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Canada has one of the largest Irish diaspora communities in the world. Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa all have a well-established Irish community built up over several decades, with a significant influx during the 2008-2015 recession adding a younger cohort who are now in their late 30s and 40s and thinking seriously about coming home.
The move from Canada to Ireland is sea freight fromHalifax or Montreal on the East Coast, Vancouver on the West Coast. Transit times are shorter than you'd expect from the distances involved, particularly from the East Coast, where Halifax's position on the Atlantic makes it one of the closer North American ports to Dublin.
The questions people ask on this route are similar to the US page in structure (customs, VRT, pets, retirement accounts) but the specifics are Canadian. CFIA rather than USDA. CPP rather than Social Security. RRSP and TFSA rather than 401k and IRA. This page covers the Canadian specifics in full.
The majority of AMC's Canada-to-Ireland customers. Irish people who went to Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, or Ottawa (many on the post-2008 recession wave) and built careers, relationships, and full households there. The decision to come back is usually driven by a combination of things: the cost of living in Canadian cities (Toronto and Vancouver are now among the most expensive cities in North America to rent or buy in), family pulling them home, or simply the accumulation of years away reaching a tipping point.
This group typically qualifies for Transfer of Residence customs relief and, if they've owned a car for 6+ months, for VRT exemption on one vehicle. Like returning Irish from Australia, they've often been gone long enough to have serious shipment volumes. They also arrive with Canadian financial instruments that don't transfer to Ireland: RRSPs, TFSAs, CPP contribution records. See Section 7.
Ireland's tech, pharma, and financial services sectors draw Canadians regularly, particularly from Ontario and British Columbia. Canadians also come for partners, for EU citizenship by descent through Irish grandparents, or for the lifestyle shift that Ireland represents after years in a North American city. This group tends to move smaller volumes (one or two-bedroom apartments) and their main questions are practical: how long does shipping take, how do they open an Irish bank account, what's the healthcare system like.
Everything from Canada to Ireland travels by sea. Your departure port depends on where in Canada you're leaving from.
Halifax (Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia) is the closest major North American container port to Dublin. The Atlantic crossing from Halifax to Dublin is shorter than from any US East Coast port. Transit time runs 2-4 weeks depending on vessel schedule and routing. For anyone in the Maritime provinces, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island, Halifax is the natural departure point.
Montreal (Port of Montreal, Quebec) serves Ontario and Quebec. Goods from Toronto typically route through Montreal. Transit from Montreal to Dublin: 3-5 weeks. The St. Lawrence Seaway leg adds a few days to the ocean crossing but Montreal is a well-served port with regular European services.
For moves from Ottawa, Toronto, or anywhere in Ontario and Quebec, Halifax or Montreal are both viable, AMC advises on current routing and frequency at the time of booking.
Vancouver (Port of Vancouver, Deltaport terminal) is the departure point for British Columbia, Alberta, and the Prairie provinces. Transit to Dublin: 5-7 weeks via the Panama Canal. West Coast Canada has a similar transit profile to West Coast US. The Pacific leg and Panama transit add considerable time compared to East Coast departures.
If you're in Calgary, Edmonton, or Saskatchewan, goods road-freight to Vancouver before the ocean leg. Factor in a few extra days for that inland movement.
LCL (Less than Container Load): your goods share a container with other shipments heading in the same direction. Right for studios, one and two-bedroom apartments, and anyone not shipping a full house. More cost-effective for smaller volumes.
FCL (Full Container Load): your own 20ft or 40ft container. A 20ft fits roughly a 2-3 bedroom house. A 40ft fits a 4+ bedroom house. For families who've been in Canada for 10+ years with a full household, a 40ft FCL is often the right call. Your goods don't wait for consolidation and the transit window tightens.
Every commercial shipment leaving Canada with a value over CAD $2,000 requires a B13A export declaration filed with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). AMC's Canadian freight partners handle this as part of the export process. It's routine but needs to be done correctly. An error or omission in the B13A can hold your shipment at the Canadian port of departure.
Available for a small number of priority items you need in Ireland before the sea shipment arrives. Air freight from Toronto or Vancouver to Dublin runs 5-7 days. Significantly more expensive per cubic metre than ocean freight. Use it for a few priority boxes, not furniture.
Start the process. Book a video survey, we assess your volume, packing requirements, and access over a call at a time that works across the time zone. Canada spans six time zones; EST (Toronto, Ottawa) is 5 hours behind Ireland, PST (Vancouver) is 8 hours behind. Early morning Canadian time works well for cross-timezone calls.
If you have pets: read Section 6 before anything else. The titre test timing applies from Canada and the 4-month minimum is firm.
AMC collection from your Canadian address. Goods professionally packed (if booked), loaded, Canadian export documentation (B13A) completed, container booked onto the vessel.
AMC tracks the shipment and prepares Irish customs clearance documentation (Transfer of Residence application, inventory review, Revenue clearance) while your goods are on the water.
Customs clearance, container released from port, AMC collects and delivers to your Irish address. If your Irish address isn't confirmed yet, your goods go into our Naas warehouse until you're ready.
Ireland is in the EU. Goods arriving from Canada cross an international customs boundary, which means Irish import duties and VAT apply, unless you qualify for Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief, administered by Irish Revenue.
The conditions:
For returning Irish emigrants: you almost certainly qualify. If you've been in Canada for more than a year and are coming back with goods you've owned and used, ToR covers your household effects.
For Canadians arriving for the first time: the same conditions apply. 12 months of Canadian residency and personal effects owned for 6+ months qualifies you.
What isn't covered: new items in original packaging, alcohol and tobacco (subject to Irish excise duty), commercially purchased goods, and vehicles.
What we need from you: a detailed inventory of all items (AMC provides the template), proof of Canadian address for the past 12+ months (Canadian utility bills, bank statements, lease or mortgage documents), proof of your new Irish address or confirmation it's in progress, and your PPS number if you have one from before you left Ireland.
How AMC handles it: we file the ToR application to Revenue on your behalf before your shipment arrives at Dublin port. You don't contact Revenue directly.
Canadian cars are left-hand drive, the same as US-market vehicles, and the opposite of Ireland, which drives on the left. The headlight issue applies: Canadian car headlights are calibrated to dip to the right for right-hand traffic, which means they can dip toward oncoming drivers on Irish roads. Most cars can have the headlight beam pattern adjusted at an NCTS centre. It's a routine fix but worth factoring in before arrival.
Driving left-hand drive in Ireland is legal. It's less intuitive for overtaking and some parking situations. How much this matters depends on the car and how much you use it. Most people adapt within a few weeks; some find it uncomfortable long-term and prefer to sell in Canada and buy a European car on arrival.
Vehicle Registration Tax is Ireland's one-time registration tax on imported vehicles, calculated as a percentage of the car's Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) in Ireland. VRT rates run from 7% to 37% of OMSP based on CO2 emissions under WLTP testing. Electric vehicles attract a flat rate of around €170.
Most cars sold in Canada are internationally common models (Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford F-150, Subaru Outback) many of which have European equivalents that Revenue can reference for OMSP assessment. Unlike some US-specific models, Canadian-market vehicles are rarely obscure from an Irish valuation perspective.
If you've owned and used the car in Canada for at least 6 months and you've been living outside Ireland for at least 12 months, you may qualify for Transfer of Residence VRT relief, exempting you from paying VRT on one vehicle. AMC can connect you with VRT specialists who manage the Revenue application.
Canada, like the US, has a love of large pickup trucks like the Ford F-150, RAM 1500, and GMC Sierra are among the most popular vehicles in the country. These have CO2 profiles that put them in the highest VRT brackets. Even with VRT relief, the ongoing costs in Ireland (road tax on a high-emission vehicle, fuel at European prices, insurance on a less common LHD model) can change the calculation. Worth running the numbers before committing to shipping a large truck.
Ireland has strict pet import rules. Canada is not on the EU's simplified pet travel list, so the full titre test process applies. The same requirement as Australia, the UAE, South Africa, and the USA.
For dogs only: tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours before arriving in Ireland.
Vaccination, then 30+ day wait, then titre test, then 3-month wait, then travel. That's a minimum of 4 months from vaccination to entry into Ireland. If your pet has a valid titre test on record already, check with your vet whether you're within the window. If not, start immediately.
The health certificate must be issued by a CFIA-accredited vet and endorsed by CFIA before travel. Unlike the USDA process in the US, CFIA endorsement is typically handled through the nearest CFIA regional office. Book the endorsement appointment well ahead of your travel date, the certificate is valid for 10 days from issue, so timing matters.
AMC doesn't transport live animals. We can connect you with specialist pet relocation companies experienced on the Canada-Ireland route who know the CFIA endorsement process and manage the titre test timing. Ask for a recommendation at booking.
This isn't financial advice. Talk to a Canadian financial adviser and an Irish tax professional before you move. But here are the issues worth knowing exist.
Canada and Ireland have a bilateral Social Security agreement. The practical effect is the same as the US Totalization Agreement: your years of CPP contributions in Canada count toward Irish State Pension eligibility, and Irish PRSI years count toward Canadian entitlements. Moving to Ireland doesn't cancel your CPP record. When you reach CPP eligibility age, your benefit is paid to you wherever you live, including Ireland.
If you've been paying into CPP for years and are now going to pay Irish PRSI instead, your combined contribution history across both countries can be used to qualify for benefits in either.
RRSPs (Registered Retirement Savings Plans) stay in Canada. They don't transfer to Ireland, and you can't roll them into an Irish pension. The account remains in Canada, managed by your Canadian institution, until you start drawing from it.
Canada and Ireland have a Double Taxation Agreement. When you eventually draw from your RRSP as an Irish resident, Canada typically withholds tax at source, and the DTA governs how that income is treated in Ireland. The mechanics depend on your account type and the treaty provisions. Get specific advice before you start drawing.
TFSAs
A Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is tax-advantaged in Canada. Irish Revenue doesn't recognise the TFSA wrapper. From the day you establish Irish tax residency, growth within your TFSA (dividends, interest, capital gains) becomes taxable in Ireland, even though Canada continues to treat it as tax-free. The account doesn't close; you can keep it open. But you'll owe Irish tax on growth going forward.
If you have a significant TFSA balance, get advice before you leave. Some people choose to realise gains while still a Canadian resident, before the Irish tax clock starts.
Provincial health insurance ends when you leave. The timing varies slightly by province. Most require you to notify them when you're leaving permanently, and coverage ends at that point or at the end of the month. OHIP (Ontario), BC Services Card, AHCIP (Alberta), and the equivalent provincial plans all follow similar patterns.
There's a gap between leaving provincial cover and getting set up in Ireland. Travel insurance bridges some emergency scenarios during transit but isn't a long-term solution. Get Irish healthcare cover in place as early as possible after you arrive.
Irish citizens returning to Ireland have immediate HSE entitlement. Public GP visits run €60-80 for most people (free for medical card holders). Medical card eligibility is income-based & thresholds are at hse.ie.
Most working adults in Ireland carry private health insurance alongside HSE entitlement. VHI, Laya Healthcare, and Irish Life Health are the main providers. Monthly premiums run €80-250/month for adults depending on cover level.
Watch for the Lifetime Community Rating (LCR) loading, a gap of more than 13 weeks between health cover and joining an Irish private insurer can trigger a premium loading for each year over 34 that you were without cover. Get Irish private health insurance in place quickly, and keep documentation of your provincial health cover to support a reduced loading claim.
If you are arriving employed at a multinational, private health insurance is often part of the package, confirm before arrival.
Register with a GP when you arrive. In Ireland, GPs are the gateway to specialist care. You need a referral to see a consultant. Find one near your Irish address at hse.ie, confirm they're accepting new patients, and register in person.
The Personal Public Service number, Ireland's equivalent of a Social Insurance Number (SIN) in Canada. You need it for employment, Revenue, healthcare, and most government services. Apply at your local Intreo Centre with your passport and proof of Irish address. For returning Irish people, your old PPS number is still valid and may just need reactivation.
You need an Irish bank account for salary payments, rent, and utility direct debits. AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB are the main high-street banks. Revolut (Irish IBAN) opens quickly and works for most daily purposes while you establish an Irish banking history. Most mainstream banks need proof of address and a PPS number first, Revolut as a bridging account is the common workaround.
Ireland recognises Canadian driving licences for direct exchange, but the bilateral arrangement is province-specific. Licences from Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta are all accepted for direct exchange at an NDLS (National Driver Licence Service) centre. Quebec's licensing system differs due to French-language regulations. Confirm the current position at ndls.ie before your appointment if your licence is Quebec-issued.
For all accepted provinces: bring your Canadian licence, a certified eyesight report from an optician, proof of Irish address, and your PPS number. No driving test required.
Once you're employed in Ireland, your employer handles Revenue registration and PAYE deduction at source. Set up a Revenue myAccount online to manage your tax credits, PAYE record, and any returns.
These are realistic guides. Your actual quote comes from a video survey.
All figures include collection from your Canadian address, packing if booked, Canadian export documentation (B13A), ocean freight, Irish port handling, ToR customs clearance, and delivery to your Irish address. Vehicle transport, VRT specialist fees, and specialist items are quoted separately.
From Halifax or Montreal: 2-4 weeks ocean transit after collection. the East Coast to Dublin crossing is shorter than from US ports. From Vancouver: 5-7 weeks via Panama Canal. Add 1-2 weeks for collection, packing, and Canadian export documentation. Total from collection to delivery: 4-7 weeks East Coast, 8-12 weeks West Coast.
No. The Canada-Ireland Social Security agreement protects your CPP contribution record. Your Canadian working years count toward your CPP benefit regardless of where you live. CPP is paid to wherever you live (including Ireland) at the relevant eligibility age.
Irish Revenue doesn't recognise the TFSA wrapper. From the day you become an Irish tax resident, growth within your TFSA is taxable in Ireland, even though Canada continues to treat it as tax-free. The account stays open in most cases, but the Irish tax treatment changes immediately on establishing Irish residency. Get advice before you leave if you have a significant balance.
Yes, for most provinces. Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and several others are on Ireland's bilateral recognition list withdirect exchange at an NDLS centre, no test. Quebec licences may require an additional step. Confirm your province's current status at ndls.ie before your appointment.
Yes, unless she has a valid titre test result already within the required window. If a new titre test is needed, the timeline is: rabies vaccination, then 30+ day wait, then titre test, then 3-month wait, then travel. A minimum of 4 months from the vaccination. Start this the moment you know you're moving.
Yes, and most people do. You fly over, sort your accommodation, and your shipment follows. From the East Coast, your goods could be with you in 4-7 weeks. From Vancouver, plan for 8-12 weeks. AMC delivers to your confirmed Irish address, or holds at our Naas warehouse if you're not yet settled.
Book a video survey. We work across Canadian time zones (EST, CST, MST, PST) and schedule calls that work for both sides. Written quote within 48 hours of the survey.
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