Moving from India to Ireland — Dublin Sea Freight in 20–28 Days, ToR Relief Handled
Ireland has quietly become one of our steadiest routes. Dublin hosts the European headquarters of Google, Meta, Apple, and LinkedIn, the HSE recruits Indian nurses and doctors in volume, and the Critical Skills Employment Permit gives IT and healthcare professionals a clear path to residency. Most of our Ireland clients are moving for one of those three reasons.
Sea freight from Indian ports reaches Dublin in 20 to 28 days; air freight lands in 3 to 5. Used household goods clear duty-free and VAT-free under the EU's Transfer of Residence relief, and because Ireland is the EU entry point, we route containers directly to Dublin rather than through post-Brexit UK customs. One coordinator handles the shipment from your door in India to your door in Ireland.
Who Moves to Ireland from India
The Ireland route runs on three visa streams. The largest group is IT professionals on the Critical Skills Employment Permit, heading to the Dublin offices of American tech companies — Google, Meta, Apple, LinkedIn, Amazon, and the financial services cluster around the IFSC. The second is healthcare: the HSE has been actively recruiting nurses, doctors, and radiographers from India for years, and those contracts usually come with a defined start date that the shipment has to work backwards from. The third is students, mostly at Trinity College Dublin, UCD, UCC, and the University of Galway, who typically ship boxes rather than furniture.
What makes Ireland different from our UK moves is housing. Dublin's rental market is tighter than London's relative to its size, and most families cannot confirm a permanent address before their container sails. So a typical Ireland move is sequenced with storage built in: we ship on your work start date, hold the goods in storage at destination for two to four weeks, and deliver once you've signed a lease.
- ✓IT professionals on Critical Skills Employment Permits at Dublin's tech headquarters
- ✓Nurses, doctors, and healthcare staff recruited by the HSE from India
- ✓Students at Trinity College Dublin, UCD, UCC, and University of Galway
- ✓Families on dependant visas joining a spouse or partner already working in Ireland
International Relocation Services to Ireland
Sea freight is the default for anything bigger than a few boxes. Containers sail from Nhava Sheva or Mundra and arrive at Dublin Port (or Cork for southern deliveries) in 20 to 28 days depending on sailing schedules. Because Ireland stayed in the EU after Brexit, we route directly into Irish ports — a shipment that transits the UK would face two customs regimes instead of one, so we simply don't do it that way.
Air freight clears in 3 to 5 days and suits students, single professionals, or the essentials half of a split move. A lot of families ship a few air boxes to survive the first month and send the full household by sea, timed to land after they've found a flat.
- ✓Complete door-to-door relocation from India to Ireland
- ✓Sea freight to Dublin Port or Cork (20–28 days), air freight (3–5 days)
- ✓Direct EU routing — no post-Brexit UK customs exposure
- ✓Export documentation from India and Irish customs clearance
- ✓Last-mile delivery to Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford
- ✓Storage-in-transit for Dublin's tight rental market
Irish Customs — Transfer of Residence Relief
Ireland applies the EU's Transfer of Residence relief, administered by Revenue (the Irish tax and customs authority). The rules are close to the UK's version but not identical: you qualify if you've lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months and you're moving your normal residence to Ireland. Your used household goods then import free of customs duty and VAT, provided you've owned and used them for at least 6 months before the move and you don't sell them within 12 months of arrival.
The application goes to Revenue with evidence of your time in India — employment letters, utility bills, rental agreements — plus your inventory list. We prepare the ToR application alongside the packing schedule so it's with Revenue before the container reaches Dublin Port. Filed late, the same shipment can sit in bonded storage racking up charges while the paperwork catches up, which is the single most avoidable cost on this route.
- ✓Transfer of Residence relief: duty-free and VAT-free import of used household goods
- ✓Requires 12+ months of residence outside the EU before the move
- ✓Goods must be owned and used for 6+ months, and kept for 12 months after arrival
- ✓Application filed with Revenue before goods arrive — Gxpress prepares it with your packing list
- ✓Ports of entry: Dublin Port for most deliveries, Cork for the south
Shipping Furniture to Ireland
Furniture is the item people agonize over most on this route, because Irish furniture prices genuinely sting after Indian ones. The economics work like this: a shared-container (LCL) shipment prices by volume, so a solid wood dining set or a wardrobe that would cost €800–1,500 to replace in Dublin often justifies its freight cost, while a bulky but cheap bookshelf usually doesn't. During your survey we'll tell you honestly which pieces are worth shipping and which to sell in India.
Everything qualifies for the same ToR duty relief as the rest of your household as long as it's used and you've owned it for six months. Flat-packing, export wrapping, and reassembly at the Irish end are part of the standard service, not extras.
- ✓LCL sea freight prices by volume — ship pieces whose Irish replacement cost beats the freight
- ✓Solid wood furniture, mattresses, and appliances all clear under ToR relief when used
- ✓Export wrapping, crating for fragile pieces, and reassembly at delivery included
- ✓Honest survey advice on what to ship versus sell — we don't pad containers
Pet Relocation to Ireland
India is not on the EU's listed countries for pet travel, so bringing a dog or cat to Ireland needs a microchip, rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody titer test at an EU-approved lab, and then a mandatory 3-month wait after the successful test before travel. That makes pet paperwork the longest lead-time item in an Ireland move — longer than the sea shipment itself. Start it the day you decide to move.
- ✓Microchip and rabies vaccination first, then titer test at an EU-approved lab
- ✓Mandatory 3-month wait after a passing titer test before entry to Ireland
- ✓EU animal health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
- ✓We coordinate vet documentation, lab logistics, and airline bookings
What You Can Ship to Ireland
Used household goods that qualify under Transfer of Residence cover almost everything a typical family ships.
- ✓Used furniture, appliances, and electronics owned for 6+ months
- ✓Clothing, books, kitchenware, and personal effects
- ✓Bicycles and sporting goods
- ✓Pets, with titer test and the 3-month post-test wait
- ✓Artwork and home decor, with declared values for insurance
What You Can't Ship to Ireland
Ireland enforces standard EU import restrictions, which lean hardest on food and anything plant- or animal-derived. We check your inventory against this list before packing so nothing gets pulled for inspection at Dublin Port.
- ✓Meat, dairy, and most animal-derived foods from outside the EU
- ✓Plants, seeds, and soil without a phytosanitary certificate
- ✓Firearms and ammunition without a licence
- ✓Counterfeit goods and pirated media
- ✓Endangered species products (ivory, certain furs) under CITES rules
Settling In — What to Expect
Dublin rent is the number that shocks most new arrivals: a one-bed apartment commonly runs €1,800–2,400 a month, and viewings move fast. Cork, Galway, and Limerick are noticeably cheaper. You'll need a PPS number (Ireland's equivalent of a PAN) for payroll and public services, and opening a bank account usually needs proof of address, which is circular until your lease is signed — most people bridge it with an employer letter.
None of that is moving-company territory, so we won't pretend to be immigration advisers. But it's why we build two to four weeks of destination storage into most Dublin quotes by default: it's cheaper than re-delivering to a hotel.
Common Mistakes We See on the Ireland Route
The biggest one is assuming the UK and Ireland are one customs zone because flights connect through London. They aren't — a shipment routed via the UK clears customs twice post-Brexit, and we've been asked more than once to rescue consignments other movers sent that way. The second is filing Transfer of Residence paperwork after the container has sailed; Revenue wants it before arrival, and late filing means bonded-warehouse charges while it processes.
The third is shipping to an address that doesn't exist yet. Dublin leases fall through routinely, and a container with no delivery address goes into storage anyway — better to plan that storage into the quote up front than pay rush rates for it later.
- ✓Routing via the UK and clearing customs twice — always ship direct to Irish ports
- ✓Filing ToR relief late and paying bonded-storage charges while Revenue processes it
- ✓Buying new furniture just before the move — new items don't qualify for used-goods relief
- ✓Confirming no delivery address before sailing — build Dublin storage into the plan instead
Our Relocation Process
One coordinator owns your file from the first survey call to the delivery signature in Ireland. On this route that matters because the ToR application, the sailing schedule, and your housing search all move on different clocks — someone has to keep them lined up, and it shouldn't have to be you.
- ✓Free consultation and fixed-price quote
- ✓Pre-move survey (video call works — you don't need to be in India)
- ✓Professional packing with export-grade materials
- ✓Sea or air freight with tracking
- ✓Irish customs clearance, ToR relief, and last-mile delivery
How Your Move to Ireland Runs, Step by Step
Free survey and ToR review
We assess your inventory, confirm you qualify for Transfer of Residence relief, and give you one fixed price including any Dublin storage you'll need.
Packing and ToR preparation
Professional packing at your home plus the Transfer of Residence application assembled with your itemized inventory for Revenue.
Loading and export documentation
Container loaded, bill of lading and Indian export clearance prepared before sailing from Nhava Sheva or Mundra.
Sea transit to Dublin (or 3–5 days by air)
Direct EU routing to Dublin Port — no UK transit, no double customs. Air freight clients skip ahead to clearance within the week.
Irish customs clearance
Revenue processes the pre-filed ToR application; correctly filed shipments clear without duty, VAT, or delay.
Delivery or storage-in-transit
Delivery anywhere in Ireland, or secure storage for 2–4 weeks while you finalize a Dublin lease.
India to Ireland — Typical Moving Costs
| Shipment type | By air | By sea |
|---|---|---|
| Excess baggage (50–100 kg) | ₹35,000 – ₹70,000 | Not applicable |
| 1 BHK household (LCL) | Not practical by air | ₹1L – ₹1.8L |
| 2–3 BHK household (LCL/FCL) | Not practical by air | ₹2.6L – ₹5.2L |
| Pet (per animal, titer test + flight) | ₹1.2L – ₹2.5L | Not applicable |
Ranges are indicative and vary by volume, port, and season — last verified July 2026. Get a free fixed-price quote for your exact shipment.
Transit Time by Origin City
| Origin city | Nearest port | Sea to Dublin | Air to Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi NCR | Nhava Sheva (via road) | 22–28 days | 3–5 days |
| Mumbai | Nhava Sheva | 20–26 days | 3–4 days |
| Bangalore | Nhava Sheva (via road) | 22–28 days | 3–5 days |
| Hyderabad | Nhava Sheva / Mundra | 22–28 days | 3–5 days |
| Pune | Nhava Sheva | 20–26 days | 3–5 days |
Sea transit includes inland trucking to port before sailing; direct EU routing with no UK transshipment.
Documents You'll Need
- ✓Original passport + copy (all pages)
- ✓Irish visa or employment permit (Critical Skills / General Employment Permit / student visa)
- ✓Detailed packing list / inventory in English
- ✓Transfer of Residence application with evidence of 12+ months outside the EU (employment letter, utility bills, rental agreement)
- ✓Purchase invoices for any new or unused items in the shipment
- ✓PPS number if already issued (not required for customs, speeds up delivery paperwork)
- ✓EU animal health certificate + titer test results for pets
Before You Fly — Visa Basics
Most clients move on a Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit, student visa, or a dependant visa joining a working spouse. ToR customs relief needs your residence transfer to be genuine — the permit or visa is the evidence backbone.
Visa and immigration rules are set by Irish Immigration Service Delivery and Revenue, not by us — confirm current requirements on the official irishimmigration.ie site before your move date.
Where We Deliver in Ireland
Direct EU routing to Dublin — no post-Brexit UK customs exposure
- ✓Direct EU routing to Dublin — no post-Brexit UK customs exposure
- ✓Transfer of Residence application filed with Revenue before your goods arrive, not after
- ✓Storage-in-transit built into Dublin quotes for the housing hunt
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to move from India to Ireland?▼
Excess baggage (50–100 kg) costs ₹35,000–70,000 by air. A 1 BHK household as LCL sea freight runs ₹1L–1.8L, and a 2–3 BHK full or shared container ₹2.6L–5.2L. Ranges vary with volume and season — the fixed quote after a survey is exact.
How long does shipping from Mumbai or Delhi to Dublin take?▼
Sea freight from Indian ports to Dublin generally takes 20–28 days door to door. Air freight takes 3–5 days for urgent, smaller shipments.
What's the customs process for bringing household goods to Ireland?▼
You claim Transfer of Residence relief from Revenue: used goods owned 6+ months import duty-free and VAT-free if you've lived outside the EU for 12+ months. We prepare and file the application with your inventory before the shipment lands.
Does Brexit affect my shipment from India to Ireland?▼
Not if it's routed correctly. We ship direct to Dublin or Cork, staying entirely inside EU customs. A shipment routed through the UK would clear customs twice post-Brexit — that's the mistake to avoid, not a reason to worry.
Is it worth moving to Ireland from India?▼
Financially it depends on your offer: Dublin tech and healthcare salaries of €60,000–100,000 go a long way even after the city's high rent, and the Critical Skills permit leads to long-term residency in 2 years. Families weigh that against being far from home. What we can tell you precisely is the moving cost — usually ₹1L–5.2L all-in — so at least that variable is known.
Is €70,000 a good salary in Ireland?▼
Yes for a single person or couple — it's comfortably above the Irish average and clears Dublin rent with room to save. For a family of four in Dublin it's workable but tighter; the same salary in Cork or Galway stretches noticeably further.
What is the ₹71 lakh (€84,000) scheme in Ireland?▼
That figure comes from Ireland's Our Living Islands programme, which offers grants of up to €84,000 — roughly ₹71–75 lakh — to renovate derelict houses on remote offshore islands. It isn't a payment for migrating: you must buy a qualifying vacant property and refurbish it. Almost none of our relocation clients use it, but that's the scheme behind the headlines.
Can I ship furniture from India to Ireland?▼
Yes, and for solid wood pieces it's often worth it — Irish replacement prices are high. LCL sea freight prices by volume, furniture clears duty-free under ToR relief when used, and export wrapping plus reassembly at delivery are included. We'll flag any piece whose freight cost exceeds its replacement value.
Do you offer temporary storage in Ireland while we find accommodation?▼
Yes, and for Dublin we recommend planning on it. The rental market moves slower than most arrival dates, so we build 2–4 weeks of storage-in-transit into Dublin quotes by default and deliver once your lease is signed.
Can I bring my pet from India to Ireland?▼
Yes, but start early. India is unlisted for EU pet travel, so your pet needs a microchip, rabies vaccination, a titer test at an EU-approved lab, and a mandatory 3-month wait after the test before entering Ireland. Nothing else in the move needs this much lead time.
Can I import my car from India to Ireland?▼
Rarely worth it. Ireland drives on the left like India, but imports face Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), NCT roadworthiness testing, and VAT unless ToR conditions are met — the total usually exceeds buying locally. Most clients sell in India.
Which Indian cities do you pick up from for Ireland moves?▼
Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, and Ahmedabad, consolidating at Nhava Sheva or Mundra before sailing for Dublin.
How far in advance should I book an Ireland move?▼
Book 4–6 weeks before your departure for sea freight, at least a week for air. If a pet is coming, start its paperwork 4+ months out because of the titer-test wait.
Is my shipment insured in transit to Ireland?▼
Yes — transit insurance covers packing to final delivery against your declared inventory value, and claims are handled by us directly rather than a third-party insurer.
Ready to Move to Ireland?
Get a free consultation and fixed-price quote. One coordinator manages your entire move from India to your new home.