Removals to Ireland from the UK

Request a move quote

Full Name

Phone

Country Moving From

City Moving From

Country Moving To

City Moving To

Expected Move Date

Move Size

How are you paying for your move?

Any Additional Information

Relocate to Ireland Effortlessly

For most people, moving to Ireland is the simplest move abroad there is. You need no visa, no work permit and no new language. You can start work the day you arrive.

Your belongings are the exception. Ireland is in the EU and the UK is not, so since January 2021 everything you send crosses a customs border. Used household goods still go in free of duty and VAT, but only with a declaration that has to reach Irish customs before your belongings do. This page explains how that works, how long the move takes and what it costs.

Quick answer: a removal from the UK to Ireland travels by road and ferry and usually takes one to two weeks from packing day to delivery. You will need a customs declaration (form C&E 1076) and supporting documents, sent to Revenue about two weeks before your belongings arrive. If you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and have owned and used your belongings for at least six, they normally enter Ireland free of duty and VAT.

Why a dedicated move manager matters for a move to Ireland

Your move starts with a survey by one of our removal specialists, in your home or by video. From there, a dedicated move manager is your primary contact throughout. They receive the full survey file, give you the customs declaration and show you how to fill it in, tell you which documents to gather and by when, book the ferry crossing with the right customs references, and coordinate delivery to your new address. If a crossing is delayed, your move manager tells you. You should not have to chase. How we work sets out who does what at each stage.

How long does a removal to Ireland take?

Removals to Ireland go by road, on the ferry routes between Great Britain and Ireland (usually Holyhead to Dublin, Liverpool to Dublin or Fishguard to Rosslare, depending on where you are collected).

Service	What it means	Typical time
Small shared load (1 to 2 bedrooms)	Your belongings share a vehicle with other households’	3 to 7 days
Larger shared load	As above, for a bigger home	7 to 14 days
Dedicated vehicle	A vehicle for your move alone	3 to 7 days, depending on route and scheduling

Most moves take one to two weeks door to door. Customs clearance is usually quick when the paperwork is complete; delays almost always come from an incomplete inventory or a declaration with missing details. A shared load (also called a part load or groupage) costs less because you pay only for the space you use; it can take a little longer because the vehicle makes more than one stop.

What does a removal to Ireland cost?

Home size	Shared load	Dedicated vehicle
1-bedroom flat	£1,200–£2,000	£2,000–£3,300
2-bedroom flat	£1,800–£3,300	£2,700–£4,600
3-bedroom house	£2,800–£5,200	£4,000–£7,000

*These are estimated broad UK-to-Republic-of-Ireland guide prices, covering a range of destinations rather than one specific route. Shared-load services generally cost less because your belongings share vehicle space with other customers’ consignments.

Your own figure depends on how much you are moving, measured in cubic metres, and on access at both addresses: parking, stairs, lifts and how far the vehicle can get to the door. That is why every quote starts with a pre-move survey. The quote we give you after the survey states what is included at both ends, including customs clearance and delivery into your home.

Irish customs: what happens at the border

Your belongings can still be free of duty and VAT. Irish customs (Revenue) gives Transfer of Residence relief on personal and household belongings when you move your normal home to Ireland. The main conditions, as Revenue sets them out:

you have lived outside the EU (in the UK, for example) for at least 12 consecutive months;
you have owned and used the belongings for at least six months before the move, and they are for the same use in Ireland;
they arrive within six months before or 12 months after you move;
you agree not to sell, lend, hire out or give them as security in Ireland for 12 months after import without Revenue’s permission.

The declaration. The form is the C&E 1076. It goes by email, with your supporting documents, to Revenue at the port where your belongings will arrive, about two weeks before they get there. Your move manager gives you the form early so there is no rush at the end. The supporting documents prove three things: that you lived abroad (bank statements, council tax bills, an employment record), that you are moving to Ireland (a lease, purchase papers or a job offer), and that you have owned and used the goods (receipts where you have them). Our crew produces the itemised inventory on packing day. Revenue’s supporting documents page lists examples.

The ferry rule. Goods crossing to Ireland as freight need a Pre-Boarding Notification (PBN) reference before the vehicle checks in with the ferry company. We arrange this as part of the crossing; it is one reason a removal to Ireland cannot simply be booked like a van hire.

Inspection. Revenue may examine the belongings. Small loads can be checked at the port; larger ones can, on application, be examined at your new home. Most household moves are cleared without one. If yours is selected, your move manager tells you what is happening and what, if anything, you need to do. Our guide to belongings held at customs explains the process.

What the relief does not cover. New items bought for the move, alcohol, tobacco, and goods for business use fall outside it and can be charged VAT and duty. Keep new purchases on a separate list so the rest of your home is not held up.

Moving to Northern Ireland? An address in Northern Ireland is in the UK, so the Irish customs process above does not apply to it. Tell your surveyor your destination postcode and we will quote for the right route.

Planning A Move To Ireland?

Tell us where you are moving from and to, and roughly when. A move manager will give you a price for your route, the date your customs declaration needs to be ready, and a collection date that fits.

What you can and can't take

Fine to bring under the relief: used furniture, clothing, books, kitchen equipment, personal electronics and garden equipment you have owned for six months or more.

Clean before packing: garden tools, bikes and outdoor furniture. Anything with soil on it can be refused or treated at your cost.

Ask first: firearms, plants, anything made from protected species (ivory, some exotic skins), and anything you are not sure about. Raise it with your move manager before it goes into a box. The Ireland guide has the full list.

Your car. It can travel with your belongings, but it must be registered in Ireland and Vehicle Registration Tax paid within 30 days of arrival. A car is exempt from tax only if it meets its own ownership conditions. The guide explains VRT and the NOx levy.

Your pets. Your UK pet passport is not valid for Ireland. Cats and dogs need a microchip, a rabies vaccination and an Animal Health Certificate from an official vet within 10 days of travel; dogs also need tapeworm treatment one to five days before arrival. Pets travel separately from your removal, and your move manager can refer you to a specialist.

Our International Removals to
Ireland Services Include

A comprehensive range of services is available to you for removals to Ireland, ensuring your belongings are protected and your move is as calm and simple as possible.

Packing and Wrapping Service

Our expert team uses high-quality packing materials and techniques to carefully wrap your belongings for international transit. Trust us to ensure everything arrives safely in Ireland with our packing services.

Furniture Shipping

We handle full household moves or single pieces of furniture, including disassembly, protective wrapping, and secure transport to your new home in Ireland. Have peace of mind that everything arrives exactly as expected.

Fragile & High-Value Item Protection

We take special care with any fragile or high-value items such as antiques, artwork, or electronics. We offer custom crating and enhanced protection for peace of mind with removals from the UK to Ireland.

Door-to-Door Delivery Across Ireland

From your UK home to your new address in Ireland, we manage the entire move with reliable door-to-door delivery. Wherever your new life takes you, you can trust our transport network for timely and secure delivery.

Customs Documentation and Assistance

Our team will guide you through the customs process, assisting with essential paperwork. We’ll ensure your shipment meets all requirements for entry into Ireland so that you can avoid any delays or issues.

Temporary Storage (UK or Ireland)

Get extra flexibility with your move with our secure short and long-term storage options in both the UK and Ireland. Tell us your needs and we’ll accommodate your preferred timeline.

The Move Process

If you are moving abroad it couldn’t be simpler. Your move with Gerson Moving Services is as easy as these 4 simple steps;

Get A Move
Quote

Packing &
Collection

Sea, Air or Road
Transport

Delivery and
Unpacking

Moving from Ireland to the UK?

We move people in both directions. Moving back to the UK has its own relief (Transfer of Residence relief from HMRC) and its own form. Your move manager will explain the UK side in the same way. See moving back to the UK.

Accredited and accountable

Gerson Moving Services is a member of the British Association of Removers, with the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee protecting money you pay in advance. We are IAM accredited, hold FIDI FAIM, the international quality standard for removal companies, and are part of the AGM Group. Disputes can be referred to the Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman.

Trusted Global Moving Services –
Why Choose Us?

Real feedback from people who chose our international moving company.

Would use them again

Rated 5 out of 5

“Moved to Cork with two small children in tow, which I’d been dreading. The crew labelled every box by room, so we found the kettle and bedding the first night.”

Back home in Sligo

Rated 5 out of 5

“Moved back to Sligo after eleven years in Birmingham. Our contact rang the week before to run through everything, and the crew had the furniture in place by lunchtime.”

Quote didn’t change

Rated 5 out of 5

“We paid for the move to Galway ourselves, so cost mattered. The surveyor went through every room properly and the final invoice matched the quote, which was a relief, honestly.”

International Removals to Ireland FAQs

How long does a removal from the UK to Ireland take?

Usually one to two weeks from packing day to delivery. A small shared load can take 3 to 7 days, a larger one 7 to 14, and a dedicated vehicle 3 to 7 days depending on the route and ferry schedule.

Do I pay customs duty on my belongings when I move to Ireland?

Not on used personal and household belongings, if you qualify for Transfer of Residence relief: 12 months living outside the EU, six months’ ownership and use, and arrival within the time limits. New items, alcohol and tobacco can be charged VAT and duty.

What is the C&E 1076?

It is Revenue’s declaration for claiming Transfer of Residence relief on goods from outside the EU. It is emailed with supporting documents to the port of arrival about two weeks before your belongings get there. Your move manager gives it to you with guidance well before collection.

Can my belongings arrive before I do?

Yes, within limits. Relief applies to goods arriving up to six months before you take up residence, but Revenue may ask for an undertaking that you will move within six months, and sometimes a security. In practice, most people time delivery for just after they arrive, and we can store the belongings if dates move.

Can I sell furniture I bring to Ireland?

Not in the first 12 months, unless Revenue agrees in writing or you pay the import charges. The relief is for your own continued use, which is why the declaration includes that undertaking.

Do I need a visa to move to Ireland from the UK?

No. Under the Common Travel Area, British and Irish citizens can live and work in each other’s countries without a visa. If you hold another nationality, check your own position with the Irish immigration service before you book.

Get a price for your move to Ireland

Tell us where you are moving from, where to, and when you expect to arrive. A move manager will come back to you with a price for your route, the date your declaration needs to be ready, and the next step.