Europe’s Best Passport: How to Get an Irish Passport for Free

A second passport can be one of the most powerful tools in your Plan B strategy, opening doors to greater freedom, mobility and opportunity.

The world is a vast place offering many options, with European passports especially prized by global citizens for the access they grant to the 29 countries of the Schengen Zone.

Among these prized EU options, Ireland stands out – the Irish passport is a top-tier travel document that requires no donation, offers minimal tax exposure, and comes with exceptional lifestyle and mobility benefits.

According to the latest Nomad Passport Index, Ireland ranked number one in 2025 thanks to its extensive visa-free travel, strong personal and financial freedom, and friendly stance on dual citizenship.

Ireland citizens enjoy access to 176 destinations – either visa-free, through a visa on arrival or via an electronic visa – making this passport one of the most powerful in the world.

What truly sets Ireland apart, though, is its relationships around the world. Chief among these is its unique relationship with Britain, underpinned by the two countries’ historical Common Travel Agreement (CTA).

This longstanding and reciprocal agreement gives citizens of both countries the right to live and work freely in each other’s territories – an increasingly rare advantage in post-Brexit Europe.

Nomad Capitalist founder Andrew Henderson noted: ‘We’re seeing some of our own British clients asking about a soft landing, moving to Ireland where they don’t have to learn a new language, they don’t have to adapt that much culturally, they can enjoy the same weather, they are close to home and in the same time zone.’

For those hailing from places like New York, Boston, Toronto or Sydney, Ireland and Irish culture may feel more familiar than expected, thanks to the impact and far-reaching influence of Ireland’s global diaspora.  

Ireland’s Neutrality: A Passport Plus

The Irish passport is one of the most respected travel documents in the world. That reputation stems in part from the country’s neutral stance in international conflicts.

Its direct experience of colonialism and its decision not to join NATO or any other international military alliance – other than to supply peacekeeping troops to the UN – has earned it a reputation as an ‘honest broker’ in many parts of the world.

In an era of rising geopolitical tension, holding a passport from a neutral, non-confrontational country is a distinct advantage. 

In addition, its small size and adaptability work in its favour. The government tends to be pragmatic and responsive, particularly in economic matters, and that often results in tax-friendly policies for those who choose to live there.

Even if you don’t live there, carrying an Irish passport has its perks. Unlike citizens of major powers like the US or the UK, Irish passport holders rarely attract unwanted political attention aboard.

Ireland simply doesn’t have many enemies. So, if your goal is to travel or live globally, you’ll find few obstacles as an Irish citizen.

If you enjoy Europe, the benefits multiply. As an Irish passport holder, you have the freedom to live and work across the EU, giving you access to dozens of countries without the usual bureaucratic headaches.

As Nomad Capitalist’s Andrew Henderson points out: ‘For global reputation, quality of your passport, the Irish can pretty much go everywhere in the world. It is a superior passport to pretty much anything that’s out there.’

And the best part? There’s more than one way to get it.

Irish Citizenship by Descent

At Nomad Capitalist, we’ve talked about citizenship by descent for years.

You might have even heard about well-known figures going this route. For instance, talk show host Rosie O’Donnell is currently in the process of claiming her Irish citizenship, all thanks to her Irish grandparents. 

Generally, Ireland allows you to trace your ancestry back to grandparents (two generations), and sometimes even great-grandparents (three generations) in specific situations. So, like Rosie, if you have an Irish grandparent, this could be an avenue for you.

It can be daunting, but that’s exactly where we can lend a hand and make it smoother for you. 

This is an à la carte service we offer at Nomad Capitalist. We can help you get a passport by descent in Ireland or any number of European and Latin American countries. 

​​If you’re curious to see if you might be eligible, you can find out more here. 

The process is relatively quick, currently taking around 30 months due to increased demand. 

It’s also wise to keep in mind that you do not need to live in Ireland.

If you can, it makes sense to take advantage of any ancestry passport you can get, whether from Ireland or elsewhere. 

However, if you do not qualify for citizenship by descent, you can still move to Ireland and get citizenship more quickly than in most European countries. 

It can be done on a tax-friendly basis, and for most people, it will be a soft landing.

But what really makes Ireland work is that, number one, you, as a non-EU, non-EEA citizen, can go to Ireland and start a tax-friendly business.

Ireland Residency Routes: Entrepreneur Visa

You might recall that Ireland, like some other countries, used to have an investment migration program where you could gain residency by investing a significant sum, around €1 million. 

However, the Start-up Entrepreneur Program (STEP) allows non-EEA nationals with an innovative business proposal and funding of at least €50,000 to come and set up in Ireland.

If you have no other option to move there and you don’t have an Irish spouse, you can start a business there. 

The great thing is, this doesn’t mean you need to move your entire existing business lock, stock and barrel. It could be a new Irish company that, for example, provides specific services back to your main business elsewhere. 

You’d typically look to hire a small team locally, which can include employing yourself.

Naturally, Ireland is looking for businesses with potential, often in tech or other innovative sectors. A well-thought-out, solid business plan is key here – showing how your venture will be viable and contribute.

You could provide specific services to your global company through an Irish company and get a residence permit in exchange for doing so. 

You don’t have to invest a lot of money, and depending on how your business is run, there may be some tax benefits to that.

Successful applicants for the STEP program and their immediate families are granted an initial two years of residence that can be renewed for three more years. 

After five years of residence, participants under the program will be eligible for long-term residence in the country, leading to citizenship. 

Benefits of Ireland’s Entrepreneur Visa

• A business-friendly country with incentives for research and innovation companies and an ideal start-up base
• A convenient and accessible residence visa option that requires minimal investment 
• Travel benefits, including free movement around the EU and the United Kingdom
• EU residency rights to education and a world-class healthcare system 
• Comprehensive tax treaties with 72 nations, including the US and EU, and a low corporate tax rate of 12.5% 
• Your spouse and dependents can be included. 

How to Pay Lower Taxes in Ireland

If you set up your company in Ireland, one of the first things you’ll do is arrange to pay yourself a salary. It’s good to know that for most smaller businesses, Ireland has a very competitive corporate profit tax of 12.5%.

Now, if your Irish company is part of a larger global business, how you structure things can be quite clever. For example, the Irish entity might provide services to your main company, and it might not show a massive profit itself. 

In that scenario, the 12.5% tax would be on that smaller profit, and then, of course, you’d pay income tax on your salary drawn from the Irish company.

Ireland’s taxes on salaries go up to 40%. It’s not cheap. 

But, let’s say you’re paying yourself a €100,000 a year salary that satisfies the conditions for entry into Ireland.

You can hire at market-level salaries, which, while more expensive than other countries like Colombia, Thailand, Georgia and Serbia, are still good value. 

Ireland will cost you more, particularly in Dublin, but you have access to an international talent pool. 

You’re probably looking at around €35,000 in annual tax. 

By moving to Ireland, you can go to a tax treaty country where your overall taxes will drop dramatically. 

The bottom line is that in Ireland, you open your company, pay yourself a salary, hire other people, and build it into your global structure.

You’ll pay some tax, but in the context of your overall wealth, it will have a low effective tax rate.  

By spending most of your time in Ireland, you will be an Irish taxpayer. 

Of course, if you have an Irish spouse or a spouse with another European citizenship, they could move to Ireland and bring you along with them. 

In that case, you wouldn’t need immigration permission from the business. 

If you did it that way, the tax program could potentially allow you to pay as little as zero in tax. 

Whether you start a company and pay a little tax for residence or get it through a European spouse, you can then avail yourself of the Irish non-dom tax system.

Ireland’s Low-Tax Non-Dom Program

You might have heard that the UK is making changes and phasing out its well-known ‘non-dom‘ tax program. The good news for those seeking similar benefits is that Ireland continues to offer its own attractive version, and it’s definitely worth understanding.

​​In a nutshell, non-dom means that if you qualify, any money you earn from overseas sources isn’t taxed in Ireland unless you bring it into the country. This is often called the ‘remittance basis’ of taxation.

To be classified as a non-domiciled individual, you need to be a tax resident of Ireland and spend 183 days or more there. 

To be non-domiciled in Ireland, you can live in the country but must demonstrate you do intend to return to your original country. 

Under the scheme, you pay no tax on your overseas income unless remitted into Ireland. You only pay tax on your Irish-sourced income. 

Your company salary is an Irish source salary, so you’ll pay tax on it if you need company formation to enter the country. 

Again, if you need to move money into your company to pay salaries, you will pay 12.5% tax on any excess. 

But if your business runs somewhere else and you don’t need to live in Ireland on that money, then that money can stay overseas.

In addition, you can also appoint a bank account that you had before you moved to Ireland and say, ‘Hey, here’s a pot of money that I had before I came here.’ 

You can remit that money tax-free because you had it before you moved. 

Now, you need to have a separate account for that.

This is not professional tax advice. We’re not going to get too detailed. But let’s say you have a few million dollars sitting around. You can remit that money because you had it before you moved to Ireland. 

Andrew Henderson has told us for years ‘that the delta between what you have to live on and how much you earn is important in a non-dom program’.

The more money you have accumulated already, the more money you could remit tax-free and use to buy a house and pay your living expenses.

Cyprus also has a non-dom program. 

Irish Passport for Free: FAQs

Convenient, Tax-Friendly Irish Citizenship

If you’re American, Canadian, Australian or from elsewhere and you’re looking for a relatively fast path to citizenship without making a donation, then Ireland’s business-friendly route to naturalisation in just five years is worth serious consideration.

Yes, its tax system is a bit more complicated than that of traditional tax havens where solutions can be implemented more quickly and simply. But Ireland isn’t a tax haven – it’s a fully-fledged member of the EU.

It’s more work on the tax side than moving to Panama, Malaysia or somewhere in the Gulf, where it’s easier to reduce taxes but much harder, if not downright impossible, to get a passport.

So, with an Irish passport, the trade-off is clear: you gain one of the world’s top-tier passports without the hefty investment costs required elsewhere.

And that tax bill can be reduced if you strategically plan your move. If you set up a business on the Emerald Isle, you can significantly reduce your tax burden. Similarly, if you have pre-existing wealth to draw on during your five-year residency, your taxable income could be limited to just what you pay yourself in salary.

Unlike many tax-friendly jurisdictions, Ireland offers a reasonably short naturalisation timeline and there’s no language requirement.

For many, the appeal is clear: Ireland offers a soft landing in a country that’s culturally familiar, appealing, English-speaking and globally respected – that’s before you consider the long-term benefit of an elite passport.

So, if you’re looking for freedom mobility, and a Smart Plan B, Ireland might just be your best next move.

At Nomad Capitalist, we’ve helped clients relocate move to over 31 different tax-friendly countries, secure second passports by descent, and navigate naturalisation in the places that best align with their goals.

Whether you’re pursuing Europe’s best passport at little-to-no cost, exploring golden visa options, or charting a path somewhere entirely different, we’re here to help. Get in touch to start building your global strategy.