Moving from France to Ireland
An intra EU move with no customs border, but a real sea crossing to an island. Here is the honest brief on costs in euros, why your household goods move freely, the PPS number you will need on arrival, and a timeline you can plan around.
A clean EU move where the sea crossing, not customs, is the thing to plan.
Because both France and Ireland are in the European Union, this move enjoys free movement of goods. There is no customs declaration and no duty on your household effects, which removes the biggest source of friction you would face moving outside the EU. What you do have to plan is the water. A van or lorry loads anywhere in France and takes a ferry to Ireland, either directly or, less often now, through a longer route. Door to door is usually three to eight days depending on distance and sailing schedules.
Since Brexit, direct France to Ireland ferries have grown, so many movers now sail straight from a French port such as Cherbourg or Roscoff to Rosslare Europort, Dublin Port, or Cork, avoiding a land bridge through Great Britain and the customs steps that would add. This direct sea route is usually the smoother option and your mover will pick the crossing that fits your dates and your destination on the island.
Prices below are in euros and indicative for 2026. Ireland also uses the euro, which makes budgeting simpler than most international moves, though the cost of living and especially rents in Dublin can be high, so plan your landing costs carefully.
What it costs in 2026, by home size and method.
With no customs to manage, the bill is driven by your volume, the ferry crossing, and whether you take a dedicated load or share space. The figures below are indicative ranges for 2026 in euros.
Indicative 2026 ranges in euros, door to door by road and ferry. The French and Irish ports used, the sailing, season, and access move the figure. There is no customs fee on an intra EU move.
- +Your goods alone, on a direct France to Ireland sailing
- +Best for a full home and firm dates
- −Costs more than sharing space
- +Best value for a typical home
- +Movers consolidate loads onto regular sailings
- −Delivery window flexes around the other goods and the ferry timetable
- +Cheapest for a studio if you do the work
- +No customs paperwork to handle on an EU move
- −You book the ferry and do the driving and loading
Get moving quotes for France to Ireland.
Tell us your home size and timing and we will put your France to Ireland move in front of vetted movers who run the direct ferry routes to the island.
A realistic schedule for this route.
A move from France to Ireland is simpler than most because there is no customs, but the ferry schedule and your Irish setup still reward planning. Here is a realistic schedule.
Book and survey
Arrange a survey to measure your volume. Choose a dedicated or shared load and let the mover select the direct France to Ireland crossing that fits your dates and destination.
Pack and load
Professional packing and an inventory for your own records and insurance. There is no customs declaration on an intra EU move, so the paperwork is light.
Road and ferry
The vehicle drives to a French port such as Cherbourg or Roscoff and sails directly to Rosslare, Dublin, or Cork. Three to eight days door to door is realistic depending on sailings.
Delivery
Goods are delivered to your Irish address. Confirm parking and access in advance, especially for apartments in Dublin or Cork where loading space can be tight.
Get your PPS number
Apply for a Personal Public Service number, the PPS number, from the Department of Social Protection. You need it for work, tax, banking, and public services in Ireland.
Free movement of goods within the EU.
This is the easy part of moving from France to Ireland. Both countries are members of the European Union and its single market, so your personal and household goods move freely with no customs declaration and no import duty or VAT on the move itself. You are not making a transfer of residence claim or filing an inventory with customs the way you would when entering a country outside the EU. Keep a personal inventory for your own records and your insurance, but the border itself is not a hurdle.
The practical point to get right is the route. Since Brexit, taking a land bridge across Great Britain would introduce non EU customs steps, which is why direct France to Ireland ferries have become the sensible choice and now run frequently from ports such as Cherbourg and Roscoff to Rosslare Europort, Dublin Port, and Cork. A mover who runs this lane will route you on a direct sailing to keep the move fully within the EU.
If you are bringing a vehicle, note that registering a car in Ireland involves Vehicle Registration Tax and an inspection, and there are reliefs for genuine transfers of residence that you should check before you ship. Pets move under EU pet travel rules with a valid pet passport, microchip, and up to date rabies vaccination.
The routes in for this corridor.
As an EU member state, Ireland gives French and other EU and EEA citizens the right to live and work without a visa. Non EU nationals need the appropriate Irish immigration permission. These are summaries, not immigration advice.
French citizens and other EU and EEA nationals can live, work, and study in Ireland under free movement. There is no visa to apply for, though you register for a PPS number to access work and services.
Non EU spouses and family members of an EU citizen exercising free movement in Ireland can usually join under EU treaty rights, with a residence application after arrival.
Non EEA nationals generally need an Irish employment permit, such as the Critical Skills or General Employment Permit, usually tied to a job offer, before moving.
Irish and British citizens move freely under the Common Travel Area, which can be relevant for dual nationals planning a France to Ireland move.
How to pick a mover for this route, without the guesswork.
We do not rank or recommend individual companies. We teach you the criteria that separate a safe international move from an expensive mistake, then put your request in front of vetted movers who run this lane.
Check the trade affiliation. Even with no customs to clear, look for FIDI affiliation through the FIDI Global Alliance or IAM membership on an international move. It signals an audited operator used to coordinating road and ferry legs reliably.
Insist on a binding pre move survey. A real video or in home survey of your volume is the only honest basis for a price. A quote given without one is a guess that tends to grow on moving day.
Compare like for like. Read what each quote includes: packing, materials, customs clearance, destination delivery, stair or long carry charges, and insurance. The cheapest headline number is rarely the cheapest move.
Understand the insurance terms. Ask whether cover is full replacement value or depreciated, what the excess is, and how claims are handled. Read the valuation clause before you sign.
Read recent reviews for this corridor. Read reviews that mention the direct France to Ireland ferry routes and delivery to your part of the island, since a smooth sailing to Rosslare or Dublin is the core of this corridor.
Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from France to Ireland?
For a two to three bedroom home expect roughly €3,000 to €6,000 on a shared load in 2026, or €5,000 to €9,000 for a dedicated load. The ferry route and access move the figure. Get a surveyed quote.
How long does it take to move from France to Ireland?
Usually three to eight days door to door by road and direct ferry, depending on distance, the sailing schedule, and whether you take a dedicated or shared load.
Do I pay customs duty moving from France to Ireland?
No. Both countries are in the EU single market, so your household goods move freely with no customs declaration and no import duty or VAT on the move itself.
What is a PPS number and do I need one?
A Personal Public Service number is your Irish identifier for work, tax, banking, and public services. Apply through the Department of Social Protection soon after you arrive.
Should my goods go through Great Britain or direct by ferry?
Direct France to Ireland ferries keep the whole move within the EU and avoid the non EU customs steps a land bridge through Great Britain would add. Most movers now route this corridor directly.
Can I bring my car from France to Ireland?
Yes, but registering it involves Vehicle Registration Tax and an inspection, with reliefs for genuine transfers of residence. Check the Irish Revenue rules before you ship the car.
Last reviewed: 12 May 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.