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Importing from Ireland to the UK

Ireland is the UK's 3rd-largest source of imports, worth £32.9 billion in the four quarters to Q4 2025 (ONS) — the UK's closest trading partner, connected by a RoRo crossing as short as 3.5 hours. Despite the proximity, every shipment is a full customs import requiring declarations on both sides.

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£32.9B
UK-Ireland Trade (2025)
Same Day
RoRo Transit
Pharma & Food
Top Import Categories
0%
Duty With TCA Origin

Why do UK businesses import from Ireland?

Ireland supplied £32.9 billion of total UK-Ireland trade in the four quarters to Q4 2025 (ONS), making it a top-three UK trading partner. Pharmaceuticals, food and drink, and machinery dominate the flow, much of it moving same-day via RoRo despite the short crossing requiring full customs treatment.

Ireland is a top-three UK trading partner by value, and the relationship is unusually broad-based: Ireland is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical manufacturing and export hubs, alongside a substantial food and drink trade (dairy, beverages, packaged goods) and machinery.

The short crossing is deceptive. Since Brexit, importing from Ireland is a full customs import exactly as if the goods were arriving from Germany or France — the difference is speed, not paperwork volume. Irish Sea routes run under the UK's pre-lodgement customs model, meaning the export declaration (filed by your Irish supplier's side) and the UK import declaration must both be complete before the driver checks in at the Irish port, not filed on arrival.

Gxpresss coordinates with your Irish supplier's agent to confirm the pre-lodged export declaration, files the UK import declaration and Entry Summary Declaration, and verifies TCA origin eligibility so qualifying goods enter at 0% duty. Most Ireland shipments move as RoRo road freight, with the customs clearance timed to the driver's crossing rather than a separate step afterwards.

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What documents do you need to import from Ireland to the UK?

Five documents clear an Irish import into the UK: commercial invoice, statement on origin for TCA preference, CMR consignment note, pre-lodged Entry Summary Declaration, and a UK import declaration. Health certificates apply for products of animal origin.

Essential documents you will need when importing goods from Ireland into the United Kingdom.

Commercial Invoice

Full goods description, HS code, quantities, values, currency and Incoterms from your Irish supplier — must match the transport documents exactly.

Statement on Origin (TCA Preference)

Issued by your Irish supplier to secure 0% duty on qualifying goods entering the UK under the TCA, replacing the older EUR1 certificate for most shipments.

CMR Consignment Note

Standard international road transport document confirming consignor, consignee and routing for the RoRo crossing.

Entry Summary Declaration (ENS / S&S GB)

Pre-arrival safety and security filing required on UK imports, pre-lodged under the Irish Sea model before the driver checks in at the Irish port.

UK Import Declaration

Filed through CDS before or on arrival, claiming TCA preference against the statement on origin where eligible.

Health Certificate (Food & Animal Products)

Required for products of animal origin and some food categories, given the volume of food and drink on this corridor.

How much duty and VAT do you pay importing from Ireland?

Irish-origin goods qualifying under the TCA enter the UK at 0% customs duty, provided your supplier issues a valid statement on origin. Standard UK VAT at 20% applies to most goods, with pharmaceuticals typically zero-rated.

Duty relief depends on the goods meeting the TCA rules of origin — most genuinely Irish-manufactured pharmaceuticals, food and machinery qualify without difficulty, since Ireland's manufacturing base is substantially domestic or EU-sourced. Goods that fail the rules of origin, or arrive without a valid statement on origin, are charged the full UK Global Tariff. Standard UK VAT at 20% applies to most goods; most pharmaceutical products are zero-rated.

Gxpresss handles all duty calculations and HMRC submissions on your behalf, ensuring you pay the correct amount with no surprises.

Check My Duty Rate UK customs clearance cost guide →
Category Typical Duty Rate VAT
Pharmaceuticals 0% (TCA qualifying) 0% (most medicines)
Dairy & Food Products 0% (TCA qualifying) 0% (most food zero-rated)
Alcoholic Beverages 0% (TCA qualifying) + UK excise duty 20%
Machinery & Equipment 0-4% (origin-based) 20%
Retail & FMCG Goods 0-8% (origin-based) 20%

Rates are indicative and may vary. Contact us for exact calculations.

How long does shipping from Ireland to the UK take?

RoRo crossings from Holyhead to Dublin take as little as 3.5 hours, making same-day door-to-door delivery realistic for many UK destinations. Liverpool, Fishguard and Cairnryan routes give next-day delivery. Air freight is rarely needed given the short sea crossing.

Estimated shipping times depending on your chosen freight method.

Same Day
RoRo (Holyhead–Dublin)

Holyhead to Dublin crossings take as little as 3.5 hours, making same-day door-to-door delivery realistic for many UK destinations once pre-lodged declarations are in place.

1 Day
RoRo (Liverpool, Fishguard, Cairnryan)

Liverpool–Dublin, Fishguard–Rosslare and Cairnryan–Larne give next-day delivery across most of the UK, with multiple daily departures.

<1 Day
Air Freight

Rarely needed given the short RoRo crossing, but available for extremely time-critical pharmaceutical or high-value shipments via Dublin to UK regional airports.

How do you import goods from Ireland to the UK?

Importing from Ireland takes seven steps: request a statement on origin, pre-lodge the export declaration before check-in, pre-lodge the UK import declaration and ENS, book RoRo freight, check customs routing before docking, pay any duty and 20% VAT, then take same-day delivery.

How Gxpresss manages your import from Ireland to the UK.

1

Supplier Engagement & Origin Assessment

Confirm product details with your Irish supplier and request a statement on origin to claim TCA preference where eligible.

2

Pre-Lodged Export Declaration

Your Irish supplier's agent pre-lodges the export declaration before the driver checks in at the Irish port, as required under the Irish Sea pre-lodgement model.

3

UK Import Declaration & ENS

Gxpresss files the UK import declaration and Entry Summary Declaration, pre-lodged so the crossing is not held up by paperwork.

4

Book RoRo Freight

We arrange Holyhead–Dublin, Liverpool–Dublin, Fishguard–Rosslare or Cairnryan–Larne, matched to your delivery address.

5

Customs Routing Check

The driver checks the customs routing 20-30 minutes before departure to confirm whether the load is cleared straight through or held for examination.

6

Duty & VAT Payment

We calculate any residual duty and 20% import VAT and arrange payment or deferment through our duty deferment account.

7

UK Delivery

Cleared goods are delivered to your UK premises, typically same-day given the short crossing.

What does it cost to import from Ireland to the UK?

Landed cost from Ireland is driven by freight, correct origin and 20% import VAT. Groupage runs roughly £50-£90 per pallet and full trailer loads £600-£1,200 — among the cheapest freight on any UK import corridor given the short crossing. With a valid statement on origin, duty is 0%.

Factors that affect the total cost of importing from Ireland to the UK.

RoRo Freight

Groupage rates run roughly £50-£90 per pallet; full trailer loads £600-£1,200 depending on route and season — among the cheapest freight on any UK import corridor given the short crossing.

Customs Duty

With a valid TCA statement on origin, duty is 0% on qualifying goods. Goods failing origin rules pay the full UK Global Tariff.

VAT (20%)

Standard UK VAT of 20% applies to most goods; pharmaceuticals and most food are zero-rated. VAT-registered importers reclaim import VAT.

Excise Duties

Alcoholic beverages from Ireland carry UK excise duty in addition to customs duty and VAT, regardless of TCA preference.

Customs Brokerage

Gxpresss clearance fees cover pre-lodgement filing, TCA origin verification, and duty and VAT calculation.

Pre-Lodgement Timing

Getting the export and import declarations pre-lodged correctly before check-in is the main practical cost driver on this corridor — not the freight rate itself.

Which Incoterm should you use with Irish suppliers?

The short crossing changes the risk calculation compared with mainland Europe — DAP is workable here in a way it often isn't on longer, slower corridors.

DAP (Delivered at Place)

Because clearance and delivery can both complete same-day, DAP carries much less of the multi-day exposure it would on a distant corridor. The practical default for most Ireland-to-UK shipments, provided both declarations are pre-lodged correctly.

FCA (Free Carrier)

Your supplier hands the goods to the carrier in Ireland with the export declaration complete; you or your agent manage the crossing and UK import. Sensible if you already run your own customs agent relationship.

Whichever term you use, the pre-lodgement requirement is not optional on Irish Sea routes. Gxpresss pre-lodges both sides so the crossing itself is never where a shipment gets held up.

What is the total landed cost of a shipment from Ireland?

A real shipment structure — 12 pallets of packaged food and drink, groupage RoRo, Dublin to Manchester.

Goods value (FCA Dublin)£8,500
RoRo groupage freight (12 pallets, Dublin–Manchester)£680
Insurance (0.3%)£25
Customs value (CIF)£9,205
Duty @ 0% (TCA preference, statement on origin held)£0
Import VAT @ 20% on CIF value£1,841.00
Customs brokerage fee£45
Total landed cost£11,091.00

VAT is reclaimable for VAT-registered UK businesses on their next return — duty is not. Without a valid statement on origin, the same goods would attract the full UK Global Tariff instead of 0%. Figures are illustrative; exact duty depends on the correct commodity code for your specific product.

What can't you import from Ireland to the UK?

Check these before you place an order — clearance will stop, or goods will be seized, if they apply.

  • Products of animal origin without a valid export health certificate.
  • Plants, seeds and some agricultural products requiring phytosanitary certification.
  • Goods shipped without pre-lodged declarations — under the Irish Sea pre-lodgement model, incomplete paperwork means the driver is turned away, not waved through.
  • Excise goods (alcohol, tobacco) without correct excise documentation.
  • Counterfeit or IP-infringing goods.

Unsure if your product falls into a restricted category? Get a free pre-shipment compliance check before you commit funds with your supplier.

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Importing from Ireland — FAQ

Common questions about importing goods from Ireland to the UK.

Yes. A GB EORI number is mandatory for every commercial import into the United Kingdom, regardless of origin country or shipment value. Registration is free through HMRC and usually completes within a week. Without a valid EORI on the declaration your goods cannot be cleared and will accrue storage and demurrage charges while you apply. Gxpresss can check your EORI status before your first shipment leaves Ireland.

Import VAT at 20% is reclaimable by VAT-registered UK businesses on their next VAT return, either against the C79 certificate HMRC issues or through postponed VAT accounting, which lets you account for the VAT on the return rather than paying it at the border and improves cash flow. Customs duty is never reclaimable — it is a real cost, which is why correct commodity code classification matters more than most importers expect.

An incorrect commodity code means you pay the wrong duty. If you underpay, HMRC can issue a retrospective demand covering up to three years plus interest and penalties. If you overpay, the money is recoverable but only if you spot it and file a claim. Incorrect codes also trigger inspections, which hold cargo at the border and generate storage charges. Gxpresss classifies goods before shipment so the code is settled before it becomes expensive.

No. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK customs territory under the Windsor Framework, so moving goods from there is not a customs import in the way moving them from the Republic of Ireland is. This guide covers the Republic of Ireland, which is a full EU external border for UK importers.

Yes — the crossing length has no bearing on the customs requirement. Every commercial shipment from the Republic of Ireland to GB needs an export declaration on the Irish side and a full UK import declaration, exactly as if it were arriving from any other EU country.

Irish Sea routes run under the UK's pre-lodgement customs model: both export and import declarations, including safety and security filings, must be completed before the driver checks in at the Irish port. There is no option to file on arrival, unlike some other routes.

Dublin to Holyhead takes as little as three and a half hours by ferry, meaning same-day delivery is realistic for many UK destinations once pre-lodged declarations are in place.

Yes, exactly as you would from any other EU origin. A valid statement on origin from your Irish supplier secures 0% TCA duty; without it, you pay the full UK Global Tariff.

The driver checks the customs routing 20-30 minutes before departure at the Irish port. Green-routed loads proceed straight through on arrival; amber or red-routed loads are held for document check or physical examination.

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Looking to sell into Ireland instead of importing from there? See our exporting to Ireland guide →


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