How to Relocate Your Household & Pets to Ireland

Jump right in:

• Moving & shipping household Goods
• Custom regulations for Ireland
• Home goods storage
• Vaccinations and health requirements for Ireland
• How to move to Ireland with pets

When relocating to Ireland, your belongings can be shipped by sea or by air.

• Sea freight is the most common and cost-effective option for large shipments, though it typically takes 4–6 weeks depending on your departure country. It’s often the preferred method if you don’t need your items immediately after arrival.

• Air freight is much faster, usually 7–10 days, but costs significantly more—best suited for smaller or urgent shipments.

If you’re moving from mainland Europe or the UK, you can also bring your belongings by car or moving van via ferry, with regular routes to Dublin, Cork, and Rosslare.

Popular international moving companies to Ireland include:

• Seven Seas Worldwide
• AMC
• iContainers

You can also compare quotes using websites such as:

• The Relocator
• Sirelo
• Expat Guidance

What documents do you need for shipping?

If you’re moving to Ireland from within the EU, you don’t need to submit any document to Revenue.

If you’re moving from outside the EU, your belongings will be cleared by Revenue. You should:

• email a completed transfer of residence form to Revenue (2 weeks before your goods arrive)
• email this form to the relevant airport or port

provide supporting documents, including:

• proof that you’re moving to Ireland, such as an employment letter or a lease agreement.
• proof of previous residence abroad, like a utility bill or confirmation of the end of employment.
• proof that you own and have used the goods you’re importing, such as invoices or receipts.

How to bring your car to Ireland?

If you bring your car to Ireland, you must register it at a National Car Testing Service (NCTS) center within 30 days of arrival. You may also need to pay Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT). You can use Revenue’s VRT calculator to estimate the amount.

You can claim VTR relief if you:

• are permanently moving to Ireland or,
• owned and used the car for at least 6 months before your move

Even in this case, you must register the car and you can’t sell it for 12 months after registration.

Bringing from another EU country:

• Register the vehicle at an NCTS center
• Pay VRT, unless you qualify for relief
• Pay VAT, if the car is new (under 6 months old or under 6,000 km)
• Pay motor tax and obtain motor insurance

Bringing from outside the EU:

• Pay customs duty at the point of entry
• Register the vehicle
• Pay VRT, unless you qualify for relief
• Pay VAT, if the car is new (under 6 months old or under 6,000 km)
• Pay motor tax and obtain motor insurance

If your vehicle is 4 years or older, it must complete a National Car Test (NCT) after registration. However, if it already has a valid EU Roadworthiness Certificate, you can use it in Ireland until it expires.

What is Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief?

If you’re moving to Ireland permanently, you may qualify for Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief, which allows you to bring your personal belongings into the country without paying Customs Duty or VAT. This relief applies to the belongings you’re declaring in the steps outlined above.

To qualify, you must:

• be transferring your normal residence to Ireland.
• have been a resident abroad for at least 12 consecutive months before moving
• have owned and used the goods in your previous country of residence for at least 6 months.
• import the goods within 6 months before or 12 months after your move

What to pack when moving to Ireland

Because Ireland is a highly developed, modern country, there are not many goods missing from the country. Shops abound in the country and it is easy to order items online and have them shipped to you.

That being said, there are still a few items that are useful to bring with you.

• Bedding: Bed sizes in Ireland (and across the EU) differ slightly from those in the US and Canada, so bedsheets from abroad may not fit perfectly. If you’re bringing your own bed or mattress, pack a few sets of sheets that match your home country’s sizes.

• Clothing: European clothing sizes tend to run smaller than North American ones and larger than Asian sizes. Especially, larger sizes (above XL) can be harder to find in regular stores. It’s a good idea to bring essential clothing and outerwear that fit you well.

• Weather gear: Ireland’s weather is mild but often wet and windy. While you can easily buy rainwear locally, it’s useful to bring a waterproof jacket, umbrella, and sturdy shoes so you’re prepared from day one without needing to shop immediately.

• Electronics and adapters: Ireland uses Type G plugs and 230V electricity, so bring adapters or converters if your devices use a different plug type or voltage.

The customs regulations you will face in Ireland will depend on whether you are moving from inside or outside the EU.

If moving from inside the EU, you will be subject to the following allowances:

• Tobacco: 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 1 kg smoking tobacco
• Alcohol: 10 liters of spirit, 20 liters of drinks containing 22% alcohol or less, 90 liters of wine, 110 liters of beer

You can bring meat as long as it was produced in the EU and it shouldn’t be over 10 kg.

If you are moving from a non-EU/EEA country

• Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, 250 g smoking tobacco
• Alcohol: 1 liter of spirit, 2 liters of drinks containing 22% alcohol or less, 4 liters of wine, 16 liters of beer
• Other goods: 430 EUR (500 USD) worth of item if you’re over 15 and 215 EUR (250 USD) per child under 15
• If you’re carrying 10,000 EUR (approx. 11,600 USD) or more cash, you must make a declaration to Customs.

If you are traveling with another person, you cannot combine customs allowances.

Prohibited or restricted items in Ireland

• firearms
• ammunition
• explosives and fireworks
• indecent or obscene
• publications and media
• plants or bulbs
• birds, poultry, or eggs
• endangered species and their products
• meat and dairy products
• medicinal products

If you can’t move into your new home right away, short- or long-term storage can be a practical solution.

Prices vary by size and duration, but it can range from about 60 EUR (70 USD) per month for small units to over 400 EUR (465 USD) for large ones.

Top storage companies in Ireland

• AMC Removals and Storage
• Two Men and a Truck
• Space Self Storage
• Storagehub
• U Store It

The vaccinations required for Ireland are standard throughout Europe and the rest of the western world. It is an advanced country with high health standards and infrastructure. The water is safe to drink and there is little-to-no threat of diseases such as malaria or yellow fever.

That being said, expats planning to move to Ireland should still be sure to have all of their required vaccinations up-to-date.

What vaccinations do I need

Health authorities recommend that you be up to date with routine immunizations such as:

• MMR: (measles-mumps-rubella)
• diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis
• chickenpox (varicella)
• polio
• hepatitis A and B
• rabies
• measles
• shingles

In addition to these vaccines, it’s recommended to receive a yearly flu shot.

Are there any health requirements for Ireland immigration?

There are no health requirements for entering Ireland. Health authorities simply recommend that you’re up to date with routine vaccinations before moving.

As long as you start your preparation early, and ensure your furry friend has all the right paperwork and vaccines, everything should run smooth and efficiently.

Can you bring pets into Ireland?

Yes, you can bring your pets to Ireland. Just like with people, the protocols to importing your pet are based on where they come from.

Failure to follow the right rules and regulations regarding pet relocation to Ireland could result in a lengthy quarantine or your animal being sent back to their origin country.

How to bring your dog, cat or ferret from an EU country?

If your pet is coming from another EU country or a listed country (such as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Andorra, Gibraltar, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Vatican City, and Northern Ireland), it may enter Ireland through any airport or ferry port.

Your pet must meet the following conditions:

• be microchipped with a chip readable by an ISO 11785-compatible scanner (microchipping must happen before the rabies vaccination)
• be vaccinated against rabies after the microchip is inserted. It must be at least 12 weeks old, and 21 days must pass after the first vaccination before travel
• have a valid EU pet passport or an EU-format health certificate showing the rabies vaccination details

Tapeworm treatment (dogs only)

Dogs must be treated for tapeworm by a vet 1–5 days before arrival in Ireland. Exceptions: No tapeworm treatment is required if travelling from Finland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland.

How to bringing other pets from the EU

If you are bringing a bird, rodent, or rabbit with you to Ireland, you must:

• fill out and submit a form of Advance Notice at least 24 hours before the animal’s arrival in the country.
• it must travel with its owner or the owner’s representative.

How to bring your dog, cat or ferret from a non-EU country

The standards for bringing your pet to Ireland from a non-EU country vary slightly dependent on whether the origin country is deemed a low- or high-risk for rabies.

Your pet must:

• be microchipped with an ISO 11785-compatible chip (done before vaccination)

• be vaccinated against rabies after the microchip is inserted. Pets must be at least 12 weeks old, and at least 21 days must pass after the first vaccination.

• have an EU pet passport (if returning from the EU) or an EU Health Certificate issued by an official veterinarian in the non-EU country.

• must receive tapeworm treatment 1–5 days before arrival (dogs only)

• enter Ireland only through an approved entry point:

  • Dublin Airport / Dublin Port
  • Shannon Airport
  • Cork Airport / Ringaskiddy Port
  • Rosslare Europort

• travel via an approved airline or pet cargo carrier.

• undergo a compliance check upon arrival, you should send advance notice for this

Additional if travelling from a high-risk country:

• Apart from rabies vaccination, a rabies blood test (rabies serological test) is required.
• The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after vaccination and tested in an EU-approved laboratory.
• After a successful test, you must wait 3 months before your pet can enter Ireland.

How to bringing other pets from non-EU countries

Pet birds (excluding poultry) may enter Ireland through Dublin or Shannon Airport. You must:

• apply for an import permit by emailing the form to Agriculture Department in advance.
• make sure the bird is individually identifiable (such as leg ring, microchip)
• have a veterinary health certificate issued by an official veterinarian.
• travel with the bird or send it with your representative in an approved airline/pet cargo carrier.
• provide the owner’s declaration required under EU rules.
• Meet avian influenza requirements, either through approved H5 vaccination or 10-day isolation with an H5N1 test.

Pet rodent or rabbits:

• Submit an application to import a pet rabbit or rodent to Agriculture Department at least 2 months before travel.
• Obtain a license issued by the Animal Health and Welfare Division of the Department, which includes veterinary certification requirements.
• Send Advance Notice at least one working day before arrival.
• Transport the animal in an IATA-compliant container.
• Check with Agriculture Department whether a CITES license is required for non-domestic species.

A note to dog owners moving to Ireland

If your dog is over 4 months old, it must have a valid dog license. There are three types of dog licenses:

• Individual dog license (valid 1 year): 20 EUR (25 USD)
• Lifetime dog license (valid for the dog’s lifetime): 140 EUR (160 USD)
• General dog license (1 year for multiple dogs at one location): 400 EUR (465 USD)

You can apply for an individual or lifetime license online at licences.ie or at any post office (An Post). General dog licenses must be obtained through your local authority.

Restricted or banned dog breeds in Ireland

Ireland currently bans XL Bully dogs. There are also several restricted breeds:

• American Pit Bull Terrier
• English Bull Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Bull Mastiff
• Dobermann
• German Shepherd (Alsatian)
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Rottweiler
• Japanese Akita
• Japanese Tosa
• Bandog (and related crossbreeds)
• Greyhounds are not restricted, but they must always be leashed in public.

This does not apply to guide dogs.