Moving to Ireland
A Complete Moving Guide!
So you want to Move to Ireland?
Moving to Ireland from Great Britian is a very popular relocation destination for UK hosueholds. Not only because it’s so close, but because it’s practical and for many people is culturally familiar. However, Ireland is part of the EU and a move to Ireland is still classed as an international move. So, in order to get the best outcome for your move, study this guide and plan around solid timelines, make sure documentation is correct and familiarise yourself with the realities of shipping and delivery access.
1. Why Move to Ireland?
Ireland has always appealed to many UK movers due to the similar life-style and practicallity of it’s location. For some they move to Ireland for work and travel back and forward, but for many it’s a permanent move. Some people move for family, change of pace, or simply a fresh place to start. So an prodominatly English speaking nation on the door step of the UK make perfect sense for someone looking to move abroad with the massive distance or change in culture. As the move is such a short-haul (40 minute flight from Edinburgh) you can often relocate with the long lead times associated with overseas container shipping!
2. Key Facts you should know before Moving!
As Ireland is in Europe, they use the Euro, so you’ll want to plan banking and day-to-day costs accordingly. The common Irish tongue is an official language, however, English is predominantly spoken throughout the country. Although there shouldn’t be any cultural shocks for anyone moving from the UK, you’ll still need to understand things like housing availability, administration setup, and what you can access quickly when you arrive like banking, healthcare, driving licence etc.
For UK citizens moving to Ireland, the Common Travel Area (CTA) is a good starting point for understanding right and practicalities. Check out the specific Ireland and UK information here.
3. Visa and Immigration Requirements
If you’re a UK citizen, then your move to Ireland should be a lot more straight forward than if you were moving from outside the UK due to the Common Travel Area. In simple terms, the CTA underpins the ability for UK citizens to live in Ireland and access various services. Of course, these are subject to the usual conditions that apply in real life when you’re proving identity/residence.
Start by visiting Citizens Information about residence rules for UK citizens, and ensure you take a look at the official government guide for living in Ireland.
If you’re moving with family members that are not from the UK, then you need to treat them as a seperate planned move as Irish immigration rules will apply to them, even if they’re travelling with you.
4. Preparing for your Move to Ireland
Choosing the Right Removal Company
A good international removals company (like Euromovers and Purdie Worldwide) should be able to guide you through the full process. From the initial survey to obtain a volume estimate, packing options, inventory, shipping route and provide you with any documentation needed for the journey. The biggest risk with all international moves is rarely the driving, it’s usually misaligned dates, ambiguous access, or paperwork gaps that cause delays.
Picking the right Move Plan
The majority of UK to Ireland move fall into one of two main categories:
A full load is simplest when you have a clear moving date and enough volume to justify a dedicated vehicle.
A part (shared) load is the most cost-effective method if you’re flexible on dates. If you need temporary storage as dates don’t quite align, then we have a range of storage options here in Central Scotland and Dumfries.
What to do before you pack
The majority of the cost of moving to Ireland depends on the volume of goods you’re moving over. So by decluttering your home, you’re not only making space, you’re also saving yourself money in the long run!
The most practical approach, and our recommend way of decluttering, is to split your household items into three piles: One for everything you want to keep and take with you. Another for items you want to get rid of, and a final pile of goods you wish to donate. You don’t even have actually make the piles, you can easily go round with different coloured sticky notes and place them on the items according to your preference.
What you should take with you
Even if you’re not travelling with your goods, you’ll need to ensure you have enough to survive for 1-2 weeks until your belongings arrive. So it would be best practice to pack a seperate bag with documents, medication, chargers, basic clothing and anything you can’t afford to lose or be without.
If you’re looking for a general pre-arrival checklist, then be sure to check this guide out.
5. Customs & Documentation
Treat this as the main spine of your move to Ireland; you need everything in place at the start to allow the timeline to allow everything to fall into place.
Even when a move is short distance, any and all international shipments typically require a clear paper trail. For professional movers like Euromovers and Purdie Worldwide, a detailed inventory is standard practice for every export job. You will need this inventory along with supporting documents such as proof of identity and address information.
Again, be sure to check out the official citizens information before you come to Ireland.
6. Estimated Moving Costs
The majority of moves from the UK to Ireland are price driven by a few predicatable factors. The biggest ones are the shipment size or volume (ft³ or m³), the distance, what the access is like at both properties (stairs, parking etc), and the service level (owner packed versus professional packing).
Whether you might need temporary storage, special handling for items like pianos and insurance levels can also vary the moving cost to Ireland from the UK. This is exactly why we recommend a video or in-person survey in order for an expert who can accurately assess your goods for volume, what the access is like, and what vehicles and equipment will be required.
7. Settling In
Housing, Work, Healthcare, Driving and Day-to-Day Setup
When you first move to Ireland, your home might not quite be ready yet, or there may be delays with paperwork. Certified removal companies like Euromovers can reduce this stress by helping you arrange temporary accomodation until your home is ready, or until your goods arrive.
Even although rights exist under the aforementioned CTA, the practical access to these services often depends on proving identity and residency. So keeping your documents organised and close to hand will make the admin side of things a lot easier!
8. Bringing Special Items like Pets
Pets
Moving your pet with you when you move to Ireland from the UK is actually easier than a lot of European countries. You just need to make sure that a specific sequence is followed in order to get the correct certificate for travel from Great Britain. For dogs, this includes a registered microchip and a rabies vaccination.
Cars
Although in Ireland they drive on the same side of the road as we do in the UK, you can’t just expect to take your car over there and expect no one to take any notice! You need to ensure that not only have you informed the DVLA that you intend to export the vehicle, you also need to apply to the Irish government, and depending on the value of your car there will be potential taxes and/or tax reliefs depending on the circumstances. Check out the two guides below for more information on shipping you car or vehicle to Ireland.
9. FAQs about Moving to Ireland
How long does a UK to Ireland move take?
Moving to Ireland can take as little as 2 weeks from survey to move, but most commonly it takes a few months. However, we have seen some cases with complex paperwork that can take up to a year to push everything through. Expect it to take longer if choosing a part load over a dedicated load, with the biggest delays usually coming from keys not lining up or storage or paperwork problems.
What paperwork do I need for my household goods?
For moving household goods across to Ireland from the UK, you'll need a clear inventory (we can help with this) and basic identity and address docuements. A company like Euromovers or Purdie Worldwide should tell you exactly what's required for your route and circumstances.
Can I bring my pet and my car?
If both the pet and car originally came from the UK, then moving them across shouldn't be an issue. They bot have very specific rules and timelines, so be sure to use a guide and plan as early in advance as possible.
10. Moving to Ireland Conclusion
With Euromovers, moving to Ireland has never been easier! Whether you’re moving for work or family, moving across the water to Ireland is releatively straight forward. By setting dates and your expectations early, reducing the volume you want moved, keeping documents organised and choosing a removal company who can manage the complete end-to-end process (packing, inventory, transport, and any required documentation) are key. If you handle these fundamentals, the move will usually be a lot smoother than people expect!
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