If you are based in Canada and want to establish a business in Ireland, you can register an Irish limited company without moving to Ireland.
Canadian entrepreneurs and established Canadian companies may choose Ireland when expanding into the Irish and wider European market. Ireland offers an English-speaking business environment and, as a member of the European Union, can provide Canadian businesses with a corporate base within the EU.
However, there are several important requirements Canadian resident directors need to understand before starting the company formation process.
In particular, Canada is outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Therefore, an Irish company whose directors are all resident in Canada will normally need to address Ireland’s EEA-resident director requirement.
In this guide, we explain how to register a company in Ireland from Canada, including director requirements, the Section 137 Bond, company secretary, registered office, identification requirements and the incorporation process.
Growing Business Links Between Canada, Ireland and the EU
This is an interesting time for Canadian businesses considering opportunities in Ireland and the wider European Union.
The Canadian Government under Prime Minister Mark Carney has been working to strengthen Canada’s relationship with European partners, with a particular emphasis on trade, investment, technology and economic security.
In June 2026, Prime Minister Carney visited Ireland and met Taoiseach Micheál Martin. The two leaders issued a joint statement on advancing the Canada-Ireland partnership, agreeing to deepen bilateral cooperation and strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries.
The Canadian Government also reported that bilateral trade between Canada and Ireland has grown by almost 150% over the past decade.
The relationship with Europe is also continuing to develop. In September 2026, the Canadian Government announced that Prime Minister Carney would visit Strasbourg to further strengthen Canada’s relationship with the EU, including cooperation in trade and investment.
You can read the Canadian Government’s announcement on strengthening ties with European partners.
For Canadian businesses looking towards Europe, Ireland can therefore be an interesting location from which to establish an EU company.
However, setting up an Irish company from Canada involves some additional company law requirements.
Can a Canadian Resident Register a Company in Ireland?
Yes.
You do not have to be an Irish citizen or Irish resident to become a shareholder or director of an Irish company.
A Canadian resident can therefore own some or all of the shares in an Irish company and can also be appointed as a director.
If you are unfamiliar with the process, our guide to setting up a company in Ireland explains the main steps involved.
The most important additional consideration for Canadian directors is the EEA director residency requirement.
Irish company law generally requires an Irish company to have at least one director who is resident in the European Economic Area.
Canada is not a member of the EEA.
Therefore, if all the proposed directors are resident in Canada, the company will normally need to put an alternative arrangement in place.
Do Canadian Directors Need a Section 137 Bond?
Where an Irish company has no EEA-resident director, it can generally meet the requirement by putting a Section 137 Bond in place.
The bond has a value of €25,000 and must remain in force for a minimum period of two years.
Importantly, this does not mean that the Canadian directors have to deposit €25,000.
The €25,000 relates to the prescribed value of the bond. The company instead arranges the appropriate bond through an approved provider.
The Companies Registration Office guidance on company officers and Section 137 explains the EEA-resident director requirement, the bond and the available exemption.
For a new company being incorporated without an EEA-resident director, the bond must be effective from the date of incorporation.
Irish Formations can arrange the required Section 137 Bond as part of the company formation process for non-resident clients.
Our Non-Resident Company Formation Package is specifically designed for clients establishing an Irish company while living outside Ireland.
What If One Director Lives in the EEA?
The situation can be simpler if at least one of the company’s directors genuinely resides within the European Economic Area.
For example, consider a company with:
- one director resident in Toronto, Canada; and
- one director resident in Germany.
Germany is an EEA member state. Therefore, if the German director satisfies the residency requirement, the company would generally not require a Section 137 Bond solely because its other director lives in Canada.
This is an important distinction.
The requirement concerns the residency of the director, rather than simply their citizenship or nationality.
Therefore, a Canadian citizen who genuinely resides in an EEA country may potentially satisfy the EEA-resident director requirement.
The CRO provides further information about the requirement in its official guidance for company directors.
Can I Form an Irish Company with One Canadian Director?
Yes.
A Private Company Limited by Shares (LTD) can have a single director.
This is particularly useful for individual Canadian entrepreneurs who want to establish their own Irish company without bringing another shareholder or business partner into the company.
However, there is an important additional requirement.
A single director cannot also act as the company’s secretary. A separate company secretary must be appointed.
You can read more about this structure in our guide to forming a single director company in Ireland.
Therefore, a Canadian entrepreneur could potentially establish an Irish LTD with:
- one Canadian-resident director;
- one shareholder, who can also be the director;
- a separate company secretary;
- a Section 137 Bond; and
- an Irish registered office address.
This is a common structure for overseas entrepreneurs who want to own and control their own Irish company.
Does My Irish Company Need an Address in Ireland?
Yes.
Every Irish company must maintain a Registered Office Address in Ireland.
The registered office is the company’s official legal address and is recorded with the Companies Registration Office.
If you are operating from Canada and do not have your own suitable address in Ireland, Irish Formations can provide a Registered Office Address service.
Our registered office service includes receiving company correspondence and scanning post to a designated email address.
You can also read our full guide explaining what a registered office address in Ireland is.
It is important, however, to distinguish a registered office from an operational or physical trading premises.
Providing your company with a registered office address satisfies a company law requirement. It does not, by itself, establish that the business has sufficient trading presence or economic substance in Ireland for tax or VAT purposes.
Does an Irish Company Need a Company Secretary?
Yes.
Every Irish company must have a company secretary.
If an LTD has two or more directors, one of the directors can also act as company secretary.
However, if the LTD has only one director, a separate person or corporate entity must be appointed as secretary.
Irish Formations can provide a Nominee Company Secretary service where required.
Our nominee secretary service is provided in name only. The nominee secretary does not operate or manage the client’s business.
For a Canadian entrepreneur establishing a single-director Irish company, combining a nominee secretary service with our registered office and non-resident formation services can provide the basic company structure required for incorporation.
Do Canadian Directors Need a PPS Number?
Directors of Irish companies must provide the required personal identification information to the Companies Registration Office.
Many Canadian directors will not have an Irish Personal Public Service Number (PPSN).
Where a foreign director does not have a PPSN, the CRO provides an alternative identity verification process using a Verified Identity Form (VIF). Once this process has been successfully completed, an identification number can be allocated for use in CRO filings.
This is particularly relevant to Canadian and other overseas directors establishing Irish companies.
The identification requirements should therefore be considered at the beginning of the formation process rather than after the incorporation application has been prepared.
Irish Formations can guide non-resident clients through the required identity process as part of our formation service.
What Information Do I Need to Register a Company in Ireland from Canada?
To register a company in Ireland from Canada, you will normally need to provide information about:
- Your proposed Irish company name.
- The intended activities of the business.
- The proposed directors.
- The shareholders and their shareholdings.
- The company secretary.
- The Irish registered office address.
- The appropriate PPSN or identification information for each director.
- Identification and proof of address for Anti-Money Laundering compliance.
- Whether the company will have an EEA-resident director or require a Section 137 Bond.
Additional documentation may be required depending on the company’s ownership structure and proposed activities.
Our business registration in Ireland guide provides further information on the overall registration process.
What Type of Company Should a Canadian Entrepreneur Form?
For most commercial businesses, the most common Irish company structure is a Private Company Limited by Shares (LTD).
An LTD is a separate legal entity from its shareholders and provides limited liability, subject to the normal legal exceptions.
It is also a flexible structure.
An LTD can have:
- one director;
- one shareholder;
- multiple shareholders;
- individual shareholders; or
- corporate shareholders.
A shareholder does not have to live in Ireland.
Therefore, a Canadian entrepreneur can potentially be the sole shareholder and sole director of an Irish LTD, subject to the separate secretary and EEA-resident director requirements discussed above.
Can a Canadian Company Own an Irish Company?
Yes.
An existing Canadian corporation can potentially own the shares in an Irish company.
Instead of the Canadian founders personally owning the Irish company, the Canadian corporation can become its shareholder.
The Irish company would then operate as a subsidiary of the Canadian parent company.
For example:
Canadian Parent Company → Irish LTD Subsidiary
This may be an appropriate structure for established Canadian companies expanding their activities into Ireland or the European Union.
Our guide explaining what a subsidiary is provides further information about how subsidiary structures operate.
However, deciding whether the Irish company should be owned personally or through an existing Canadian corporation can have significant tax and accounting implications.
Canadian businesses should obtain appropriate Irish and Canadian professional tax advice before deciding on the final ownership structure.
Can a Canadian-Owned Irish Company Register for VAT?
Potentially, but incorporating an Irish company and obtaining an Irish VAT number are two separate processes.
Registering a company with the Companies Registration Office does not automatically mean that the company qualifies for VAT registration.
Revenue considers the circumstances and activities of the individual business when dealing with tax registrations.
This distinction can be particularly important where the company’s directors, employees and business operations remain outside Ireland.
Irish Formations does not provide tax advice or assess whether a particular company qualifies for VAT registration.
Where a Canadian client requires Irish VAT registration, or needs advice about whether its proposed structure will qualify, we recommend obtaining professional advice from an Irish accountant or tax adviser.
You can read our general guide on who registers for VAT in Ireland.
The Irish Revenue Commissioners also provide official information explaining how a new company registers for tax.
A Registered Office Address supplied for Companies Registration Office purposes should not be regarded as establishing the physical trading presence or economic substance that may be relevant for taxation or VAT.
What About Irish Corporation Tax?
Incorporating an Irish company and determining the company’s tax position are also separate matters.
The tax treatment of an Irish company can depend on several factors, including the company’s activities, where it is managed, where its employees and operations are located, and the nature of its transactions.
There may also be Canadian tax implications for Canadian residents owning or controlling an Irish company.
Therefore, Canadian entrepreneurs should obtain appropriate professional advice about both their Irish and Canadian tax position.
Irish Formations specialises in company formation and corporate services. We do not provide individual tax advice.
How Long Does It Take to Register a Company in Ireland from Canada?
Once Irish Formations has received the required information, completed the necessary compliance checks and received the signed incorporation documentation, Irish company formation generally takes approximately 3–5 working days.
Processing times can vary depending on the Companies Registration Office and the individual circumstances of the application.
Additional time should also be allowed where Canadian directors need to complete identification requirements or where a Section 137 Bond needs to be arranged.
You can read more about the complete process in our guide to setting up a limited company in Ireland.
How to Register a Company in Ireland from Canada
The process is relatively straightforward when each requirement is addressed in the correct order.
1. Choose Your Company Name
Select the proposed name for your Irish company.
The name must be acceptable to the Companies Registration Office and sufficiently distinguishable from existing registered company names.
2. Decide on the Directors and Shareholders
Decide who will own the company and who will act as its director or directors.
Canadian residents can be both shareholders and directors.
3. Check the EEA Director Requirement
Determine whether any of the proposed directors genuinely resides within the EEA.
If all directors are resident in Canada or elsewhere outside the EEA, a Section 137 Bond will normally be required for a new incorporation.
4. Appoint a Company Secretary
Every Irish company requires a company secretary.
If you are forming a single-director LTD, the secretary must be a separate person or corporate entity.
5. Arrange Your Irish Registered Office
Your company must have a registered office address within Ireland from incorporation.
6. Complete the Director Identification Requirements
Canadian directors who do not have an Irish PPSN will need to complete the appropriate CRO identification process.
7. Complete AML Verification
Irish Formations must complete the required Anti-Money Laundering checks on clients before completing the company formation.
8. Sign the Incorporation Documents
Once the required information has been received, the incorporation documentation and company constitution can be prepared for signature.
9. Submit the Company to the CRO
The completed incorporation application is submitted to the Companies Registration Office.
Once the company is successfully incorporated, the CRO issues its Certificate of Incorporation and unique company registration number.
You can learn more about company numbers in our guide to the Company Registration Number in Ireland.
Why Choose Irish Formations?
Irish Formations has been helping entrepreneurs and businesses establish companies in Ireland since 2009.
We regularly work with directors and shareholders living outside Ireland and understand the additional requirements involved when an Irish company has non-EEA-resident directors.
For Canadian clients, we can assist with:
- Irish company incorporation;
- Section 137 Bond arrangements;
- Registered Office Address;
- Nominee Company Secretary;
- director identity requirements;
- CRO registration;
- Register of Beneficial Ownership registration;
- First Annual Return; and
- ongoing Irish corporate compliance services.
Our Non-Resident Company Formation Package is specifically designed for overseas clients who want to establish an Irish company.
Frequently Asked Questions About Registering an Irish Company from Canada
Can a Canadian citizen own 100% of an Irish company?
Yes. A Canadian individual can potentially own 100% of an Irish LTD. There is generally no requirement for the shareholder of an LTD to be resident in Ireland.
Can a Canadian resident be a director of an Irish company?
Yes. A Canadian resident can be appointed as a director. However, because Canada is outside the EEA, a Canadian-resident director does not satisfy the EEA-resident director requirement.
If none of the company’s directors resides in the EEA, the company will normally need a Section 137 Bond when incorporating.
Is Canada in the EEA?
No.
The EEA consists of the EU Member States together with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Canada is therefore outside the EEA.
Do I need an Irish director?
Not necessarily.
The requirement is generally for an EEA-resident director, rather than specifically an Irish director.
Alternatively, a company without an EEA-resident director can generally use the Section 137 Bond mechanism when incorporating.
Can I register an Irish company without moving to Ireland?
Yes.
You can own and direct an Irish company while continuing to live in Canada, provided the company meets the relevant Irish company law requirements.
Do I need an Irish business partner?
No.
There is generally no requirement to give shares in your company to an Irish resident simply because you live in Canada.
A Canadian entrepreneur can potentially own 100% of an Irish LTD.
Can I have only one director?
Yes.
An Irish LTD can have one director. However, a single-director company must appoint a separate company secretary.
Do I have to deposit €25,000 for a Section 137 Bond?
No.
This is a common misunderstanding.
The €25,000 refers to the prescribed value of the bond. It does not mean that a Canadian director has to transfer or deposit €25,000 with the Companies Registration Office.
Can my Canadian company own the Irish company?
Yes.
A Canadian corporation can potentially become the shareholder of an Irish company, creating a Canadian parent and Irish subsidiary structure.
Professional tax advice should be obtained when establishing an international group structure.
Does registering an Irish company guarantee a VAT number?
No.
Company incorporation and VAT registration are separate processes. Revenue will consider the activities and circumstances of the company when processing a tax registration.
Can an Irish company help a Canadian business expand into Europe?
An Irish company gives a Canadian business a corporate entity incorporated within an EU Member State.
This can make Ireland an attractive location for Canadian companies expanding into European markets.
However, establishing an Irish company does not automatically remove VAT, tax, regulatory, employment, licensing or other obligations that may arise in Ireland or other EU countries.
Start Your Irish Company from Canada
With economic links between Canada, Ireland and the European Union continuing to develop, now may be an interesting time for Canadian entrepreneurs and established businesses to explore opportunities in Ireland.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Taoiseach Micheál Martin have committed to deepening the Canada-Ireland relationship, while Canada is also pursuing closer trade and investment ties with the wider European Union.
If you are ready to register a company in Ireland from Canada, Irish Formations can manage the incorporation process and help you deal with the additional company formation requirements that apply to Canadian resident directors.
For a company whose directors will remain resident in Canada, our Non-Resident Company Formation Package is the best place to start.
Irish Formations has been registering companies in Ireland since 2009.
Start your Irish company formation online today or contact our team if you would like to discuss the company structure before ordering.
