Country & jurisdiction guide
Company setup in Ireland
Republic of Ireland · 17 legal forms listed
Start with the right structure
Explore legal entity forms and registration sources for Ireland. Use the local terminology below when discussing your application with the relevant authority.
Detailed foreign-investor rules for this jurisdiction have not yet been independently reviewed here. The registry sources below are the starting point for confirming the available formation route.
Company & entity types
Listed forms include commercial companies and other legal entities. A listing is not confirmation that a foreign founder can establish that form. Local names are preserved to avoid misleading legal translations.
17 legal forms listed
European Economic Interest Grouping / Grupail Eorpach um Leas Eacnamaioch
European Economic Interest Grouping
IrelandELF 363JEEIGFriendly Society
IrelandELF 54SKDesignated Activity Company Limited by Guarantee / Cuideachta Ghníomhaíochta Ainmnithe
Designated Activity Company Limited by Guarantee
IrelandELF 5AX8DAC – (limited by guarantee)Credit Union
IrelandELF 9BPECompany Limited by Guarantee / Cuideachta faoi Theorainn Ráthaíochta
Company Limited by Guarantee
IrelandELF C58SCLGGeneral Partnership
IrelandELF DWS3Public Unlimited Company that has no share capital / Cuideachta Neamhtheoranta
Public Unlimited Company that has no share capital
IrelandELF FF1DPULC / ucLimited Partnership
IrelandELF HNJKSocietas Europaea
IrelandELF JXDXSEPrivate Unlimited Company / Cuideachta Neamhtheoranta
Private Unlimited Company
IrelandELF KMFXULC / ucDesignated Activity Company / Cuideachta Ghníomhaíochta Ainmnithe
Designated Activity Company
IrelandELF LGWGDAC – (limited by shares)Investment Limited Partnership / comhpháirtíocht theoranta infheistíochta
Investment Limited Partnership
IrelandELF LZICilpPrivate Company Limited by Shares / Teoranta
Private Company Limited by Shares
IrelandELF MNQ7Ltd;Ltd.;LimitedPublic Unlimited Company / Cuideachta Neamhtheoranta
Public Unlimited Company
IrelandELF URQHPUC / ucPublic Limited Company / Cuideachta Phoiblí Theoranta
Public Limited Company
IrelandELF VYAXPLCIndustrial and Provident Society
IrelandELF ZJS8I&PSSource: GLEIF ELF v1.6, February 2026 ↗. Active codes only; language variants grouped by code. The source is not an exhaustive list of all available legal forms.
What to confirm before applying
These are planning questions, not verified Ireland requirements.
Foreign ownership & activity
Ask whether your nationality, ownership percentage and proposed business activity require investment approval, a local partner or a sector licence.
Directors & local presence
Confirm the required directors, shareholders, registered office, local representative and any residency or company-secretary rules.
Capital & incorporation costs
Obtain the current minimum capital, filing fees, notarisation costs, translations and annual renewal or service charges for the selected legal form.
Tax & ongoing compliance
Verify corporate tax, VAT or sales tax, withholding, beneficial-ownership reporting, accounting, audit and annual-return obligations.
Banking & immigration
Check bank onboarding and source-of-funds evidence separately. Company registration should not be treated as approval for banking, residence or work permission.
Your setup preparation checklist
Use this general sequence with the authority’s country-specific instructions. Ticks are temporary and reset when you leave this page.
Registration authorities
Sources listed by GLEIF. Some authorities cover regulated entities or validation only; check the relevant remit before applying. Links have not all been individually revalidated.
- Companies Register ↗Ireland · RA000402
- Registry of Friendly Societies ↗Ireland · RA000403
- Registers for financial service providers and collective investment schemesIreland · RA000404
- Charities Register ↗Ireland · RA000700