Ireland is a major EU base for international payments, e-money and fintech firms, and one of Europe's largest centres for investment funds and fund administration. The Central Bank of Ireland supervises most financial firms, with the ECB granting bank licences.
Risk flagStandard
FATFNot listed
EU AML high-risk listNot listed
EU tax listNot listed
Licence regimes6
CurrencyEUR
S&P ratingAA+
Next electiondue by 2030
Ireland is not on the FATF grey or black lists (plenary of 19 June 2026); as an EU Member State it is outside the scope of the EU high-risk third-country list (Delegated Reg. 2016/1675, consolidated 29 January 2026) and the EU tax list (Annex I, updated 17 February 2026). Checked 7 October 2026.
Government and politics
Government
Parliamentary republic
President
Catherine Connolly · since November 2025
Taoiseach (Prime Minister)
Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil)
Governing parties
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Regional Independent Group (supporting independents)
Last election
Presidential election, 24 October 2025
Next election
General election, due by 2030. The last general election was held on 29 November 2024
Legislature
Oireachtas: Dáil Éireann (174 seats) and Seanad Éireann (60 seats)
Legal system
Common law based on the English model, with a written constitution and judicial review by the Supreme Court
Economy and finance
Population
5.5m (2025)
GDP
USD 718.1bn (2025)
GDP per person
USD 130,652 (2025)
Currency
Euro (EUR), euro (floating, managed by the ECB as part of the Eurosystem)
Central bank
Central Bank of Ireland (part of the Eurosystem)
Credit rating
S&P AA+ (stable) · Moody's Aa2 (positive) · Fitch AA (stable) (as of August 2026)
An open, export-led economy built on multinational pharmaceutical, technology and medical device firms, with Dublin's IFSC a major hub for investment funds, aircraft leasing and international insurance.
Bank
Banking licence (credit institution)
Minimum capitalUSD 5.6m
TimelineCRD Art. 15: decision within 6 months of a complete application and in any event within 12 months of receipt
AuthorityECB, with the application submitted to the Central Bank of Ireland
EUR 5 million minimum initial capital under CRD art. 12; the Central Bank guidelines do not state a higher national figure
Law
Central Bank Act 1971, section 9; Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 (SSM) art. 14
Passporting
Yes: EU passport under CRD (Arts. 33 to 39) for branches and cross-border services
Key requirements
Three-stage process: exploratory phase, draft application with detailed assessment, final application
Clearly defined, viable and capital accretive business model with credible projections
Robust capital, governance and planning; fit and proper directors and senior managers
TimelineService standard: assessment stage within 90 business days (clock stops while awaiting the applicant); the Central Bank notes it can take over 12 months for firms to supply all information
AuthorityCentral Bank of Ireland
EUR 350,000 initial capital (small EMI EUR 125,000), per Central Bank guidance; more may be required at authorisation to meet own funds
Law
European Communities (Electronic Money) Regulations 2011 (as amended)
Fees
No application fee; authorised firms pay an annual industry funding levy
Passporting
Yes: EU passport under EMD2/PSD2 by branch, agent, distributor or free provision of services
Key requirements
Pre-Application Key Facts Document and initial meeting with the Payments Authorisation Team
Fitness and probity of key personnel, robust governance and business model clarity
Safeguarding of client funds
AML, sanctions and operational resilience frameworks
TimelineService standard: assessment stage within 90 business days (clock stops while awaiting the applicant); PSD2 art. 12 sets 3 months from a complete application
AuthorityCentral Bank of Ireland
EUR 125,000 for payment services 1 to 5; EUR 50,000 for payment initiation only; EUR 20,000 for money remittance only (Central Bank guidance note)
Law
European Union (Payment Services) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 6 of 2018)
Fees
No application fee; authorised firms pay an annual industry funding levy
Passporting
Yes: EU passport under PSD2 Art. 28 (branch, agent or free provision of services)
Key requirements
Pre-Application Key Facts Document submitted at least 5 working days before the initial meeting
Fitness and probity of key personnel and robust governance
Safeguarding of client funds
AML, sanctions and operational resilience frameworks
Crypto-asset service provider (CASP) authorisation under MiCAR
Minimum capitalUSD 56k
TimelineMiCA Art. 63: 25 working days to check completeness, then 40 working days to decide on a complete application (clock can be suspended for information requests)
AuthorityCentral Bank of Ireland
MiCA Art. 67 and Annex IV: EUR 50,000 (class 1: order execution, placing, transfer services, reception and transmission, advice, portfolio management), EUR 125,000 (class 2: adds custody and administration, and exchange for funds or other crypto-assets), EUR 150,000 (class 3: adds operating a trading platform); or one quarter of prior-year fixed overheads if higher
Law
Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA), arts. 59 to 63
Passporting
Yes: MiCA authorisation can be passported across the EU/EEA by notification (MiCA Art. 65)
Key requirements
Registered office in the Member State where at least part of the services are provided, place of effective management in the EU and at least one director resident in the EU (MiCA Art. 59(2))
Fit and proper management body and suitable qualifying shareholders
Safeguarding and segregation of client crypto-assets and funds, complaints handling, conflicts of interest policy
AML/CFT framework and compliance with the Transfer of Funds Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 travel rule
Applications filed through the Central Bank Portal from 2 April 2026; a prior VASP registration does not simplify the CASP assessment
Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) · websiteBanks, E-money institutions, Payment service providers, Investment firms, Virtual asset service providers (VASPs), Funds
European Central Bank (Single Supervisory Mechanism) (ECB) · websiteBanks
Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) · websiteOnline gaming
MiCA: Ireland applied a 12-month transitional period; VASPs not authorised as CASPs had to cease operations by 30 December 2025. Gaming: GRAI opened applications for remote and in-person betting licences on 9 February 2026 and the first remote betting and betting intermediary licences commenced on 1 July 2026; applications for gaming (including online casino), lottery, B2B and charitable licences will open in phases through 2027 and 2028, so there is no online gaming (casino) licence available yet. Licence fees were not stated on the GRAI pages consulted. Ireland is also a leading domicile for UCITS and AIFs supervised by the Central Bank.
General information
About Ireland
Natural Earth boundaries. Map is indicative.
Status
Sovereign state
Capital
Dublin
Area
70,273 km²
Official languages
Irish, English
Time zone
UTC+00:00 (UTC+01:00 in summer)
Main exports
packaged medicine
vaccines
integrated circuits
nitrogen compounds
hormones
Main export partners
United States
Germany
United Kingdom
Belgium
China
Sources for the country information(9)
Country information checked 9 October 2026. Licensing data updated 7 October 2026. Information only, not legal advice; requirements change. Regulatory notice.
