Moving from United Kingdom to Ireland
The easiest international move for many Britons, thanks to the Common Travel Area, but Brexit means your goods now need a customs declaration. A short ferry, not a long sailing. Here is the honest brief for this corridor.
This is one of the gentlest international moves a Briton can make, and the reason is the Common Travel Area. United Kingdom and Irish citizens can live, work, study, and access services in each other's countries without a visa or residence permit, a long standing arrangement that predates and sits outside the European Union. So immigration, the hard part of most moves, is simply not a barrier here.
The surprise is customs. Since Brexit, the United Kingdom is outside the European Union customs union and Ireland is inside it, so your household goods now need a customs declaration crossing the border, even though you yourself do not need one. Used personal effects are normally admitted free of duty and value added tax under transfer of residence relief, but the paperwork exists where a decade ago it did not. The move itself is a short road and ferry job, measured in days, not the weeks a container sailing takes.
What it costs to move from United Kingdom to Ireland.
What it really costs to move a household from the United Kingdom to Ireland in 2026, shown as indicative ranges by home size and method. This is a road and ferry move, so the modes are part load groupage and dedicated van or truck rather than sea containers.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in pounds sterling, before full packing, premium insurance, and any access surcharges. The ferry crossing is included in mover quotes. These are not binding figures, so confirm with a survey.
Four things move the number on this short corridor. Volume still matters, because a part load shares a vehicle and you pay for your share, so trimming what you take lowers the cost. Route and crossing count: the central corridor from Holyhead to Dublin is the busiest and often the best value, while crossings from Pembroke, Fishguard, Liverpool, or Cairnryan suit different origins. Dedicated versus shared is the big choice: a part load is cheaper but slower and less flexible on timing, while a dedicated van gives you a fixed date and a faster door to door. And access at both ends, such as narrow Georgian streets in Dublin or a rural lane in the west, can add to the price.
A realistic schedule, working back from the sailing.
This move is measured in days once it starts, so the planning is mostly about the customs paperwork and booking the right crossing. There is no visa step, which removes the usual long pole.
Get quotes and choose the mode
Have movers survey your home, then decide between a cheaper part load and a faster dedicated van. Confirm the ferry crossing that suits your origin, such as Holyhead to Dublin or Liverpool to Dublin.
Sort the customs paperwork
Because Ireland is in the European Union and the United Kingdom is not, your goods need a customs declaration. Prepare a valued inventory and the transfer of residence evidence so your mover or agent can lodge the entry smoothly.
Confirm dates and access
Lock in the collection date, the crossing, and the delivery slot. Check parking and access at both ends and tell your mover about stairs, narrow streets, or restricted loading.
Pack and load
The crew packs and loads, then drives to the ferry port for the crossing. A dedicated van may complete the whole journey in a day or two; a part load consolidates with other shipments and takes longer.
Clear and deliver
Goods clear Irish customs against your transfer of residence declaration, then are delivered and unpacked. Apply for your PPS number and register with Revenue so you can work and access services.
Clearing your goods into Ireland.
Since the United Kingdom left the European Union, moving goods from Great Britain to Ireland is an import into the European Union, handled by Irish Revenue. The reassuring part is that people moving their normal home to Ireland can normally bring used household goods free of customs duty and value added tax under transfer of residence relief.
The usual conditions are that you have had your normal residence outside the European Union for a continuous period, generally at least twelve months, that you have owned and used the goods for at least six months, and that you bring them within twelve months of transferring your residence. You lodge a customs declaration with an inventory and proof that you are genuinely relocating, such as evidence of your new Irish address and the closure of your United Kingdom one. Your mover or a customs agent usually files this, but you supply the inventory and the supporting documents.
A note on geography. Goods moving from Great Britain, meaning England, Scotland, and Wales, are the focus of these customs rules. Movements involving Northern Ireland follow separate arrangements under the protocol that applies there, so if your move touches Northern Ireland, check the specific rules for that leg. Restricted items follow European Union lines, with controls on alcohol, tobacco, weapons, and certain plant and animal products. Pets travel under European Union entry rules with a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination.
How Britons actually move to Ireland.
United Kingdom citizens do not need a visa or residence permit to live in Ireland. The Common Travel Area gives Britons the right to move, live, and work freely. This section is about the practicalities rather than permits.
As a United Kingdom citizen you can move to Ireland and live, work, study, and use public services without applying for any immigration permission. The right is automatic under the Common Travel Area arrangement between the two countries.
- Basis
- UK citizenship
- Permit
- None required
- Work
- Allowed
- Study
- Allowed
The Personal Public Service number is your key to working, paying tax, and accessing public services in Ireland. Apply through the Department of Social Protection once you have an Irish address and proof of why you need it.
- Issued by
- Social Protection
- Used for
- Tax and services
- Need
- Irish address
- When
- After arrival
Once working, register with Irish Revenue so your employer can apply the correct tax credits. Setting this up early avoids emergency tax on your first pay packets.
- Body
- Irish Revenue
- Purpose
- Income tax
- Need
- PPS number
- When
- Before first pay
If your family members are not United Kingdom or Irish citizens, their right to live in Ireland may need to be arranged separately. Check the rules that apply to their nationality before you move.
- Basis
- Nationality dependent
- Action
- Check rules
- Body
- Immigration service
- When
- Before moving
How to choose a mover for this route, with no names attached.
This site never names, ranks, or recommends a moving company. Instead, here is the neutral checklist that separates a safe international mover from a risky one. Apply it to every quote you receive.
Get Moving Quotes for United Kingdom to Ireland.
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from the United Kingdom to Ireland?
As indicative ranges for 2026, a 2 to 3 bedroom move runs roughly 1,500 to 3,200 pounds as a part load and 3,200 to 5,500 pounds in a dedicated van, including the ferry crossing, before packing and insurance. A part load is cheaper but slower. Get a binding quote from a survey.
How long does moving from the United Kingdom to Ireland take?
Because this is a road and ferry move, not a container sailing, it is measured in days. A dedicated van can complete the journey in two to three days, while a part load that consolidates with other shipments may take up to ten days. The crossing itself is a few hours.
Do I need a visa to move from the United Kingdom to Ireland?
No. United Kingdom citizens can live, work, and study in Ireland without a visa or residence permit under the Common Travel Area. You will, however, need a PPS number to work and access services. Family members who are not United Kingdom or Irish citizens should check their own position.
Do I pay duty or need customs paperwork moving to Ireland?
Used household goods are normally free of duty and value added tax under transfer of residence relief, but since Brexit your goods do need a customs declaration when entering Ireland from Great Britain. You provide a valued inventory and proof of relocation, and your mover or agent lodges the entry with Irish Revenue. Verify the current rules first.
What is a PPS number and how do I get one?
The Personal Public Service number is the identifier you need to work, pay tax, and access public services in Ireland. You apply through the Department of Social Protection once you have an Irish address and can show why you need it, for example a job. Arrange it soon after arrival so you are not taxed at the emergency rate.
Can I bring my car from the United Kingdom to Ireland?
Yes, and you may be able to claim relief from Vehicle Registration Tax if the car is part of a genuine transfer of residence and you have owned and used it for the required period. You must register the vehicle in Ireland and the process has specific evidence requirements, so check the current rules with Revenue before you ship it.