Can a foreigner buy property in Ireland?

Foreigners may buy on much the same terms as citizens

Ireland places no nationality limit on buying property. A foreigner can buy a home or land, and the rules on title and registration are the same as for an Irish buyer.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the structure of the rule, not prices, taxes or quotas. Confirm the current position with the official source listed below, and with a lawyer in the country, before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.

Land

Land can be bought by anyone. The title is registered with the national land registry.

Houses and flats

Houses and apartments can be bought by foreigners on the same legal terms as by Irish citizens.

Buying through a company

A company, whether Irish or foreign, can hold property.

Limits and closed zones

Farmland and some other types of land are subject to the same planning and land rules as for any buyer.

What to watch for

Use a solicitor to check title and planning permission before you sign.

Understand the legal system first

Ireland belongs to the Common law family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Ireland legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
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Official sources

Tailte Éireann: land registration and property

TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.