Moving from United States to Ireland
A transatlantic move that is easier on the shipping side than the paperwork side. Here is the honest brief on sea freight costs, the Revenue relief on your effects, the PPS number and immigration registration, and a timeline you can plan around.
The Atlantic crossing is straightforward. Status and housing are the work.
Most household moves from the United States to Ireland go by sea, with your goods sailing from an East Coast port to Dublin or Cork, and door to door you should plan for roughly three to six weeks. The shipping is among the more predictable transatlantic lanes, so the real work sits elsewhere.
The thing that surprises people is that being a United States citizen gives you no automatic right to live in Ireland. Unless you hold Irish or other European Union citizenship, you need an employment permit or another immigration permission, and you register after arrival for an Irish Residence Permit. The second surprise is housing. Rental supply in Dublin and other cities is tight, so line up somewhere to land before your container does.
Prices below are in US dollars and indicative for 2026. Ireland uses the euro, so budget for currency on the far side, from rental deposits to the cost of replacing anything you choose not to bring.
What it costs in 2026, by home size and method.
Because the United States and Ireland are an ocean apart, the choice that drives your bill is a shared container versus a full container. The figures below are indicative ranges for 2026.
Indicative 2026 ranges in US dollars, door to door by sea. Volume, season, port access, and final delivery distance move the figure. Summer is the peak and prices rise with it.
- +Best value for a typical home, you pay for the space you use
- +Several operators run the United States to Ireland lane
- −Schedules follow the consolidation in the box
- +Your goods only, faster to load and clear
- +Worth it for larger homes and tight timing
- −More space than a small household needs
- +Fastest option for essentials you need on arrival
- +Useful when you fly ahead of your goods
- −Rarely sensible for a full household
Get moving quotes for United States to Ireland.
Tell us your size and timing. We pass your request to vetted movers who run the transatlantic route from the United States to Ireland, and you compare them on your own terms.
A realistic schedule for this route.
Working back from the sailing date, here is a realistic schedule for a move from the United States to Ireland by sea.
Sort your immigration permission
Confirm your employment permit or other permission before you book freight, because your status governs your right to live in Ireland and your transfer of residence relief on your effects.
Get surveys and quotes
Have movers do a video or in home survey for an accurate volume and a binding price. Compare a shared container against a full container for your size and timing.
Build your inventory and Revenue paperwork
Prepare your goods list and the transfer of residence documents for Irish Revenue, showing you owned and used the items abroad. Note serial numbers for high value electronics.
Pack and load the container
The crew packs and loads your goods for sea. Keep your passport, permit, and inventory with you rather than in the container.
Sea transit and clearance
Your goods sail and clear Irish Revenue under transfer of residence relief. Apply for your Personal Public Service Number and register your immigration permission while you wait.
Clearing your goods into Ireland.
Ireland allows people moving their normal residence into the country from outside the European Union to import used household effects free of duty and value added tax under transfer of residence relief, administered by the Revenue Commissioners. You generally need to have lived outside the European Union for a continuous period and to have owned and used the goods, commonly for at least six months, before the move.
You prepare a detailed inventory and the transfer of residence documentation for Revenue, with values and serial numbers for high value electronics and appliances. Goods you bought shortly before moving, or that you have not owned and used, can attract duty and value added tax. Some categories are controlled, including certain foods, plants, weapons, and alcohol and tobacco beyond personal allowances.
Pets travel under European Union entry rules, which require microchipping, rabies vaccination, and the correct health documentation, so start that process early. Bringing a United States vehicle is usually more trouble than it is worth once registration, Vehicle Registration Tax, and standards are accounted for, and most movers replace the car in Ireland.
The routes in for this corridor.
Many people moving from the United States to Ireland arrive on an employment permit, then register for an Irish Residence Permit, and family routes exist for relatives of Irish and European Union citizens.
For roles on Ireland's critical skills list, often in technology, healthcare, and engineering. It offers a faster path toward long term residence and is a common route for people moving with a job offer.
For a wider range of occupations where an Irish employer sponsors you and a labour market test is met. A practical route into work for many movers from the United States.
For people of independent means who can support themselves without working or relying on the state, allowing residence in Ireland subject to evidence of income and private health cover.
Spouses, partners, and certain relatives of Irish citizens, and family members of European Union citizens exercising treaty rights, can qualify to live in Ireland, subject to the conditions.
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. Membership of FIDI or IAM is the clearest signal a mover is financially screened and bound to industry standards for international household goods. For this route, ask whether the mover runs the United States to Ireland lane regularly and handles the Irish Revenue transfer of residence clearance, because a broker who knows the relief keeps your move on schedule.
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. A mover can be excellent locally and weak on a transatlantic shipment. Look for verified reviews that mention the actual Ireland route, the port of arrival, and the customs experience.
Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from the United States to Ireland?
For a two to three bedroom household in a shared container, plan on roughly 4,500 to 9,000 US dollars door to door in 2026, with a full container higher and a studio lower. These are indicative ranges, not a quote.
How long does shipping take from the United States to Ireland?
By sea, plan for about three to six weeks door to door depending on the port pair, sailing schedule, and customs clearance. Air freight is one to two weeks but is rarely sensible for a full home.
Do I pay duty on my household goods moving to Ireland?
Used household effects you owned and used abroad generally enter free of duty and value added tax under transfer of residence relief administered by the Revenue Commissioners, subject to conditions. Recently bought items can be charged. Verify the current rules with the Revenue Commissioners before you move.
Do I need a visa to move from the United States to Ireland?
Unless you hold Irish or European Union citizenship, you generally need an employment permit or other immigration permission, then register for an Irish Residence Permit after arrival. Confirm your route with official Irish immigration sources before you move.
What is a PPS number and how do I get one?
The Personal Public Service Number is your identifier for tax, health, and public services in Ireland, issued by the Department of Social Protection. You apply after arrival with proof of identity, address, and the reason you need it.
Can I bring my car from the United States to Ireland?
It is usually more trouble than it is worth once Vehicle Registration Tax, standards, and the steering side are accounted for. Most movers sell in the United States and buy again in Ireland.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.