Whether you are chasing sunshine in Brisbane, pursuing a career in Melbourne, or beginning a new life in Perth, AMC makes moving from Ireland to Australia smooth and compliant. We export-pack your household goods, ship them via Singapore or Dubai, clear Australian Border Force and DAFF (quarantine) inspections, and deliver anywhere across the continent.
Sea freight: consolidated lift-vans sail weekly, reaching Australian ports in 38–45 days on water; allow 8–10 weeks door-to-door including quarantine. Air freight: ideal for unaccompanied luggage; 7–10 day transit door-to-door.
Australia has some of the world’s strictest bio-security rules. We complete Form B534 (Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement), arrange the mandatory DAFF inspection, and manage fumigation or cleaning if needed. Used household goods are duty-free; new items can attract 5 % duty + GST. We advise case-by-case.
Most Irish moving to Australia head to one of four cities. Each one is different enough that the choice matters.
Sydney, New South Wales
Sydney is the most expensive city in Australia and the one with the largest Irish community. It's a natural first stop. There's work in finance, construction, hospitality, and tech, and the Irish networks are well-established. The cost of living is high. Renting in the inner suburbs (Surry Hills, Newtown, Bondi) runs from €2,200 to €3,500 per month for a two-bedroom apartment. Outer suburbs like Parramatta or Penrith are more affordable.
Shipping to Sydney port (Port Botany) is the standard route for most Irish moves. Sea freight door-to-door averages 8–10 weeks.
Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne is where many Irish end up long-term. It's consistently rated one of the most liveable cities in the world, and for good reason. The food, sport, arts, and café culture are genuinely excellent. The job market is strong across healthcare, education, and professional services. Rents are slightly lower than Sydney. Suburbs like Fitzroy, Brunswick, and St Kilda are popular with younger Irish arrivals; families often settle further out in places like Ballarat or Geelong.
Shipping to Melbourne (Webb Dock or Swanson Dock) adds roughly the same transit time as Sydney. Some containers are relayed from Singapore, others call directly.
Brisbane, Queensland
Brisbane has changed significantly in the last decade. It's warmer than Sydney or Melbourne, cheaper, and growing fast. The 2032 Olympics is accelerating infrastructure investment and construction work. Many Irish who started in Sydney or Melbourne eventually move to Brisbane for the lower cost of living and the weather.
Suburbs like New Farm, Paddington, and West End suit young professionals. Families often head to the Sunshine Coast (Noosa, Caloundra) or Gold Coast, both within easy reach.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is as far from Dublin as you can get. It's closer to Singapore than to Sydney. But it's a genuine option, particularly for anyone in mining, resources, engineering, or construction, where wages are significantly above the national average.
It's a slower pace of life than the east coast cities, which suits plenty of people. The beach suburbs (Cottesloe, Scarborough, Fremantle) are popular, and the cost of housing, while rising, is still below Sydney levels.
Shipping to Fremantle (Perth's port) adds roughly a week to transit time compared to east coast ports.
The honest answer: it depends on how much you're bringing and how fast you need it there.
Sea freight is the standard option for household moves. You pay for cubic footage or a share of a container. Air freight is faster but costs 5–8 times more per cubic metre, it's only worth it for urgent essentials or a small volume of items.
Here's a rough guide to sea freight costs from Ireland to Australia:
1-bed flat (5–10 CBM), basics only : €2,500–€4,000
2–3 bed house (15–20 CBM), no bulky furniture: €4,500–€7,000
Full 3–4 bed house (25–35 CBM): €7,500–€12,000
Full 20ft container (33 CBM): €9,000–€14,000
These are indicative ranges for door-to-door service including export packing, sea freight, quarantine clearance, and delivery. Volume, destination port, insurance, and additional services (vehicle shipping, storage) all affect the final figure.
The only way to get an accurate cost is a survey. AMC does free pre-move surveys, in-home or virtual, and gives you a fixed quote based on actual volume. There are no hidden charges added after.
Air freight costs run from roughly €8 to €15 per kilogram for consolidated air cargo, or fixed rates for palletised loads. For a 100kg personal effects shipment (essentially suitcases and boxes), expect €800–€1,500 door-to-door. For a full pallet (500kg), budget €4,000–€6,500.
The paperwork and admin for moving to Australia is manageable if you start early. Most people underestimate how much time the visa process takes.
Visa
The most common visa routes for Irish moving to Australia are:
- Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417):For ages 18–35. Valid for up to three years with the right work experience. The quickest visa to get. Applications are processed in days.
- Skilled Migration (subclass 189/190): Points-based. Requires a skills assessment from the relevant Australian authority for your occupation. Processing times vary from a few months to over a year depending on the occupation and state.
- Employer-Sponsored (subclass 482/186): Requires a job offer from an Australian employer willing to sponsor you. Processing times are 3–6 months typically.
- Partner Visa (subclass 820/801): If you have an Australian partner. One of the longer processes, up to two years for the permanent stage.
Irish citizens don't need to apply for a tourist visa to visit Australia (eVisitor, subclass 651, is free and allows stays of up to three months). But if you're moving there, get the right visa in place before you ship your belongings.
Tax and financial admin
Close or reduce your Irish bank accounts before you go, maintaining Irish accounts as an Australian tax resident creates complications. Open an Australian bank account early; most major Australian banks (Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, Westpac, NAB) allow you to open an account from Ireland before you arrive. You'll need your Australian address, which means having somewhere to stay lined up first.
Tell Revenue you're leaving Ireland. You may be entitled to a tax refund for the year you emigrate if you've overpaid PAYE.
Health insurance
Irish citizens living in Australia are covered by Medicare (Ireland and Australia have a reciprocal healthcare agreement). Register with Medicare as soon as you arrive. Private health insurance in Australia is worth considering if you want faster access to specialists or elective procedures.
Driving licence
An Irish driving licence is valid in Australia for three months after you arrive. After that, you need to convert it to an Australian state licence. Bring your Irish licence, your passport, and proof of address. Most states process conversions without requiring a driving test.
Australia has some of the strictest biosecurity rules in the world, and that applies to pets.
Dogs and cats can be imported from Ireland, but the process takes a minimum of 10 weeks and involves multiple steps:
1. Microchip and rabies vaccination: your pet must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. The vaccination must be given at least 21 days before the rabies titre blood test.
2. Rabies titre blood test: taken at least 180 days before travel. This is the step that defines your timeline. You cannot rush it.
3. Tick treatment: specific treatment required within 5 days of travel.
4. Import permit: apply to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Without an import permit, your pet cannot board a flight.
5. Approved quarantine facility: All dogs and cats must spend 10 days in an Australian government quarantine facility on arrival. There are facilities in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth.
The costs are significant. Budget at least €3,000–€5,000 for the full process per animal, including vet fees, the rabies titre test, flights (pets travel as cargo on specific routes), and quarantine fees.
Birds, rabbits, and most other pets cannot be imported to Australia at all.
Start the process at least 8 months before you plan to travel. The 180-day wait after the blood test is non-negotiable.
AMC doesn't handle pet transport directly, but we work alongside specialist pet relocation companies and can refer you to one if needed.
12+ months before
- Research visa options and start your application
- If taking pets, begin the rabies titre test process
- Declutter. Shipping costs are based on volume, so every item you don't bring saves money
6 months before
- Book your pre-move survey with AMC
- Get quotes for sea and air freight
- Start sorting what you're shipping, storing, or selling
- Open an Australian bank account
3 months before
- Confirm your shipping date and service level with AMC
- Notify Revenue that you're emigrating
- Sort driving licence conversion paperwork
- Book your flights
- Arrange travel insurance
6–8 weeks before
- AMC delivers packing materials to your door
- Start packing non-essentials you won't need before departure
- Confirm your Australian address for delivery
Moving week
- AMC crew arrives, packs and loads
- You receive a full inventory and bill of lading
- Ship departs. You get tracking access through AMC staff.
On arrival in Australia
- Register with Medicare
- Activate your Australian bank account
- Convert your driving licence within three months
- Prepare your DAFF Form B534 for AMC to submit on your behalf
- Your container clears customs and quarantine. AMC's Australian partner crew delivers to your door
AMC has been moving Irish families to Australia for over 25 years. We hold FIDI accreditation, the highest standard in international removals, held by fewer than 600 companies worldwide. Our FAIM quality certification means independent auditors check our processes, our packing standards, and our complaints handling every two years.
The practical difference: when something goes wrong in a move to Australia (and in any move of 15,000+ kilometres, things can go wrong), you want a company with the network and the track record to fix it. We have partner crews and storage facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. We know the customs agents, the quarantine inspectors, and the delivery logistics in each state.
We also have a single point of contact for every move. One AMC coordinator handles your job from survey to delivery. You don't get passed between departments.
If you're ready to get a price, book a free survey. We'll come to you, assess the volume, and give you a fixed quote. No estimates, no surprises.
Shipping a car or motorbike? Our Vehicle Transport team ships vehicles RORO or in-container, secures DIRD import approval, and guides you through state road-worthy tests and registration. Need time before delivery? Store your goods in Naas or in bonded partner depots in Australia. See storage for more.
Q. How much does it cost to move to Australia?
A. Pricing depends on volume, origin, and destination port.. Get an exact quote with our free survey.
Q. How long will my shipment take?
A. Door-to-door averages 8–10 weeks by sea and 7–10 days by air.
Q. What items are restricted?
A. Food, plant material, untreated wood, and outdoor equipment must be declared and may need cleaning or fumigation
Q. Can I pack myself?
A. You can, but DAFF may open self-packed cartons for inspection and insurance cover is limited. Professional packing speeds clearance and gives full cover.
Q. Do I pay duty & GST?
A. Used personal effects owned 12 months+ are duty-free; duty/GST applies to new goods above AUD 1,000.
Q. What if my Australian address isn’t ready?
A. We’ll store goods in Naas or in our Australian partner warehouse until you receive keys.
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