Ireland Unclear on Total Residency Permits Granted Through Golden Visa Program

Key Highlights

1. The Irish government cannot confirm how many residency permits were issued under the now-defunct Golden Visa Program.

2. Despite its termination in 2023, 83 applications are still undergoing processing.

3. The continued handling of applications post-termination has raised concerns and criticism.

Ireland Lacks Transparency on Residency Permits Issued Under Golden Visa Scheme

The Irish government has acknowledged that it does not have a clear record of how many residency permits were granted through its Golden Visa Program, formally known as the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), which was discontinued in 2023.

According to a report by RTÉ, the Department of Justice—the body responsible for overseeing the program—confirmed that 2,472 project applications were approved since the scheme's inception in 2012. However, the Department does not maintain statistics that show how many individuals were ultimately granted residency as a result.

"Statistics are not maintained in such a way as to provide the information on all IIP residence permissions granted."
– Irish Department of Justice

Golden Visa Program Brought Billions Before Being Abolished

The IIP offered residency to high-net-worth individuals in exchange for investments in Irish projects. Successful applicants gained the right to live, work, study, or establish businesses in Ireland.

Despite generating over €1.17 billion in investments, the program was officially terminated in February 2023 by then-Minister for Justice Simon Harris. The decision followed a long-running review and concerns over potential abuse of the scheme, including allegations of money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption.

Top participants in the program included nationals from China and the United States, with additional interest from Vietnam, Taiwan, South Africa, and Vanuatu.

83 Applications Still Being Processed Post-Closure

Despite the program's closure, the Department of Justice confirmed that 83 applications are still being processed. This ongoing activity has drawn criticism, with some calling for a complete halt to all post-closure application handling.

Former Member of the European Parliament Sophie in ’t Veld voiced strong objections, stating that no applications submitted after the scheme’s termination should be processed. Nonetheless, the Department has clarified that some applications were received during the short window allowed between the announcement and final closure of the program.

During this period, over 140 new project proposals were submitted. Many were later deemed ineligible due to the absence of a valid investor application or because they fell outside the scope of the program.

The handling of these post-closure applications remains a topic of debate within Irish political and legal circles.