Surety guarantees given transparently, quickly, and underwritten where you do business.
From bid bonds to EPA-approved environmental cover, planning bonds to deferred-consideration bonds and fidelity guarantee — Surety Ireland places contract and commercial bonds with locally-domiciled markets, supported by an Irish underwriting team and the financial strength of Janus Assurance Re.
A surety bond is a written guarantee. It promises that if a contractor, importer, developer, employer, or trustee fails to meet a defined obligation, a financially-strong third party — the surety — will make the protected party whole. In Ireland, surety bonds underpin construction contracts, planning permissions, EPA-licensed sites, customs operations, M&A transactions, court orders, and the protection of company funds against employee dishonesty.
Mechanically, a bond is a contract among three parties. The party who must perform is the principal. The party being protected — the local authority, the EPA, the employer, the obligee under a contract — is the beneficiary. The surety is the financial guarantor behind the whole arrangement. If the principal defaults, the surety pays out and then pursues the principal for reimbursement under the indemnity.
Compared with a bank guarantee, a surety bond has one decisive advantage: it does not lock up the principal's working capital. The bond is supported by indemnity, not cash collateral, which is why most Irish contractors and developers prefer surety where it is available.
Three-Party Agreement
The principal performs. The beneficiary is protected. The surety stands behind the promise with capital and reputation.
Decisions in Days, Not Weeks
Standard commercial bonds typically issue within 48 hours of receipt of complete underwriting information.
Indemnity, Not Cash
Surety preserves the principal's liquidity. No working-capital lock-up, no cash on deposit at the bank.
Local, Where It Counts
All underwriting handled in Ireland. The wording, the obligees, and the regulators are read by people who know them.
Every Class We Underwrite
The Bonds Irish Carriers and Brokers Offer
From contract surety on the largest infrastructure projects to fidelity guarantee for a single bookkeeper, Surety Ireland places the full spectrum of bonds available in the Irish market — organised here by purpose.
Contract Surety
Class · Performance
Performance Bond
Banna Feidhmíochta
Guarantees the contractor will complete works in accordance with the contract — the cornerstone bond of Irish construction and infrastructure procurement, written under PWC and FIDIC suites.
Class · Tender
Bid & Tender Bond
Banna Tairisceana
Assures the obligee that a successful bidder will enter into the contract on the terms tendered, and provide the required performance security on award.
Class · Advance Payment
Advance Payment Bond
Banna Réamhíocaíochta
Secures the repayment of monies advanced to a contractor or supplier in the event the contracted goods or services are not delivered as agreed.
Class · Retention
Retention Bond
Banna Coinneála
Releases retention monies back to the contractor while preserving the employer's right of recourse for defects during the maintenance period.
Class · Maintenance
Maintenance & Warranty Bond
Banna Cothabhála
Covers the contractor's obligations during the defects-liability period — snags and warranty work after practical completion.
Class · Supply
Supply Bond
Banna Soláthair
Guarantees the timely supply of equipment, materials or goods under a defined supply or framework contract.
Commercial & Statutory Bonds
Class · Planning
Planning & Development Bond
Banna Pleanála
Required by Irish local authorities to secure the satisfactory completion of estate roads, services and amenities under planning conditions.
Funds site reinstatement at end-of-life for renewable energy, quarrying, mining and pharmaceutical operations under regulatory mandate.
Class · Customs
Customs & Excise Bond
Banna Custaim
Revenue-required guarantees for authorised economic operators, transit, temporary admission and warehousing under the Union Customs Code.
Class · Excise
Tax Warehouse Bond
Banna Stórais Cánach
Excise-deferred warehousing for spirits, wine, beer, tobacco and energy products approved under Revenue's tax-warehouse regime.
Class · Duty Deferment
Duty Deferment Guarantee
Ráthaíocht Iarchurtha
Given to Revenue Commissioners. Lets a trader defer payment of customs duty and VAT on imports — typically settled monthly by direct debit instead of entry-by-entry.
Class · M&A
Deferred Consideration Bond
Banna Comaoine Iarchurtha
Given to a seller in an M&A transaction. Guarantees scheduled deferred-purchase-price payments from the buyer, allowing a clean cut-away at completion without escrow.
Class · Section 137
Non-Resident Director Bond
Banna Stiúrthóra
Section 137 Companies Act 2014 bond. €25,000 cover for two years, allowing an Irish company to operate without an EEA-resident director by guaranteeing certain Companies Act and tax obligations.
Class · Pension Trustee
Pension Trustee & Fiduciary
Banna Iontaobhaí
Cover for trustees and fiduciaries of occupational pension schemes — the Irish equivalent of an ERISA fidelity bond, with breach-of-duty extensions.
Class · Travel Trade
Travel & Tour-Operator Bond
Banna Tour-Oibreoirí
CAR-mandated bonding for licensed Irish tour operators and travel agents under the Package Holiday and Travel Trade legislation.
Class · PSRA
Auctioneer & Estate Agent Bond
Banna Ceantálaí
PSRA-required statutory bonding for property service providers, lettings agents and auctioneers operating in the State.
Class · Licence
Licence & Permit Bonds
Bannaí Ceadúnais
Statutory bonds required by regulators and competent authorities — licensing, compliance, and consumer-protection guarantees.
Judicial & Probate
Class · Court
Court Bond
Banna Cúirte
Bonds required by Irish courts in injunctions, attachments, receiverships and similar interlocutory matters.
Class · Probate
Probate & Administration Bond
Banna Probháide
Required of administrators of intestate estates by the Probate Office to secure the faithful administration of the deceased's assets.
Class · Insolvency
Receiver & Liquidator Bond
Banna Glacadóra
Faithful-performance bonds for court-appointed receivers, liquidators, examiners and trustees in insolvency.
Fidelity, Crime & Financial Institution
Class · Fidelity
Fidelity Guarantee
Ráthaíocht Dílseachta
Protects the employer against financial loss caused by dishonest, fraudulent or criminal acts of employees — Ireland's classic "fidelity bond".
Class · Crime
Commercial Crime Insurance
Árachas Coireachta
Broader coverage than fidelity alone: employee theft, third-party theft, forgery, computer fraud, funds-transfer and social-engineering loss.
Class · FI Bond
Financial Institution Bond
Banna Institiúide Airgeadais
SFAA-form bonds for banks, credit unions, insurers, brokers and finance companies — Forms 14, 15, 23, 24 and 25, with cyber and registered-rep extensions.
Class · Service
Business Service Bond
Banna Seirbhíse
Protection for clients of cleaning, security, care and home-services firms against theft of client property by the firm's employees.
If the obligee has handed you a wording that does not match the catalogue above, send it across anyway. The Irish surety market writes manuscripted bonds regularly, and most are placeable with the right narrative.
Getting Started
How to Apply
The process is deliberately light. Send the draft bond wording, the contract value, and a short profile of the principal to Info@JanusAssuranceRe.com and an underwriter will open the file the same business day.
Submit
Email the draft bond, contract details, and most recent financials. We acknowledge every submission the same day and flag anything missing up front.
Underwrite
Our Irish underwriting team reviews financials, project profile and indemnity, and tables terms with the appropriate carrier on the panel.
Indicate
You receive a written indication of premium, security and conditions — typically within two business days for standard commercial bonds.
Issue
On acceptance and execution of indemnity, the bond is issued in original wet-ink or executed electronically, per the obligee's preference.
What to Have Ready
Draft Bond WordingThe wording the obligee requires — local authority, EPA, Revenue, courts.
Contract ParticularsContract value, duration, parties, milestones and any unusual conditions.
Latest FinancialsMost recent year-end accounts and an interim management account if available.
Principal ProfileBrief description of the company, its directors, and recent project history.
Indemnity AcknowledgementConfirmation that directors are willing to sign indemnity in support of the bond.
Existing Surety PanelIf you have a current surety, we can complement existing capacity rather than replace it.
Questions We Hear Every Week
Surety in Ireland · FAQ
What is a surety bond, in plain language?
A surety bond is a written guarantee. It promises that if a contractor, importer, developer, or trustee fails to meet a defined obligation, the surety — typically a specialty insurer — will make the protected party whole, up to the bond penalty. It is a contract among three parties: the principal who must perform, the beneficiary who is protected, and the surety who stands behind the promise.
How is a surety bond different from a bank guarantee?
A bank guarantee is fully cash-collateralised and ties up the principal's working capital. A surety bond is supported by indemnity rather than cash, which preserves liquidity. Premiums on surety bonds are typically very competitive against the all-in cost of a bank facility, especially for active contractors and developers.
What is the difference between a duty deferment guarantee and a deferred consideration bond?
They are unrelated instruments despite the similar names. A duty deferment guarantee is given to Revenue Commissioners and lets a trader defer customs duty and VAT on imports until monthly settlement. A deferred consideration bond is given in M&A transactions and guarantees the seller will receive scheduled deferred-purchase-price payments from a buyer. Different obligees, different obligations, different underwriting profiles.
Who actually underwrites the bonds I would receive?
Surety Ireland places business with Irish-domiciled and EU-passported markets, with all underwriting handled in Ireland. We work with a panel of Treasury-listed and A-minimum rated carriers, supported by the financial strength of Janus Assurance Re.
What information do you need to start?
The draft bond wording (or a description of what is required), contract value and duration, your most recent year-end financials, and a brief profile of the principal. For larger contract surety facilities, we may also ask for management accounts, project pipeline, and a director's personal financial summary.
How quickly can a bond be issued?
Standard commercial bonds — performance, retention, advance payment, customs, fidelity — typically issue within two business days of receiving complete underwriting information. Larger contract surety facilities, planning bonds, and EPA-approved environmental bonds require a fuller financial review and usually take longer.
What is a fidelity bond, and how is it different from crime insurance?
A fidelity bond — known in Ireland as fidelity guarantee insurance — protects an employer against loss from employee dishonesty. Commercial crime insurance is broader: it covers third-party theft, forgery, computer fraud, and social-engineering loss in addition to employee dishonesty. Most modern fidelity policies are written on a commercial-crime form with the employee-dishonesty insuring agreement included.
Can you bond a start-up or a thinly-capitalised company?
Often, yes. Newer or thinly-capitalised companies usually need to provide stronger personal indemnity from directors, and may require collateral on larger bonds. Send the file across — we will tell you honestly what is placeable and on what terms.
Get In Touch
Have a bond in hand? Let's read the wording together.
The fastest path to terms is a short phone call or an email with the draft bond and contract details attached. We will revert with a written indication, almost always within two working days.
