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Please note our office will be CLOSED from the 22nd of December 2025 to the 2nd of February 2026. Please note our office will be CLOSED from the 22nd of December 2025 to the 2nd of February 2026.

Shipping Container to Ireland | Moving to Ireland

Seirbhísí loingseoireachta idirnáisiúnta ag Bogadh Do Dhomhanda

Shipping to Ireland from Australia

When shipping a 20FT or 40FT container (FCL) to Ireland you are paying a fixed sea-freight rate (subject to USD/AUD exchange rate/s) and may fill up as little or as much of the sole-purpose container as you wish.

With this type of service, the container space is not shared with other cargoes and your goods are not handled from one container to another at several points during transit such as is the case with shared container services (LCL), rather, the goods stay in the same container they were packed at origin, until delivery at the final destination.

What size shipping container do I need for moving my personal effects to Ireland?

  • 20FT shipping containers have inner dimensions as follows and a capacity of 33m3//1,158cubic feet:
    • 5.90m x 2.35m x 2.38m // 19.35 ft x 7.71 ft x 7.80 ft
  • 20FT containers are usually sufficient for an entire 2-3 bedroom house contents
  • 40FT shipping containers have inner dimensions as follows and have a capacity of 67m3//2,372cubic feet:
    • 12.01m x 2.35m x 2.38m // 39.39 ft x 7.71 ft x 7.80 ft
  • 40FT containers are usually sufficient for an entire 2-3 bedroom house contents and a motor vehicle, or, an entire 4-5 bedroom house contents.
  • 40FT (High Cube) shipping containers have inner dimensions as follows and have a capacity of 76m3//2,679cubic feet:
    • 12.01m x 2.35m x 2.69m // 39.39 ft x 7.71 ft x 8.82 ft
  • 40HC containers are 30cm//1foot higher than a standard 40FT container and are designed for when that little bit of extra space is needed for excess cargoes.

  

What if I wish to ship only a smaller volume of goods to Ireland?

If you wish to send only boxes and/or minimal amounts of furniture, our shared container services (LCL) may be the best option for you.

The minimal charge in our shared container services is 1m3//cubic metre, equivalent to approximately 10 standard moving cartons (tea-chest size), these cartons are 43cm x 41cm x 60cm each. See our LCL page here for more information about this type of shipping service.

Are you planning on Moving to Ireland?

We provide self pack options or professional packing services (should you require them) to move your household goods and/or motor vehicle/s in 20FT and 40FT shipping container/s from your door in Australia to your door in Ireland.

If you have owned and used the goods for more than 6 months, and are planning to move to Ireland after being outside of the country for more than 12 months, you may be eligible to import your goods tax/duty free in reasonable quantities and not for re-sale. Persons intending to use the duty free exemption must intend to reside in Ireland for at least 185 days, the transfer of residence exemption may be  used for moving used personal effects into Ireland 6 months prior and up to 12 months after the date of importer arrival into Ireland.

Required documents for duty free import:

  • Copy of the importers passport photo page
  • Bill of Lading (provided once cargo is shipped)
  • Comprehensive valued inventory list in English, signed and dated
  • Proofs of living outside of Ireland for a period of at least 12 months, property lease//purchase, utility bills, tax filings etc
  • Proofs of taking up residency in Ireland, utility bills, bank account.
  • Transfer or Residence (TOR) application available to download here and Transfer of Residence Supplementary Declaration (TOR 1) available here

Required documents for vehicle importation: 

  • Proof of purchase showing make/model/VIN,
  • Certificate of title,
  • Current/Previous registration, vehicle to be owned and used for at least 6 months and cannot be disposed within the first 12 months of import.

The motor vehicle needs to be listed on the container manifest and the shipping documents showing the motor vehicle make/model/year/VIN.

If you are considering moving to Ireland speak to one of our friendly professionals to assist you with all your shipping related questions, call us on +6129575-7614.