# Open a Company in Ireland as a Non-Resident | ARAN

> Founding an Irish company from abroad? Learn the EEA-resident director rule, the Section 137 bond, PPS or IPN, and how ARAN sets it up remotely.

URL: https://aran-accounting.ie/en/company-formation-for-non-residents
Language: en
Published: 2026-08-24
Last updated: 2026-08-24
Author: Rafael Arantes - Registered Tax Agent (TAIN), founder of ARAN Accounting

## Summary

You do not need to live in the EU or EEA, and your passport does not decide it either. We explain the EEA-resident director rule, the Section 137 bond alternative, and handle the whole registration remotely, in English or Portuguese.

## Comparison

EEA-resident director:
- A real director who lives in an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
- No extra fee to the state, just a genuine appointment with real duties
- Works best when you already have a trusted co-founder or partner in the EEA

Section 137 bond:
- A financial bond worth €25,000, held for a minimum of two years
- You pay an insurer's premium, not the full €25,000 upfront
- Works when none of your directors live in the EEA and you want to incorporate now

## Key facts

- Section 137 bond value for companies with no EEA-resident director: €25,000 (minimum 2-year term) (CRO: Company officers (directors and secretaries))
- CRO Form A1 incorporation fee (online filing): €50 (CRO: Company fees)
- Certificate of Incorporation turnaround (ordinary online filing): 10 working days (CRO: Registration methods)

## Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need to live in Ireland to own an Irish company?
A: No. Owning shares has no residence requirement at all. You can hold 100 percent of an Irish company while living anywhere in the world. The residence rule applies only to directors, not to shareholders.

Q: What happens if none of my directors live in the EEA?
A: The company needs to hold a Section 137 bond worth €25,000, valid for at least two years, instead of an EEA-resident director. You pay an insurer's premium, not the full amount. Once the company is trading in Ireland, it can apply for a Section 140 certificate instead.

Q: Does the UK count as an EEA country for this rule?
A: No. The UK left the EEA resident area on 31 December 2020. A director living anywhere in the UK, including Northern Ireland, no longer satisfies the EEA-resident director requirement, even with the shared history between the two countries.

Q: What ID does a director need if they do not have a PPS number?
A: Every director needs a PPS number on CRO filings. If you do not have one, which is common outside Ireland, you file Form VIF instead and receive an Identified Person Number (IPN) that we match to your filings.

Q: Can I use my home address abroad as the registered office?
A: No. Every Irish company must keep a registered office inside the State, and it has to be a real physical address, not a PO box or a foreign address. If you do not have one, we provide ours as part of setup.

Q: How does ARAN handle this if I never visit Ireland?
A: Everything runs by video call, WhatsApp, and email. We confirm your route, EEA director or bond, prepare the CRO filing, and keep handling tax registrations and annual returns after incorporation, wherever you are based.

## Sources

- CRO: Company officers (directors and secretaries): https://cro.ie/registration/company/incidental-obligations/company-officers/
- CRO: Form B1 identity requirements: https://cro.ie/services-and-help/core/core-help/form-b1-identity-requirements/
- CRO: Registered office: https://cro.ie/registration/company/incidental-obligations/registered-office/
- CRO: Company fees: https://cro.ie/publications/fees/company/
- CRO: Registration methods: https://cro.ie/registration/company/registration-methods/
- GOV.UK: Countries in the EU and EEA: https://www.gov.uk/eu-eea

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Full ARAN Accounting profile: https://aran-accounting.ie/llms.txt