IVAs in Northern Ireland: How They Work

Can You Get an IVA in Northern Ireland?

Yes. IVAs are available in Northern Ireland and work in a similar way to England and Wales, though under separate Northern Ireland law.

Last updated: November 2026

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Things to know about IVAs

An IVA is a formal insolvency procedure. It must be approved by your creditors, stays on your credit file for six years, fees are taken from your payments, and debts are only written off if you complete it. It isn’t right for everyone.

Read the key risks

Creditors must approve it. An IVA only goes ahead if creditors holding at least 75% of the debt that is voted agree. Your proposal can be rejected.
Credit file and public register. An IVA stays on your credit file for six years from the start date and is listed on the public Individual Insolvency Register while it runs. Getting credit will be harder.
Spending restrictions and annual reviews. You live on an agreed budget for the length of the IVA (usually 5–6 years). Your income and spending are reviewed each year, and your payment can go up.
Fees. Fees are taken from your monthly payments, so less of what you pay reaches your creditors. How IVA fees work.
Your home. Under the current IVA Protocol, your home isn’t included in the IVA and you won’t be asked to remortgage. If your share of the equity is £10,000 or more, the IVA usually lasts six years instead of five.
If it fails. If you can’t keep up payments the IVA may fail, you would owe the remaining debt again, and the supervisor may petition for your bankruptcy.
Write-off only on completion. Remaining qualifying unsecured debts are only written off if the IVA is completed successfully. Secured debts, court fines, child maintenance, student loans and some other debts can’t be included.
Other options may suit you better. A debt management plan, DRO or bankruptcy may be more suitable. IVAs are available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland only; different solutions apply in Scotland.

Northern Ireland has its own insolvency legislation, but the IVA is available there, and the basic principles are the same.

The short answer

IVAs are available in Northern Ireland, under the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.
They’re set up by a licensed insolvency practitioner.
Creditors vote, and approval needs 75% by value of those voting.
Northern Ireland has its own insolvency register and its own DRO scheme.
Scotland is different again: see protected trust deeds.

How is an IVA in Northern Ireland different?

Day to day, an IVA in Northern Ireland works much like one in England and Wales: you make affordable monthly payments, creditors are bound once it’s approved, and remaining qualifying debt is written off on completion. The legal framework, register and some procedures are separate, and are overseen by the Insolvency Service in Northern Ireland, part of the Department for the Economy.

What other options are there in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland has its own Debt Relief Order scheme and its own bankruptcy process, with different limits and fees from England and Wales. Check the current rules on nidirect.

What if I live in Scotland?

IVAs aren’t available in Scotland. See protected trust deeds and the Debt Arrangement Scheme.

Common questions

Is an IVA in Northern Ireland the same as in England?

The principles are the same, but it’s governed by separate Northern Ireland legislation.

Can I get a DRO in Northern Ireland?

Yes. Northern Ireland has its own DRO scheme, with limits set separately from England and Wales.

Where is my IVA registered in Northern Ireland?

On the Northern Ireland insolvency register, which is separate from the register for England and Wales.

How IVA Advice Online can help

Every situation is different, and an IVA isn’t right for everyone. We can look at your income, spending and debts with you and set out the debt solutions you could qualify for, including options other than an IVA. To talk it through, get in touch.