Ireland is increasingly becoming an attractive country for Americans wishing to work or retire here, with a 96% increase in the number of people coming from the US to live here last year.
Some 9,600 American nationals settled here in 2025, compared to 4,900 in the previous 12-month period.
Easing the path of Americans moving to Ireland is the immigration team at law firm Gibson & Associates, which has offices in Dublin and Donegal. The team, headed up by Sharon Shaw, provides strategic legal advice across all key areas of immigration and citizenship law. It supports individuals, families, entrepreneurs and investors navigating pathways to live, work, study, retire or establish businesses in Ireland.
The team’s remit spans employment permits, residency and visa applications, citizenship by descent and foreign birth registration, as well as specialist programmes such as the Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP). The firm also has long-standing experience advising high-net-worth individuals and families under the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP).
This programme was a government-approved initiative that allowed non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and their families to obtain Irish residency through qualifying investments in Ireland. While the programme closed to new applicants on February 15 2023, it remains relevant for ongoing and legacy cases, with limited opportunity for new applicants.
There are a number of reasons why Ireland is seen as a good place to work, study, open a business or retire. Gibson & Associates has seen a big uptake in people coming here, exploring their Irish heritage since 2016.
“That was due to Brexit and what was occuring in the US,” says Ms Shaw. “Heritage is a big part of what we deal with, establishing people’s citizenship through various forms, whether it be a direct passport due to an Irish parent or registration through a grandparent born in Ireland.”
Quality of life is another key draw with Ireland ranked the second most peaceful country in the world last year, according to the Global Peace Index.
Daireann Gibson, managing partner at Gibson & Associates, says the quality of life here is “very comparable to that of America. We certainly have a huge amount to offer in Ireland. One of the big issues at the moment is climate change and people seeking a more temperate climate option. We don’t have the extremes that they have in the US or other countries. So, believe it or not, our climate is a talking point in a positive way (among US nationals).”
Mr Gibson, who recently returned from a visit to New York, says the cost-of-living here “is no higher than it is in America. Regionally, in Ireland, it would probably be cheaper to the tune of 15% to 20%. Some of the bigger city environments in the US would be a lot more expensive than here.”
He says he encountered “a very different experience there than what is being presented in the news. Obviously, there’s a lot of talk at the moment about how divided things are and how challenging the environment is politically, but I really didn’t get a sense of that at all.”
Ireland continues to be a highly attractive destination for US entrepreneurs and investors. A business-friendly regulatory environment, a competitive corporate tax framework and strong government support for innovation and start-ups all contribute to its appeal.
Crucially, Ireland offers direct access to the EU Single Market, making it a strategic gateway for US businesses, seeking European expansion. Over the years, Gibson & Associates has advised extensively on investor-focused immigration routes. This includes business creation pathways under STEP. This experience allows the law firm to guide clients not only on immigration compliance but also on structuring investments that align with long-term commercial and residency objectives.
Mr Gibson says that the clients that his firm encounters are well-resourced. And this includes retirees. “They’re coming here very well supported by their own pensions and their own investments. In fairness to the government, they have strict criteria with regards to what resources and supports people have before they are granted retirement visas. They are more than capable of sustaining long-term residency in Ireland.”
Ireland suits highly skilled workers. The government has a list of the kinds of roles that can be filled by people moving here, including jobs in engineering, IT and the healthcare sector.
When it comes to Americans hoping to set up businesses in Ireland, there are criteria that have to be met.
“Once an applicant can satisfy the criteria, it’s quite a straightforward process to move either an existing business from the US or to set up a completely new business in Ireland,” says Ms Shaw.
She says that there is interest among immigrants from America in setting up enterprises here. “But in order to qualify for the relevant programme, they have to demonstrate that it’s a high-potential start-up. They have to demonstrate that they can create ten jobs within a specific period of time and that they can generate €1m in sales within a specific time as well. It’s not really designed for your shopkeeper wanting to buy a shop and operate it here.”
Having a European base is important for some US families moving here. “It can mean not only Irish citizenship but also access to freedom of movement throughout Europe.”
Our healthcare is perceived positively by Americans moving here.
“They’re certainly surprised at the cost of health insurance as they’re used to buying very high health premiums in the US. A lot of businesses will want to keep their American medical insurance in America in the event that they might want to travel back for treatment. Having an Irish health insurance policy is a requirement for Americans moving here.”
Mr Gibson says that the “whole immigration space” has come into focus here in the last two years. “Sometimes, the attention is focused on the negative. But we have to appreciate the positive side. Foreign-owned multinationals account for 84% of our corporation tax receipts. Over half of that is paid by ten companies. In order to function, these companies require significant levels of human resources. Obviously, they provide serious opportunities for Irish nationals and other people located in Ireland. We are not able to supply all of the labour domestically that the corporations require. We absolutely need the supply from other countries to keep the show on the road, in addition to supports such as the health services required for immigrants.
“It is important that discussion about immigration is balanced. While some government departments come in for criticism, I think they have got a whole lot right, particularly with regard to critical skills, permits and affordable opportunities for the Diaspora to reconnect with Ireland through the various citizenship programmes. Also, there’s the success of the IIP which we’d very much like to see return because it has been a fantastic programme that supported an incredible amount of projects that serve the public good.”
The IIP faced challenges and the Department of Justice brought it to an end. However, Gibson & Associates point out that through its work in the immigration area, it has seen firsthand some of the benefits of the programme. One such example is Termon GAA in Donegal, which received €1m through the IIP’s endowment programme.
This project is the result of the shared vision of Mr Gibson and the team at Termon GAA. It bore fruit from the initial idea and planning stages through to the development of the state-of-the-art clubhouse that stands today. This modern facility serves the entire community of An Tearmainn, hosting a range of community events.
Gibson & Associates say that immigration decisions are rarely just legal. “They are deeply personal and often intergenerational. Whether clients are motivated by heritage, opportunity, lifestyle or business expansion, having clear, trusted bespoke advice is critical. Ireland’s continued appeal to US nationals reflects its unique combination of opportunity, stability and connection. Our role is to help clients navigate that journey with clarity, confidence and care.”
Ireland’s relationship with the USA is historically strong and a good basis for cross-fertilisation. The US is a major goods exporter to Ireland but also Ireland’s top export destination. For America, Ireland is a strategic gateway to and a vital interlocutor with the other twenty-six member states of the European Union. Ireland is the sixth largest source of foreign direct investment into the United States. More than 200,000 people are employed by 770 Irish companies across all fifty States. More than 900 US-owned firms have their European headquarters in Ireland, providing 180,000 jobs.
