Send Luggage From the USA to Ireland
Introduction: Ship Luggage from the USA to Ireland
Shipping Luggage and Personal Effects from the USA to Ireland
Ireland has one of the most active patterns of movement to and from the USA of any country in the world. The Irish diaspora in America is one of the largest in the world — and the return flow is significant too. Every year, thousands of Irish people who have been living and working in the USA return home, and thousands of Americans relocate to Ireland for work, study, or family reasons. For all of them, at some point, comes the question of how to get their personal belongings there.
Irish customs — the Revenue Commissioners — allows used personal effects to be imported duty-free and VAT-free (saving 23% Irish VAT) when you are genuinely relocating to Ireland from the USA. The process is called Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief. Revenue administers it under EU customs law, and the key document is the C&E 1076 form — a declaration specific to Ireland that must be submitted to Revenue at least two weeks before your goods arrive in Ireland.
The two-week advance submission requirement for the C&E 1076 is important and different from most other EU countries’ personal effects processes. We explain this in full below.
ExpediShip handles pickup from your US address, all export documentation, air freight, and delivery to any Irish address. Our Irish clearance partners manage the Revenue ToR process on your behalf.
Not shipping personal belongings? See our box shipping pagefor gift boxes and samples. For donation pallets or tradeshow freight, see our pallet page. For business equipment or inherited property in a crate, see our crate page.
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Who Ships Luggage and Personal Effects from the USA to Ireland?
Who Ships Luggage and Personal Effects from the USA to Ireland?
Irish People Returning Home from the USA
Ireland has a long history of emigration, and the USA has historically been the most common destination. The US census regularly shows 32 to 35 million Americans with Irish ancestry. Many Irish people spent years working in the USA — particularly in New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco — before returning home. When they do, they often ship significant quantities of personal effects: accumulated clothing, electronics, personal items, and belongings that have become part of their daily life in America. Revenue’s Transfer of Residence relief applies to returning Irish residents who have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months.
Americans Relocating to Ireland for Tech or Pharma Roles
Ireland’s economy is dominated by US multinational companies. Over 1,000 US companies have established Irish operations, employing approximately 300,000 people directly. Google, Meta, Apple, LinkedIn, Airbnb, and hundreds of others have European or global headquarters in Dublin. Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, and many more run major manufacturing operations in Cork, Galway, Waterford, and other cities. American employees transferred to Irish operations are among the most frequent users of ExpediShip’s personal effects shipping service on this route.
Students at Irish Universities
Trinity College Dublin (founded 1592), University College Dublin, University College Cork, and NUI Galway host American students on exchange programs and postgraduate degrees. Irish universities are popular choices for American students of Irish descent — and for those who simply find Ireland’s academic reputation, English-language environment, and EU location attractive. Shipping one or two bags with ExpediShip before a year-long program is significantly cheaper than airline overweight fees.
Americans Joining Irish Partners or Establishing Irish Residence
Ireland issues residence permits for family reunification, and many Americans live in Ireland having joined an Irish partner. The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) manages immigration at inis.gov.ie. Personal effects shipped after establishing Irish residence qualify for the Transfer of Residence duty-free concession.
Shipping Cost & Transit Time for Shipping Luggage from the USA to Ireland
Our prices are highly competitive — that’s why so many customers choose Expediship for shipping from the USA to Ireland. We offer affordable rates with reliable, professional service, guiding you step by step through the entire shipping process for boxes, luggage, and parcels.
Delivery to Ireland typically takes around 5 business days, not including customs clearance time, which may vary depending on Italian government processing.
Below are estimated starting prices for shipping Luggage from the USA to Ireland. Final cost depends on box size, pickup address, and delivery city.
| Weight Range | Starting Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1–10 lbs | From $36 |
| 11–20 lbs | From $65 |
| 21–30 lbs | From $103 |
| 31–40 lbs | From $125 |
| 41–50 lbs | From $142 |
| 51–60 lbs | From $167 |
| 61–80 lbs | From $205 |
| 81+ lbs | From $225 — for larger shipments, please contact customer service for an exact quote. |
Note: Prices are estimated starting rates for air freight shipments. Expediship offers door-to-door service with full tracking and customs guidance.
Ireland's Transfer of Residence (ToR) Relief: The Conditions
Ireland’s Transfer of Residence (ToR) Relief: The Conditions
Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief is Revenue’s process for allowing used personal effects to be imported duty-free and VAT-free when you are genuinely relocating to Ireland. Revenue’s official ToR guidance is at revenue.ie.
The conditions for duty-free and VAT-free import under ToR relief
First: you are transferring your normal place of residence to Ireland — this must be a genuine permanent or long-term move. Ireland must become your primary place of residence. ToR does not apply to holiday homes, temporary work visits, or second residences.
Second: you have been normally resident outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months before moving to Ireland. Revenue requires documentary evidence of this prior residence.
Third: the goods have been in your personal possession and use for at least 6 months before the move. Brand-new items, items still in original packaging, or items purchased specifically to bring to Ireland do not qualify as personal effects under ToR.
Fourth: you must import the goods into Ireland within 12 months of the date you establish Irish residence. Revenue allows goods to be imported in multiple consignments within this 12-month window, but each consignment must be declared separately.
Fifth: within 12 months of importing the goods, you must not sell, lend, hire out, or transfer them without Revenue’s prior approval. If you do, the duty and VAT that were exempted become immediately payable.
What qualifies as personal effects?
Used clothing, shoes, and personal accessories. Used household electronics — laptops, cameras, phones, tablets, small appliances. Used furniture, bedding, books, and kitchenware. Personal sports equipment, musical instruments, and hobby items. Your personal vehicle, if it meets the separate vehicle transfer conditions.
What does not qualify: alcohol and tobacco (always subject to Irish excise duty regardless of ToR), brand-new items purchased for the move, commercial quantities of goods, and firearms (require separate licensing from the Garda Síochána — the Irish police).
Form C&E 1076: Ireland's Transfer of Residence Declaration
Form C&E 1076: Ireland’s Transfer of Residence Declaration
The C&E 1076 is the official Revenue form for declaring personal effects under the Transfer of Residence relief. Without it, your luggage cannot qualify for the duty-free and VAT-free ToR concession. The form covers both customs duty relief and VAT relief, and it also addresses vehicle registration tax if you are importing a car.
The C&E 1076 form is available as a PDF from Revenue at revenue.ie/en/customs/individuals/customs/c-and-e-1076.pdf. It must be completed accurately and in English.
The two-week advance submission rule — Ireland’s most important timing requirement
You must submit your completed C&E 1076 to Revenue at least two weeks (14 days) before your goods arrive in Ireland. This is the most important procedural difference between Ireland’s ToR process and those of most other EU countries.
In contrast: France’s Cerfa 10070 is submitted at the point of entry when goods arrive. Denmark’s SKAT application is submitted in advance but without a fixed 14-day requirement. Italy’s trasferimento di residenza process allows submission around the time of arrival. Ireland’s Revenue is firm: submit the C&E 1076 at least two weeks before the goods land at Dublin Airport or an Irish seaport.
If you fail to submit the C&E 1076 in advance and your goods arrive without a valid ToR application in place, Revenue may require the goods to be held in customs storage while the application is processed — at storage costs to you — or may assess the goods for VAT at 23% and customs duty as a standard commercial import.
What to submit with the C&E 1076
The C&E 1076 itself, signed and dated.
A detailed, itemised packing list of all personal effects being imported.
Proof of your Irish address — a signed lease agreement, utility bill, or employer letter showing your new Irish address.
Documentation proving you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months — this can be your US lease, utility bills, bank statements showing a US address, or employment records. A combination of documents is typically strongest.
For employment-related relocations: a letter from your Irish employer confirming that you are relocating to Ireland for employment.
Where to send the form
Send the completed C&E 1076 and supporting documents to the Revenue port or airport at your point of entry — typically Dublin Airport customs if arriving by air, or the port customs office if arriving by sea. You can also email the form to the relevant Revenue district. If you are using ExpediShip, our Irish clearance partners submit the C&E 1076 to Revenue on your behalf and manage all communication with the relevant customs office.
Insurance Options for Shipping Boxes, Pallets, Crates, or Luggage from the USA to Ireland
Every shipment automatically includes $100 of cargo insurance free of charge — if anything is lost or damaged, you are covered up to $100 at no extra cost. Need more protection? Add full coverage for just 3% of the declared value when requesting your quote. For eligibility rules, non-insurable items, and how claims work, see our Shipping Insurance Guide.
International Shipping Prohibitions and Restrictions
Ship from USA to Ireland — Know What You Cannot Ship
Certain items cannot be received, stored, shipped, imported, or exported due to government regulations, safety concerns, or international trade laws. Transactions involving these commodities are strictly prohibited, regardless of the shipment’s origin or destination.
Note: These items are completely forbidden to be exported or imported between countries.
Shipping Process
Ship Box or luggage from USA to Ireland
Frequently Asked Questions When Shipping Luggage from USA to Ireland
No, if you qualify for Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief. Used personal belongings imported as part of a genuine permanent relocation are exempt from customs duty and 23% Irish VAT, provided you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months, the goods have been owned and used for at least 6 months, and you import them within 12 months of establishing Irish residence. Crucially, you must submit Form C&E 1076 to Revenue at least two weeks before your goods arrive. Revenue’s ToR information is at revenue.ie.
The C&E 1076 is the official Revenue Transfer of Residence declaration form. It must be submitted to Revenue at least 14 days before your personal effects arrive in Ireland. Without it, your goods will be assessed as standard commercial imports subject to 23% VAT. ExpediShip’s Irish clearance partners submit the C&E 1076 on your behalf.
Via air freight to Dublin Airport, personal effects typically arrive in 4 to 5 business days. Revenue customs clearance for well-documented ToR shipments with an advance C&E 1076 in place is generally efficient.