Northern Europe · Immigration

Ireland

120 immigration routes

Ireland sits in Northern Europe. Its immigration system runs 120 distinct routes — led by free movement, family and work, each set out in official law. All 120 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

1 further route is recorded for Ireland but not shown here — its details are still under review.

Immigration routes
120across 18 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
120 of 120cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Free movement20 of the 120 routes — see them under Free movement below
Region
Northern Europe
Capital
Dublin
Population
5,484,367
Official language
English, Irish
Currency
EUR
Time zone
UTC
Source-cited pathways

Immigration routes

All 120 routes, grouped by purpose — 120 of 120 cite an official government source directly.

Work

from €36,605
13 routes

Employment in an eligible occupation under a General Employment Permit

Savings from €36,605
Eligibility: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 3
Official government source: enterprise.gov.ie · checked 2026-07-27

Return to lawful employment for an eligible foreign national who fell out of the employment-permit system through no fault of their own

Eligibility: 2Report facts: 2
Official government source: enterprise.gov.ie · checked 2026-07-27

Investment

1 route

Business & self-employment

2 routes

Talent & merit

from €40,904
3 routes

Study

13 routes

Family

19 routes

Independent means

from €50,000/yr
3 routes

Residence-based status

5 routes

Free movement

20 routes

Residence in Ireland as an enrolled EU/EEA/Swiss student with sufficient resources and insurance

Eligibility: 3Documents: 1
Official government source: irishimmigration.ie · checked 2026-07-27

Residence in Ireland while exercising EU free-movement rights as a worker

Eligibility: 2Report facts: 1
Official government source: irishimmigration.ie · checked 2026-07-27

Youth mobility

from €1,500
11 routes

Extended holiday in Ireland funded through temporary work for an eligible young national of Andorra

Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 3
Official government source: ireland.ie · checked 2026-08-10

Extended holiday in Ireland funded through temporary work for an eligible young national of Argentina

Savings from €1,500
Eligibility: 3Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 4
Official government source: ireland.ie · checked 2026-08-10

Extended holiday in Ireland funded through temporary work for an eligible young national of Canada

Eligibility: 3Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 3
Official government source: ireland.ie · checked 2026-08-10

Extended holiday in Ireland funded through temporary work for an eligible young national of Japan

Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 3
Official government source: ireland.ie · checked 2026-07-27

Cultural, religious & volunteer

4 routes

Short stay & visit

10 routes

Humanitarian protection

7 routes

Ancestry & return

1 route

Medical treatment

1 route

Sports

3 routes

Transit

1 route

Other & special

3 routes

Official sources

Compiled by António Mira, founder · How we verify our data · Not legal advice — immigration rules and thresholds change; confirm with the official sources above before deciding.

See which Ireland routes you actually qualify for.

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