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Two types of people move from the USA to Ireland. Irish people who spent years or decades in America and are finally coming back. And Americans, or people who built a life in the US, who are arriving in Ireland for the first time, usually for work, a relationship, or a calculated lifestyle decision.
The move looks different depending on which you are. The logistics are the same: ocean freight, Irish customs, VRT if you're bringing a car. But the specific details (what documentation you need, how your US retirement savings interact with Irish tax, what to do with your US Social Security record) depend on your situation.
This page covers both, and the logistics in full.
The majority of our USA-to-Ireland customers. People who left Cork, Galway, Dublin, or a small town in Mayo in their 20s or 30s, built a life in Boston, New York, Chicago, or San Francisco, and are now coming home. Often with an American partner, American-born children, a full household, and a US-registered car they're attached to.
This group typically qualifies for Transfer of Residence (ToR) customs relief and often for VRT exemption on a vehicle, both significant financial benefits. They also have the most complex financial situation: US retirement accounts, US Social Security credits, US bank accounts, and the question of what happens to all of that when Irish tax residency kicks in.
Ireland's tech, pharma, and financial services sectors pull people from the US regularly. Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Salesforce, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Citi, all have significant Dublin operations. Americans arriving for these roles tend to move smaller volumes (one or two-bedroom apartments worth of goods), often don't bring a car, and have a clearer financial picture because they're usually arriving with an employment package that covers some of the admin.
This group's main concerns are practical: how long does shipping take, how does Irish healthcare work, how do they open a bank account without an Irish credit history, and what happens with US taxes once they're living abroad.
Everything comes by sea (or air for urgent items). Your origin city determines your port of departure and your transit time to Dublin.
New York/New Jersey (Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal), Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Boston are the main East Coast departure ports. Transit time to Dublin port: 3-5 weeks depending on routing, whether your shipment takes a direct service or transits via a European hub like Rotterdam or Southampton.
For most people moving from New York, Boston, New Jersey, Connecticut, or the mid-Atlantic states, the East Coast is the right option. The ports are well-served, departures are frequent, and the transit time is as short as the Atlantic allows.
Los Angeles (Port of Long Beach), Seattle, and San Francisco are the West Coast ports. Transit to Dublin: 5-7 weeks. West Coast shipments typically route via the Panama Canal or, for smaller consolidations, may tranship through an East Coast hub before the Atlantic crossing.
If you're in California, Oregon, Washington, or the Mountain states, the West Coast is your departure point. The extra transit time versus East Coast is simply geography. There's no faster option short of air freight.
Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta. No direct port, but freight from these locations consolidates to the nearest major port (Chicago typically goes to East Coast, Houston or New Orleans to Gulf Coast services). Transit time adds 3-5 days to the main ocean leg.
LCL (Less than Container Load): your goods share a 20ft or 40ft container with other shipments heading in the same direction. The right option for studios, one and two-bedroom apartments, or anyone not shipping a full house. More cost-effective for smaller volumes.
FCL (Full Container Load): your own 20ft or 40ft container. Everything in it is yours. Right for 3-4 bedroom houses, large volumes, or when you want guaranteed space and don't want your goods consolidated with strangers' shipments. A 20ft container fits roughly a 2-3 bedroom house; a 40ft fits a 4+ bedroom house.
Available for priority items you need in Ireland before the sea freight arrives. Sentimental items, work equipment, anything that can't wait 4-6 weeks. Air freight from the US to Dublin runs 5-7 days. It's significantly more expensive per cubic metre than ocean freight, typically used for a few priority boxes, not an entire household.
Every commercial shipment leaving the US with a value over $2,500 requires an Automated Export System (AES) filing through the US Census Bureau. AMC's US freight partners handle this as part of the export process. It's routine, but it's another reason to use a freight forwarder with experience on this route rather than a general courier. Missing or incorrect AES filing can hold your shipment at the US port of departure.
Start the process. Book a video survey. We assess your volume, access, and packing requirements over a call at a time that works across the time zone. Quote confirmed within 48 hours.
If you're bringing a pet: start the rabies titre test process now. There's a mandatory 3-month wait after a successful titre test before your pet can enter Ireland. Miss this and you can't bring them when you go. Read Section 6 before anything else if pets are involved.
AMC collection from your US address. Goods professionally packed, loaded, export customs (including AES filing) completed, container sealed and booked onto the vessel.
AMC tracks your shipment and prepares Irish customs clearance documentation. Transfer of Residence application, inventory review, Revenue clearance. This happens while your goods are on the water, so clearance is ready when the ship arrives at Dublin port.
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 have keys.
Ireland is in the EU. Goods arriving from the US are crossing an international customs boundary. The mechanism that keeps your household goods duty-free and VAT-free is Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief, administered by Irish Revenue.
The conditions:
For returning Irish emigrants: you almost certainly qualify. If you left Ireland more than a year ago and are coming back with goods you've owned and used, ToR relief applies to your household effects.
For Americans arriving for the first time: you also qualify if you've been living in the US for 12+ months (which, as a US resident, you have) and the goods are your personal effects owned for 6+ months.
What isn't covered: new items in original packaging, alcohol and tobacco (subject to Irish excise duty), commercially purchased goods, and vehicles (which have a separate VRT process).
How AMC handles it: we file the ToR application to Revenue on your behalf before your shipment arrives in Dublin. We prepare the inventory, compile your supporting documents, and manage Revenue clearance. You don't contact Revenue directly.
What we need from you: a detailed inventory of all items (AMC provides the template), proof of your US address for the past 12+ months (US utility bills, US bank statements, lease or mortgage statements), proof of your new Irish address or evidence it's in process, and your PPS number if you have one from a previous time in Ireland.
Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) is Ireland's one-time tax on registering a foreign vehicle. It's calculated as a percentage of the car's Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) in Ireland, Revenue's valuation of what that car would sell for on the Irish market, not what you paid for it in the US. VRT rates run from 7% to 37% of OMSP depending on CO2 emissions. On a typical American family car, that's often €4,000-10,000.
If you've owned and used the car in the US 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, which exempts you from paying VRT on one vehicle. This is significant. A car that would cost €7,000 in VRT can be registered for free if you qualify.
The application goes through Revenue. AMC can connect you with VRT specialists who handle the Revenue application, it's worth getting this confirmed before you commit to shipping the car, because if you don't qualify, the VRT bill can outweigh the value of bringing the car over.
US cars are left-hand drive. Ireland drives on the left side of the road, like the UK. Left-hand drive cars are legal in Ireland, there's no requirement to convert. They're less common and some people find parking and overtaking slightly less intuitive, but they're roadworthy and NCT-able.
One technical issue: US cars have headlights designed for driving on the right side of the road (they're calibrated to dip to the right to avoid blinding oncoming traffic on right-hand traffic roads). In Ireland, driving on the left, this means the headlights can dip toward oncoming traffic. Most cars can have the headlight beam pattern adjusted at an NCTS centre, it's a common, manageable fix but worth knowing before you arrive.
The registration process:
Many people who've been in the US for 10+ years have large American cars, F-150s, SUVs, large sedans. These vehicles have higher CO2 ratings, which means higher VRT brackets. Even with VRT relief, the ongoing costs (insurance, fuel, road tax) on a large American vehicle in Ireland can be surprising. Some people find they'd rather sell in the US and buy a smaller European car when they arrive. Run the numbers before deciding.
AMC transports vehicles inside containers alongside household goods. We can quote for vehicle shipping and advise on VRT agents.
Ireland has strict pet import rules. It's a rabies-free island and intends to stay that way. The process from the US is manageable, but the timing is the critical part.
What your dog or cat needs:
For dogs only: tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours before arriving in Ireland.
Vaccination → 30+ day wait → titre test → 3-month wait → travel. That's a minimum of 4 months from vaccination to entry into Ireland. If your pet has had a recent, valid titre test already, you may already be within the window. Ccheck with your vet.
Start this process the moment you know you're moving. It's the one part of a US-to-Ireland move that genuinely cannot be rushed. Missing the titre test timeline means your pet either can't travel when you do, or you're in an extended wait.
The health certificate must be endorsed by the USDA APHIS office in your region before travel. Book this well in advance, USDA appointments can have a wait. The certificate is valid for 10 days from issue, so the endorsement appointment needs to be timed to your travel date.
AMC doesn't transport live animals. We work regularly with specialist pet relocation companies who handle the US-to-Ireland route, know the USDA endorsement process, and manage the timing requirements. Ask us for a recommendation at the booking stage.
This isn't tax advice. Talk to a CPA who works with American expats and an Irish tax professional before you move. But here are the issues you need to know exist.
The US is one of very few countries that taxes its citizens on global income regardless of where they live. Once you're in Ireland, you'll be paying Irish income tax on your Irish income. But you'll also still be required to file US federal tax returns and report your worldwide income to the IRS.
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) and the Foreign Tax Credit partially mitigate double taxation. You won't pay full tax in both countries on the same income, but the filing obligation doesn't go away. Every year, as long as you hold US citizenship, you file with the IRS.
If you hold foreign (Irish) bank accounts with a combined balance exceeding $10,000 at any point in the year, you must file a FinCEN 114 (FBAR) with the US Treasury. Additionally, certain foreign assets above thresholds require Form 8938 (FATCA). Irish bank accounts are foreign accounts from the IRS's perspective. This catches people off guard.
Ireland and the US have a treaty that prevents being fully taxed twice on the same income. It covers employment income, pensions, dividends, and more. Worth understanding before you move, especially if you're drawing from US retirement accounts while living in Ireland.
The US and Ireland signed a Totalization Agreement in 1993. The key practical effect: if you've been paying into US Social Security for years and then move to Ireland and start paying Irish PRSI, the two countries recognise each other's contribution records. Your US Social Security years count toward Irish State Pension eligibility, and vice versa. You won't lose your US Social Security entitlements by moving to Ireland. Your American periods of employment still count.
These don't transfer to Ireland. They stay in the US, in US dollar accounts, managed by US financial institutions. The treaty addresses the taxation of distributions from these accounts when you're an Irish resident. Withdrawals may be taxable in Ireland, in the US, or both depending on the account type and the treaty provisions. Get advice specific to your account type before you start drawing from them as an Irish resident.
If you've been on US employer health insurance, the gap between leaving your US job and establishing Irish healthcare coverage needs to be managed. COBRA (continuing your US employer insurance) can bridge the gap for a period. Travel insurance covers some emergency scenarios. But you need Irish coverage in place by the time you're settled.
Irish citizens and EU residents are entitled to access the HSE (Health Service Executive), Ireland's public health system. For returning Irish citizens, the entitlement is immediate on return. Public GP visits are free for some groups (medical card holders) and €60-80 for others. Hospital care is subsidised but not free.
Medical card eligibility is income-based. If you're returning to Ireland and your income for the year is below the threshold, you may qualify. The thresholds are published on hse.ie and vary by age and household situation.
Most working adults in Ireland carry private health insurance alongside their HSE entitlement. The main providers are VHI, Laya Healthcare, and Irish Life Health. Private insurance gives faster access to consultants, private hospital rooms, and some services not covered publicly. Monthly premiums run €80-250/month for adults depending on cover level.
If you're arriving employed at a multinational, your employer may include private health insurance as part of your package, confirm before arrival.
Register with a GP when you arrive. GPs in Ireland are the gatekeepers. You can't see a specialist without a referral. Find a GP near your Irish address at hse.ie, call to confirm they're accepting new patients, and register in person. In Dublin, some GP practices have waiting lists. Register as soon as you arrive, before you need to.
The Personal Public Service number, the equivalent of your US Social Security number. 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 who had a PPS number before they left, the number is the same, it may just need to be reactivated.
You need an Irish bank account for salary, rent payments, and utility direct debits. AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB are the main banks. Revolut (Irish IBAN) is quick to open and works for most purposes while you establish your Irish banking history. Most mainstream banks ask for proof of address and PPS number, Revolut and N26 typically need only your passport and a selfie.
One thing to know: once you have Irish bank accounts, they become "foreign accounts" from the IRS's perspective. FBAR reporting applies if balances exceed $10,000. See Section 7.
Ireland recognises US driving licences for exchange purposes. You can exchange your valid US licence for an Irish licence at an NDLS (National Driver Licence Service) centre without retaking a full driving test. You'll need your US licence, a certified eyesight report from an optician, proof of Irish address, and your PPS number. Requirements can change. Confirm current requirements at ndls.ie before your appointment.
NDLS note: some US states' licences require an additional step versus others. The NDLS confirms this at the time of application. Bring your original licence, not a photocopy.
Once you're earning in Ireland, your employer registers you with Revenue and PAYE (Pay As You Earn) tax is deducted at source. If you're self-employed, you register directly with Revenue for income tax and PRSI. Your PPS number is your Revenue identifier.
Most people arriving from the US end up in Dublin or the greater Dublin commuter area. That's where most of the international company offices are and where the largest English-speaking expat and returnee community exists.
The most popular landing spot for higher earners and families: Dalkey, Killiney, Sandycove, Dún Laoghaire, Blackrock. These are established, leafy suburbs with good schools, strong community infrastructure, and an existing American expat community. Property is expensive, comparable to Boston suburbs or mid-range New Jersey, but the quality of life is genuinely high.
The urban professional choice. Close to the city centre, excellent food, bars, and culture, good transport. Popular with younger arrivals and those without school-age children. More affordable than South County Dublin but still competitive.
Close to Dublin Airport, more affordable than the south side, good transport links. Popular with families and with people who travel frequently for work.
For families who want more space. A detached house with a garden in Naas, Athy, Greystones, or Navan costs significantly less than comparable property in Dublin. Rail and motorway access to Dublin. Quieter, more rural, genuinely Irish feel. Many returning emigrants with families end up here.
Ireland's second city, with a growing multinational presence (Apple's EMEA headquarters is here, alongside Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and several major pharmaceutical operations). Cork has a strong expat community in its own right, significantly lower rents than Dublin, and a quality of life that's frequently ranked above Dublin by the people who've lived in both.
These are realistic guides. Your actual quote comes from a video survey.
Prices include: collection from your US address, packing if booked, US export customs (AES filing), ocean freight, Irish port handling, ToR customs clearance, and delivery to your Irish address. Vehicle transport, VRT specialist fees, and specialist items quoted separately.
Q. How long does a move from the US to Ireland take?
A. East Coast to Dublin: 3-5 weeks ocean transit after collection. West Coast to Dublin: 5-7 weeks. Add 1-2 weeks for collection, packing, export clearance at the US end. Total from collection to delivery: 6-10 weeks East Coast, 8-12 weeks West Coast.
Q. Can I fly over ahead of my belongings?
A. Yes, and most people do. You fly over, sort your Irish accommodation, and your shipment arrives 6-10 weeks later. AMC delivers to your confirmed Irish address. If you're not ready, we hold in our Naas warehouse.
Q. Do I lose my US Social Security entitlements by moving to Ireland?
A. No. The Ireland-US Totalization Agreement protects your US Social Security credits. Your American working years still count toward benefit eligibility. Your US benefits can be paid to you in Ireland.
Q. Do I still have to file US taxes when I live in Ireland?
A. Yes. Americans pay US federal taxes on worldwide income regardless of where they live. You'll also pay Irish income tax. The Ireland-US Double Taxation Treaty and the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion help prevent double taxation, but the filing obligation remains. Use a dual-qualified CPA.
Q. Can I bring my car from the US?
A. Yes. US cars are left-hand drive, which is legal in Ireland. VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) applies unless you qualify for Transfer of Residence relief. Get the VRT assessment done before you commit to shipping, on some vehicles the tax is substantial. AMC can connect you with a VRT specialist.
Q. My cat has never been outside the US. How hard is the pet move?
A. The titre test is the key step. You need: rabies vaccination → 30-day wait → titre test → 3-month wait → travel. That's a 4-month minimum from the vaccination if your cat hasn't had a titre test before. Start immediately when you know you're moving.
Q. How do I get a quote?
A. Book a video survey. We'll assess your volume, go through your options (East Coast vs West Coast departure, LCL vs FCL), and send a written quote within 48 hours.
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