🇮🇪 Shipping to Ireland from the USA

Shipping Rates to Ireland

Reference list-price estimates before fuel and demand surcharges, duties and taxes, not quotes. Rows are derived from the UK lane as a nearest reference, not separately published prices for Ireland.

How long shipping to Ireland takes

Dublin Airport handles most US air parcels and express shipments often arrive in 2 to 3 business days for Dublin, Cork and Galway. West coast and island addresses add a day or two. USPS parcels are handed to An Post, which runs a separate customs step. A parcel with nothing due moves quickly; one with charges waits for an online payment. Plan on 6 to 10 days for Priority Mail International and up to two weeks for First-Class Package International Service, longer in December.

Background in the international mail times guide.

What Revenue charges

Ireland publishes unusually clear guidance. See buying goods online from outside the EU, the €150 relief removal and the Union Handling Fee. In short:

• Customs value: goods cost plus handling, transport and insurance, including postage.
• VAT base: customs value plus any duty. VAT applies at the rate that would apply if bought in Ireland: 23% on most goods, 0% on items such as children's clothes and books.
• €3 duty: applies since 1 July 2026 to low-value parcels up to €150, per distinct product type. It depends on the import date, so an order placed in June and landed in July pays it.
• Union Handling Fee: €2 per distinct item from 1 November 2026 on e-commerce goods, no value limit, non-refundable. It targets businesses and platforms; a price rise is the likely way consumers see it.
• Fees: couriers and postal operators add their own administration fee. Revenue's examples use €10 or €20.
• IOSS: if the retailer used IOSS, no more VAT is due on import, as it was paid at the point of sale.

Gifts: Revenue's gift relief needs a private sender, a private recipient, personal use and no payment by the recipient. Over €45, VAT applies to the whole consignment. Duty up to €700 may be charged at a flat 2.5%. Alcohol, tobacco and perfume are excluded from the VAT relief. The €2 fee does not apply to private gifts.

Northern Ireland is a different answer

Belfast and Derry are in the UK, so a US parcel follows UK VAT at 20%, with "at risk" EU rules for some goods. A parcel to Dublin is an EU import. Do not rely on an Irish address format for a Northern Irish postcode. See the UK guide.

Tips for Ireland

• Use the Eircode: many rural addresses are not numbered, so a seven-character Eircode can decide whether the driver finds the house.
• Declare value honestly: Revenue's guidance turns on the invoice, and a low figure can bring a demand for proof of payment.
• Check the fee before choosing the service: on a €40 parcel a €10 to €20 fee can exceed the VAT.
• Mark gifts clearly: show "gift" on the customs form and list items and values.

From elsewhere?

Great Britain is outside the EU customs area, so an order from a British shop counts as an import and meets the same €3 and VAT rules. Parcels from Germany, France or Spain are EU internal. From Canada and Australia, delivery runs a few days longer than from the US East Coast.