residence for naturalisation.

What is the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme

It is a residence route for founders of innovative, high potential start ups who can demonstrate a viable business plan and minimum funding. It does not provide direct citizenship, but lawful residence under the programme may be reckonable toward naturalisation if other criteria are met.

What is Stamp 4 and how does it relate to citizenship

Stamp 4 is a permission that allows you to live and work in Ireland without an employment permit. It does not itself grant citizenship. Time on Stamp 4 is generally reckonable for naturalisation, subject to the statutory rules and your individual history.

Can my family join me if I move to Ireland

Family reunification depends on your permission type, your relationship, and financial and accommodation criteria. Spouses, civil partners, and dependent children often have routes to join. The time family members spend in Ireland may be reckonable toward their own naturalisation, depending on their stamp.

How do I avoid scams that promise Irish citizenship by investment

Be cautious of anyone offering to sell an Irish passport or citizenship. Verify information on the Department of Justice site, work with a regulated Irish solicitor, and ensure any investment or immigration service provider is reputable and transparent about what Irish law actually allows.

If my naturalisation application is refused, can I challenge it

Some decisions can be reconsidered or reviewed. In certain circumstances, applicants pursue judicial review in the High Court. A solicitor can evaluate the refusal reasons, your evidence, and the best next step.

Additional Resources

Immigration Service Delivery of the Department of Justice for official immigration and naturalisation guidance and forms.

Citizens Information for plain English summaries of Irish immigration and citizenship processes.

Law Society of Ireland for finding a regulated solicitor experienced in immigration and citizenship.

Garda National Immigration Bureau and local Garda immigration offices for registration of immigration permissions outside Dublin.

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for information on start up and business immigration supports.

Office of the Revenue Commissioners for tax residence rules and compliance considerations when relocating to Ireland.

Next Steps

Confirm your goal. If your aim is Irish citizenship, note that there is no citizenship by investment in Ireland. Plan a lawful residence route that could lead to naturalisation in the future.

Assess eligibility. Review possible permissions such as an employment permit, the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme, research or study, or family based routes. Consider how each route affects reckonable residence.

Speak to a solicitor. Engage an Irish immigration solicitor familiar with naturalisation and with business or investment issues. A local practitioner in County Cork can assist with practical steps near Carrigaline and represent you if any appeals arise.

Prepare documentation. Gather passports, birth and marriage records, police clearances, evidence of lawful residence and entry, tax records, bank statements, and clear source of funds documents if investment or start up activity is involved.

Register and comply. If your permission requires registration, arrange it with the local Garda immigration office serving County Cork. Keep your permission valid, track travel days, and maintain a clean compliance record.

Plan for naturalisation. Once you approach the residence thresholds, review your reckonable residence carefully, address any gaps, and prepare a strong application with character references and supporting evidence.

Stay informed. Immigration policies can change. Rely on official updates and advice from regulated professionals, and avoid unverified claims about citizenship by investment.