Ireland’s Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) provides a pathway to Irish residency for non-EEA nationals who make qualifying investments in Ireland. The application process is documentation-intensive, and many of the required documents need to be notarised. This guide outlines what needs notarisation and how to prepare.
About the IIP
The Immigrant Investor Programme is managed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS). It offers residency permission to investors and their families in exchange for qualifying investments in the Irish economy. Investment options have included:
- Enterprise investment: Minimum €1 million in an Irish enterprise
- Investment fund: Minimum €1 million in an approved investment fund
- Real Estate Investment Trust: Minimum €2 million investment
- Endowment: Minimum €500,000 philanthropic donation
Note: Programme details and investment thresholds are subject to change. Always check the current requirements with INIS.
Documents That Typically Need Notarisation
Personal Documents
- Passport copies
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Police clearance certificates from countries of residence
- Medical reports
Financial Documents
- Source of funds documentation (showing the legitimate origin of the investment funds)
- Net worth statement (certified by an accountant, then notarised)
- Bank references and statements
- Business ownership documents
- Tax clearance certificates from countries of residence
Investment Documents
- Investment proposal or business plan
- Evidence of the proposed investment
- Supporting letters from the investment recipient
Source of Funds
The source of funds requirement is particularly important. Applicants must demonstrate the legitimate origin of their investment funds through:
- Business ownership and profits documentation
- Employment income records
- Property sale proceeds
- Inheritance documentation
- Gift documentation (with the donor’s source of funds)
All source of funds documents from foreign jurisdictions typically need notarisation and apostille (or legalisation).
The Notarisation Process
- Gather all documents as specified by the IIP application requirements
- Have foreign-language documents translated by certified translators
- Book a notary appointment, bringing all originals, translations, and your passport
- The notary will certify copies and prepare notarial certificates
- Obtain apostilles from the DFA for each notarised document
Working with Foreign Documents
Many IIP applicants have documents from multiple countries. For documents originating abroad:
- Have them notarised and apostilled (or legalised) in their country of origin
- Obtain certified translations into English
- An Irish notary can then certify the apostilled and translated documents if further authentication is needed
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents need notarising for the IIP?
Source of funds evidence, net worth statements, bank references, police clearance, medical reports, personal documents, and investment documentation.
What is the Immigrant Investor Programme?
An Irish government programme providing residency to non-EEA nationals who make qualifying investments in Ireland.
Do all IIP documents need to be in English?
Non-English documents must have certified translations. Original documents should be notarised in their original language.
Can I use the same notary for all my IIP documents?
Yes, and it is often more efficient to do so for consistency.
Professional Assistance
Hugh Phelan, Solicitor and Notary Public, practises from East Douglas Street, Douglas, Cork. He assists IIP applicants with document notarisation and authentication.
Contact: 021-489-7134 or info@phelansolicitors.com.
Need IIP Documents Notarised?
Hugh Phelan is a Solicitor & Notary Public appointed by the Chief Justice of Ireland.
Notary Public Cork — Book Now📞 +353-21-489-7134 · East Douglas Street, Douglas, Cork