The visa question

This is the part most people underestimate. The USA has no working holiday visa for Irish citizens. There's no equivalent of Australia's subclass 417 that lets you show up, find work, and figure it out. Every route into the US requires either an employer, a family connection, or luck.

Here are the main options:

J-1 (Exchange Visitor) The most accessible route for younger Irish. Internship and training J-1s allow 12 to 18 months of work experience in the US. Summer Work Travel allows 4 months for full-time students aged 18 to 30. It's a starting point, not a long-term solution.

H-1B (Specialty Occupation) Requires a US employer to sponsor you for a skilled role. Applications are capped annually and awarded by lottery, having a valid sponsorship doesn't guarantee selection. Processing takes 3 to 6 months after selection. This is the route many Irish in tech, finance, and engineering use.

L-1 (Intracompany Transfer) If you work for a multinational with a US office and have been in the company for at least 12 months, your employer can transfer you. L-1A covers managers and executives; L-1B is for workers with specialised knowledge. This is the most reliable route for corporate moves.

O-1 (Extraordinary Ability) For people who can demonstrate exceptional achievement in their field: arts, science, sport, business, education. High bar, no lottery, no cap.

Green Card routes The employment-based green card tracks (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3) offer permanent residence. Irish nationals currently face relatively short waits compared to Indian or Chinese nationals, but the process is still measured in years rather than months.

The DV Lottery 55,000 green cards are issued annually to applicants from countries with low immigration rates to the USA. Ireland has been eligible in recent years. Applications open each October, they're free to enter, and the selection is genuinely random. It's worth doing every year if your visa situation is unclear.

The key point: start the visa process well before you think you need to. Some routes take 6 to 18 months before you're legally able to work.

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Where Irish people move in the USA

The USA is a continent-sized country, and where you land shapes everything including cost of living, job market, taxes, and how the first year feels. Most Irish emigrants cluster in a handful of cities.

New York City New York has the largest Irish-born population of any US city. The Bronx, Queens (Woodside, Sunnyside, Rockaway), and New Jersey commuter suburbs have had Irish communities for generations. It's the most expensive option: a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan runs $3,500 to $5,500 per month. The job market is deep across finance, construction, healthcare, hospitality, and tech. Shipping to the Port of New York and New Jersey is AMC's most frequently used lane for Irish moves to the east coast.

Boston Around 20% of the Boston metro population claims Irish ancestry. The new Irish community in the suburbs (Quincy, Braintree, Canton) is sizeable. Strong job market in healthcare, biotech, education, and finance. Housing is expensive, second only to New York and San Francisco among major US cities.

Chicago Chicago is often overlooked, but it's worth taking seriously. The cost of living is significantly lower than New York or Boston. Strong job market in finance, tech, law, and healthcare. The South Side (Beverly, Mount Greenwood, Bridgeport) has a long-established Irish-American community. One caveat: winters are genuinely harsh. Temperatures below -15°C in January and February are normal, not unusual.

San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and the Peninsula attract Irish emigrants with tech, engineering, and life sciences backgrounds. Salaries are among the highest anywhere in the world. So are costs: a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco runs $3,000 to $4,500 per month. Many people live in the East Bay or South Bay and commute into the city.

Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin) Texas has become an increasingly popular destination. Houston is the centre of the US energy industry. Dallas is a major finance and tech hub. Austin is growing fast in tech and music. Texas has no state income tax, which makes a real difference to take-home pay. A three-bedroom house in Houston or Dallas suburbs runs $1,500 to $2,500 per month in rent, substantially less than east or west coast cities.

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Shipping costs: Ireland to USA in 2026

Sea freight is how most people move a full household to the USA. You either book a share of a container (LCL: Less than Container Load) or take an exclusive container (FCL: Full Container Load) if the volume warrants it.

Here's what door-to-door sea freight costs from Ireland to US east coast ports (New York, Baltimore, Charleston):

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Volume: 5-10 CBM
What typically fits: 1-bed flat, basics only
Approximate cost: €2,800 – €4,500

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Volume: 15-20 CBM
What typically fits: 2-3 bed house, no bulky furniture
Approximate cost: €5,000 – €8,000

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Volume: 25-35 CBM
What typically fits: Full 3-4 bed house
Approximate cost: €8,500 – €134,000

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Volume: 33 CBM
What typically fits: Large 4 bed house
Approximate cost: €10,000 – €15,500

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West coast ports (Los Angeles, Oakland) add roughly €500 to €1,000 to the above due to longer transit and inland delivery. Texas (Houston) is similar to east coast pricing. Door-to-door transit from Ireland to east coast ports runs 10 to 14 days; west coast is 16 to 20 days.

These figures cover export packing, sea freight, US Customs clearance (including the ISF 10+2 pre-filing that US Customs requires 24 hours before departure from Ireland), and delivery. Insurance and storage are separate.

Air freight runs from €10 to €18 per kilogram for consolidated cargo, practical for a small volume of urgent items, not for a full household move.

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What to sort before you leave Ireland

Tax Notify Revenue that you're leaving. If you've been paying PAYE and emigrate mid-year, you may be entitled to a refund. The US taxes worldwide income for residents and citizens. If you're going to be in the US long enough to trigger tax residency, get advice from an accountant familiar with both Irish and US tax before you leave, not after.

Banking Opening a US bank account from Ireland is harder than it sounds. Most US banks require a US address and a Social Security Number. The practical bridge: use a multi-currency account like Wise or Revolut until you have a US address, then open a local account. Some credit unions with Irish-American links have historically been more flexible for new arrivals.

Driving licence An Irish licence is not automatically valid in the USA beyond a short grace period, and the rules vary by state. Most states allow you to drive on a foreign licence for 30 to 90 days, then require a state-issued licence. Converting usually involves a written test and sometimes a practical test. Bring your Irish licence, your passport, and proof of address to the state DMV.

Healthcare The USA has no public healthcare system equivalent to the HSE. If your employer is providing health insurance (which most US employers do for full-time staff) that's covered. If not, private cover is expensive. Marketplace plans under the Affordable Care Act vary by state and run roughly $300 to $600 per month for an individual with reasonable coverage. Do not arrive in the USA without health insurance in place.

Pets If you're bringing a dog or cat, the USA requires a microchip, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a health certificate from an Irish vet issued within 10 days of travel. Some states have additional requirements. AMC can advise on pet shipping options as part of your move.

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The admin checklist: before you leave and when you arrive

6 to 12 months before

• Start the visa process, especially for H-1B or employer-sponsored routes
• Enter the DV Lottery if applicable (applications open each October)
• Declutter before booking a survey. Volume determines cost

3 to 6 months before

• Book your free pre-move survey with AMC
• Confirm destination city and address
• Research health insurance options for your arrival state
• Notify Revenue you're leaving Ireland

6 to 8 weeks before

• Confirm packing and shipping date with AMC
• Arrange multi-currency banking for the transition period
• AMC delivers packing materials and begins export packing

On arrival in the USA

• Get a US SIM card immediately. Most American admin requires a local number
• Open a local bank account as soon as you have a US address
• Apply for your Social Security Number (SSN): required for employment and most financial accounts
• Register with your state DMV within the timeframe your state allows
• Enrol in health insurance within 60 days of your arrival date to avoid gaps in coverage
• AMC's US partner crew delivers your shipment after US Customs clearance, typically 1 to 2 days after the container arrives at port

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One thing people get wrong about shipping to the USA

US Customs requires what's called an Importer Security Filing (ISF 10+2), a declaration that must be submitted 24 hours before your container leaves Ireland. If it's missed or filed incorrectly, US Customs can fine the shipment and hold it at port.

AMC files the ISF as standard for every USA move. We also prepare the CBP Form 3299 (Personal Effects and Household Goods declaration) and a full inventory list on your behalf. These aren't optional steps you handle separately. They are part of the move.

Not every removal company doing this route prepares these documents correctly. It's worth asking about, specifically, before you book anyone.

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Get started

AMC has been moving Irish households and corporate clients to the USA for over 25 years. FIDI and FAIM accreditation mean our processes are independently audited. Our US partner network covers all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.

The first step is a free pre-move survey, in-home or by video. It takes 30 to 60 minutes and produces a fixed quote based on your actual volume. No estimates, no adjustments later.

Get a free pre-move survey done here.

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FAQs

Q.How long does sea freight take from Ireland to the USA?

‍East coast ports (New York, Baltimore, Charleston): 10 to 14 days door-to-door. West coast (Los Angeles, Oakland): 16 to 20 days. Houston: 10 to 13 days.

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Q. Can Irish citizens move to the USA without a job offer?

‍The main route without a job offer is the Diversity Visa Lottery, which runs annually. Outside of that, family-based green cards are an option if you have an eligible US citizen relative. Most work-based routes require an employer.

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Q. Do I need to pay US import duty on my household goods?

‍Household and personal effects that you've owned for at least a year are generally exempt from US import duty, provided you're moving to the US to establish residency and the goods are not being sold. AMC prepares the CBP Form 3299 to document this correctly.

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Q. Can I ship my car from Ireland to the USA?

‍Yes, with some conditions. Vehicles need to meet US safety and emissions standards, and some modifications may be required. A steering wheel on the correct side isn't an issue for Ireland (we drive on the left, same as the UK, and right-hand-drive vehicles can be imported). Vehicle shipping is quoted separately from household goods.

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Q. What happens if my US address isn't ready when my shipment arrives?

‍AMC can arrange storage at the destination port or a US warehouse until your address is confirmed. This is common and built into the logistics for moves where settlement or lease dates are uncertain.

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AMC Removals is an Irish-owned international removal company with over 25 years of experience. FIDI-accredited and FAIM-certified.