Every year, thousands of people move to Ireland including Irish people coming home after years abroad, non-Irish people arriving for work and families following a partner who got here first. The move looks different depending on where you're coming from. A container from Sydney takes 6-8 weeks. A truck from London takes 3-4 days. The customs process for a returning Irish person is different from a first-time arrival from a non-EU country.
AMC has been doing this route (from every direction) for over 25 years. We collect from any country, handle the export documentation, manage sea or air freight, clear Irish customs, and deliver to your door anywhere in Ireland. What follows is everything you actually need to know, broken down by where you're coming from.
The profile of people moving to Ireland has changed. There are a few distinct groups, and they have genuinely different needs.
The largest group using AMC's inbound service. People who left for Australia, the US, Canada, the UK, South Africa, and the UAE, many in their late 20s and early 30s when they went, many now in their 40s with families, careers, and a full household to ship back. The move back is usually triggered by a combination of things: ageing parents, Ireland's tech and pharma job market, the desire to be home, or the reality of international school fees making Ireland look financially sensible again.
This group typically has large shipments, 3 and 4-bedroom houses worth of goods accumulated over a decade or more. They usually qualify for Transfer of Residence (ToR) customs relief. And they often have vehicles to bring back, which involves VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax), Ireland's most expensive and least-expected part of the return.
Dublin's tech, pharma, and financial services sectors have created one of Europe's most international workforces. Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Pfizer, Bank of America, Citi, all have significant Irish operations. The people arriving to work in these industries come from every country. EU citizens arrive with straightforward rights. Non-EU citizens typically arrive on employment permits and have planned their move more extensively in advance.
This group tends to move smaller volumes, a one or two-bedroom apartment's worth of goods, and often ships only their most important possessions while selling or leaving behind larger items.
Partners, parents, adult children joining someone already in Ireland. This group is sometimes in a hurry and sometimes has the most complex situations, because they're often moving from countries with which Ireland has no automatic customs agreement, and the documentation requirements need more planning.
Sea freight from North America is the standard route. Containers depart from East Coast ports (New York, Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia) and West Coast ports (Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver) regularly. Transit to Dublin port: 3-5 weeks from the East Coast, 5-7 weeks from the West Coast.
For most moves, a part-load (LCL: Less than Container Load) is the right call. Your goods share a 20ft or 40ft container with other shipments heading in the same direction. A full container (FCL) makes sense for large 4+ bedroom houses or when you want your own dedicated box. AMC coordinates collection from your US or Canadian address, packing if required, export customs in the US/Canada, ocean freight, and Irish customs clearance: one point of contact for the whole chain.
Sea freight from Australia to Ireland typically routes via the Suez Canal. Ports of origin: Sydney (Port Botany), Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth (Fremantle). Transit to Dublin: 6-10 weeks depending on origin port and routing. Airfreight is available for urgent items (7-10 days to Dublin), but the cost for full household goods makes it impractical for anything beyond a few priority boxes.
Most people returning from Australia are moving a serious volume. Years in Sydney or Melbourne means a full house of furniture accumulated there. Plan for 8-10 weeks from collection date to delivery in Ireland.
The closest origin and fastest transit. AMC runs weekly departures between Ireland and the UK in both directions. Dublin-Holyhead and Rosslare-Pembroke ferries are the working routes. Door-to-door to anywhere in Ireland from UK: 3-5 days from most UK addresses. Since Brexit, goods crossing from Great Britain into Ireland require customs clearance at the Irish border, & the Transfer of Residence process applies (see Section 4).
Moving from Northern Ireland to the Republic involves a different customs arrangement under the Windsor Framework and is considerably more straightforward.
Sea freight from the UAE routes from Jebel Ali port in Dubai. Transit to Dublin: 5-7 weeks via the Suez Canal. The UAE has a large and growing Irish community, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and the return move to Ireland has become a frequent route for AMC. UAE export customs are relatively straightforward for household goods. Irish import customs requires proper ToR documentation. See Section 4.
Sea freight from Cape Town or Durban to Dublin: 4-6 weeks. South Africa is one of AMC's most established inbound routes, built around the significant Irish community that emigrated to South Africa over several decades and has been returning in increasing numbers. Cape Town is the most common origin; Johannesburg shipments route through Durban. The documentation requirements are similar to other non-EU origin countries.
Road freight. Your goods move by truck, within the EU customs area. No customs clearance needed at the Irish border for EU-origin shipments. Transit from most EU countries: 4-10 days depending on origin. France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands are the most common European origin countries for inbound moves to Ireland.
The lead time depends entirely on how far you're coming from.
Book 10-12 weeks before your planned move date. This gives time for a survey, packing, export clearance in your origin country, ocean transit, and Irish customs clearance before your delivery date. If you book 4 weeks out and expect 6-week transit, the maths doesn't work.
8 weeks before for larger moves, 4-6 weeks for one or two-bedroom apartments. The short transit time compresses the window but the rest of the planning (finding your Irish address, sorting documents) still takes time.
6-8 weeks is comfortable. Road freight is faster but the Irish address and ToR documentation still need to be in order before collection.
Ireland is in the EU. Goods arriving in Ireland from outside the EU (including from the US, Australia, UAE, and South Africa) are subject to Irish customs. The relief that keeps your household goods duty-free and VAT-free is called Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief, administered by Irish Revenue.
New items, items in original packaging, alcohol and tobacco (subject to Irish excise duty regardless), commercially purchased goods, and vehicles (which have their own separate VRT process. See Section 5).
AMC's customs team files the ToR application to Irish Revenue on your behalf before your shipment arrives at Dublin or Cork port. We prepare the inventory, compile the supporting documents, and manage the clearance. You don't need to deal with Revenue directly.
What we need from you:
For returning Irish people specifically: your Irish PPS number (from before you left) is still valid and can be used. If you've been gone for many years, Revenue may need to confirm your record is active — this is routine.
Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) is Ireland's one-time tax on registering a foreign vehicle with Irish plates. It's calculated as a percentage of the car's Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) in Ireland, not what you paid for it, not what it's worth in your origin country. OMSP is Revenue's own valuation of what the car would sell for in the Irish market.
VRT rates depend on CO2 emissions under the WLTP testing cycle. For most petrol and diesel cars, it runs from 7% to 37% of OMSP. For a mid-range petrol car, that's often €3,000-8,000. Electric vehicles attract a flat rate of around €170. Plug-in hybrids sit between the two.
If you're returning to Ireland after living abroad, you may qualify for VRT relief on one vehicle, provided you've owned the car for at least 6 months before arriving in Ireland, and you've lived outside Ireland for at least 12 consecutive months. The relief exempts you from paying VRT, though you still need to go through the registration process.
This relief is significant. A car that would attract €6,000 in VRT can be registered for free if you qualify. The application goes through Irish Revenue and requires supporting documentation (proof of foreign residence, proof of vehicle ownership timeline).
The registration process:
You can drive on your foreign plates for 30 days after arriving in Ireland. After that, the car must be registered. Don't push this. Revenue and An Garda Síochána both enforce it, and the penalty for driving an unregistered foreign vehicle as a resident is a fine plus the full VRT amount.
AMC transports vehicles in containers alongside household goods or separately. We provide guidance on VRT and the NCTS process and can recommend VRT specialists for complex cases.
Ireland has strict biosecurity rules for pet imports. It's an island with no rabies, and it intends to keep it that way. The rules are enforced.
Standard EU pet travel rules apply. Microchip, valid rabies vaccination, EU pet passport. Straightforward.
Ireland follows EU pet travel rules. Since the UK left the EU pet scheme, pets from Great Britain need a microchip, valid rabies vaccination, tapeworm treatment for dogs (within 1-5 days of entry into Ireland), and an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an official vet in Great Britain within 10 days of travel. The old EU pet passport is no longer valid for travel from GB.
Ireland is listed as a Part 1 country for pet travel, meaning pets arriving from certain non-EU countries with the right documentation don't face quarantine. But the requirements are more involved than EU pet travel.
Your pet needs:
The 3-month wait post-titre test means you need to start the pet process at least 4 months before your intended move date. If your pet has had all vaccinations and a titre test recently enough, you may already be within the window. Check with your vet.
Dogs also require tapeworm treatment within 120 hours (5 days) of arriving in Ireland.
AMC doesn't transport live animals. We can connect you with specialist pet relocation services that handle the Ireland route and are experienced in navigating the titre test timing requirements.
The Personal Public Service number is the Irish equivalent of the US Social Security number, Australian Tax File Number, or UK National Insurance number. You need it for employment, benefits, healthcare, banking, and most interactions with the Irish state. Apply at your local Intreo Centre (the Department of Social Protection) or online if you're already in the system. Bring your passport and proof of Irish address. For returning Irish people, your old PPS number is still valid.
Ireland has a two-track healthcare system: public (HSE) and private. EU citizens have access to HSE services and can apply for a medical card if their income is below the threshold. Non-EU citizens on employment permits generally have private health insurance provided or arranged through their employer. Regardless of your status, registering with a GP is the first step. GPs are the gateway to the rest of the healthcare system. Find a GP through hse.ie and register in person.
You need an Irish bank account for salary payments, rent direct debits, and utility bills. AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB are the main high-street banks. Revolut has an Irish IBAN and works for most daily purposes. For new arrivals without an Irish credit history, some banks ask for extensive documentation. Revolut or N26 as a bridging account while you establish your Irish banking history is a common workaround.
If you have an EU driving licence (including Irish), it's valid in Ireland. If you have a licence from a country with a bilateral exchange agreement with Ireland (the US, Australia, South Africa, Canada, and several others), you can exchange it directly for an Irish licence without retaking your test. The exchange is done at your local NDLS (National Driver Licence Service) centre. Bring your foreign licence, passport, proof of Irish address, and an eyesight report from an optician.
If you're moving with school-age children, start the school registration process before you arrive if at all possible. Schools in Dublin and other major cities can have waiting lists. Register your children with the relevant school's admissions system and with your local Education and Training Board if required.
Most people arriving in Ireland from abroad land in Dublin or its surrounding counties. It's where most of the international company offices are, where the airport is, and where the largest expat and returnee community exists.
Dublin's rental market is one of the most competitive in Europe. Vacancy rates are extremely low and demand consistently outstrips supply. A two-bedroom apartment in Dublin 2, 4, 6, or 8 runs €2,200-2,800/month. Suburban areas (Clontarf, Sandymount, Ranelagh, Rathmines) run slightly less but are also competitive. Plan to begin your apartment search 2-3 months before arrival and have your documents ready. Employment contract, bank statements, references — to move quickly when you find something.
Most people who spent time in Australia or the US arrive with families and a preference for more space than Dublin city provides. The commuter belt counties offer larger homes, better value, and a quality of life that's genuinely different from urban Dublin. Kildare (where AMC is based), Meath, Wicklow, and Louth all have regular rail connections to Dublin city. The M7, M4, M3, and M1 motorways serve car commuters. Rents and property prices are significantly lower than comparable Dublin properties.
Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford all have international company presences . Cork especially, with significant pharma and tech operations (Apple, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson). For people returning to family areas outside Dublin, the regional cities offer far more than they did 15-20 years ago in terms of professional opportunity.
Costs vary significantly by origin country and shipment size. These are guides. Your quote comes from a video survey.
All figures are estimates for collection from your origin address, export clearance, ocean or road freight, Irish customs clearance (ToR), and delivery to your Irish address. Packing, vehicle transport, and specialist items are quoted separately.
Q. Do I have to pay Irish customs duty on my belongings?
A. If you qualify for Transfer of Residence relief i.e, you lived outside Ireland for 12+ months, owned the goods for 6+ months, your personal effects are imported duty-free and VAT-free. AMC files the ToR application on your behalf.
Q. I've been in Australia for 10 years. Do I still qualify for VRT relief on my car?
A. Very likely yes, if you've owned the car for at least 6 months and have been living outside Ireland for at least 12 months continuously. The relief exempts you from VRT on one vehicle. AMC's team can advise on your specific situation.
Q. My shipment will arrive before my Irish address is confirmed. What happens?
A. AMC has a secure, climate-controlled warehouse in Naas, Co. Kildare. We hold your shipment and deliver when your address is confirmed. Mention this at booking so we can plan the storage period.
Q. Can I ship my car in the same container as my household goods?
A. Yes. Vehicles are loaded into the container alongside household goods. AMC handles the vehicle loading and securing. This is often more cost-effective than shipping the car separately.
Q. How do I get a survey if I'm still in Australia (or the US, UAE, etc.)?
A. Video survey. we assess your volume, access, and requirements over a video call at a time that works across the time zone. We've done this with clients in every country we serve. Written quote within 48 hours.
Q. My partner is not Irish. Do they need a visa to come to Ireland?
A. It depends on their nationality. EU citizens have free movement rights and don't need a visa. Non-EU citizens may need an employment permit or join family visa. This is outside our area. An Irish immigration solicitor is the right person to advise on specific circumstances. We handle the removal. Immigration paperwork is for a specialist.
Q. How do I start?
A. Book a video survey. We'll assess your volume, confirm your ToR eligibility, go through your options, and send a written quote within 48 hours.
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