Shipping to Ireland from Vietnam
Ship to Ireland from Vietnam — for Dublin tech/pharma expats and anyone moving home after a posting in Vietnam. EVFTA context, personal effects, EU rules.
Dublin hosts the European headquarters of Google, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, and a cluster of major pharmaceutical manufacturers — which is why an estimated 5,000 Vietnamese people now call Ireland home, many of them engineers, pharma professionals, and researchers who came for exactly those companies. This page is written with a specific reader in mind too: the Irish expat finishing up a posting, project, or teaching stint in Vietnam and shipping their life back to Dublin, Cork, or Galway — personal effects, a household’s worth of belongings, and the accumulated stuff of a year or more abroad.
Both readers need the same practical information: what EU customs actually requires, whether Transfer of Residence relief applies to your move, and what does and doesn’t clear from Vietnam. This page covers our service tiers, the EVFTA duty context, Irish VAT, EU food rules, and the personal-effects relief scheme that most returning residents don’t know exists until they ask.
Shipping Services to Ireland
Express Air (4-6 Business Days)
Flights from Hanoi (HAN) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) into Dublin Airport (DUB), typically transiting through Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or London.
Best for:
- Documents needed for work visas, residency, or company paperwork
- Time-sensitive personal items
- Small high-value electronics or work equipment
Standard Air (8-12 Business Days)
Best for:
- Bulkier personal shipments — clothing, books, non-fragile household items
- Non-urgent parcels where cost matters more than speed
Sea Freight (30-40 Days, indicative)
Via Dublin or Cork port. This is the tier most relevant to anyone relocating rather than sending a parcel.
Best for:
- Full household relocations — furniture, appliances, personal effects after a Vietnam posting
- Bulk shipments where sea freight’s cost advantage matters
- LCL consolidation if you don’t have a full container’s worth
EU Customs, EVFTA Duty Context, and Irish VAT
Regulators you’ll interact with
| Agency | Role |
|---|---|
| Revenue (Irish Tax and Customs) | Import clearance, duty and VAT collection |
| FSAI (Food Safety Authority of Ireland) | Food safety, labeling compliance |
EVFTA and commercial duty
Ireland is an EU member, so commercial Vietnam-Ireland trade runs under the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which is eliminating duty on the large majority of Vietnam-origin goods over its phase-in schedule. This matters most for business shipments; for personal effects and gifts, the more relevant rules are below.
Irish VAT
| Charge | Rate |
|---|---|
| VAT — standard | 23% |
| VAT — reduced rates | 13.5%, 9%, and lower rates apply to specific categories |
Low-value parcels — a 2026 rule change to know about
The EU is phasing out duty-free treatment for low-value consignments (previously, parcels under €150 avoided customs duty). From mid-2026, a small flat customs charge per consignment applies instead, and import VAT can still be due. If you’re sending a personal parcel rather than moving your whole household, we’ll confirm the current rule at quote time.
Moving Back to Ireland: Transfer of Residence Relief
If you’re an Irish resident finishing a posting in Vietnam and shipping your household back, Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief may let you bring your personal belongings into Ireland without paying Customs Duty or VAT. This is the single most useful thing most returning expats don’t know to ask about.
General eligibility conditions:
- You’ve lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months before your move
- The goods being imported have been in your possession and use for at least 6 months before the move
- Goods are for personal use, not resale or business
What’s typically covered: household furniture, clothing, personal belongings, electrical appliances, and (with additional conditions) a personal vehicle.
What’s excluded: alcohol, tobacco, and anything intended for business use.
Paperwork: Revenue requires a completed Transfer of Residence form submitted in advance of your goods arriving — we recommend starting this at least two weeks before your shipment lands, so clearance isn’t held up waiting on documentation.
Moving back to Ireland after time in Vietnam? Email info@gatewayexpress.com.vn or call +84 938 373 343 — we’ll help you get the Transfer of Residence paperwork lined up before your container ships.
EU Food Import Rules
Whether you’re an expat missing home flavors in Dublin or shipping a last care package before your flight, here’s what actually clears EU customs from Vietnam.
Freely shippable
- Dried and processed foods: instant noodles, dried rice noodles, confectionery
- Coffee and tea
- Bottled sauces: fish sauce, soy sauce, chili sauce (packed to prevent leakage)
- Dried seafood: dried squid, dried fish, dried shrimp
Banned outright by EU rule
- All meat and meat-derived products from Vietnam — pork floss (ruốc), beef jerky, dried sausages, in any form
- Fresh dairy products
- Fresh eggs
- Live fish and fresh seafood (frozen seafood is permitted)
Needs paperwork
- Plant products (tea, dried fruit, spices) technically require a phytosanitary certificate; enforcement is lighter on small personal quantities but ask us about larger shipments.
Vietnamese Community and Ireland-Vietnam Context
| Indicator | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vietnamese community | An estimated 5,000 people, concentrated in Dublin |
| Community profile | Tech engineers, pharma and life sciences professionals, researchers, some students |
| Why Dublin | European HQ for Google, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, and major pharmaceutical manufacturers |
| Ireland vs. Northern Ireland | The Republic of Ireland (EU member, uses Euro) is a separate customs territory from Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom — see our UK shipping page if your recipient is in Belfast or elsewhere in the North |
What You Can Ship — and What’s Banned
Allowed
Personal effects and household goods (Transfer of Residence eligible):
- Furniture, appliances, clothing, books, personal belongings
Food (see above for detail):
- Dried goods, coffee, tea, bottled sauces, dried seafood
Non-food personal items:
- Electronics, laptops, work equipment (declare accurately for customs)
- Cosmetics meeting EU ingredient standards
- Handicrafts and gifts
Banned (EU-wide)
- Meat and meat-derived products of any kind from Vietnam
- Fresh dairy, fresh eggs
- Live or fresh (non-frozen) seafood
Restricted
- Prescription medicines: documentation required
- Alcohol and tobacco: excise duty applies, and these are excluded from Transfer of Residence relief
How Shipping with Gateway Express Works
Step 1 — Get a quote
Reach us through:
- Hotline: +84 938 373 343 (also +84 944 247 267)
- Zalo / Viber / WhatsApp: message the same number
- Email: info@gatewayexpress.com.vn
- Online: Request a free quote or contact our team
Tell us if this is a personal parcel, a work shipment, or a full relocation — the paperwork path differs for each.
Step 2 — Pack and prepare paperwork
- For relocations: detailed inventory of goods, proof of 12-month residency abroad, and the Transfer of Residence form
- For personal parcels: sender ID and recipient details
- For food: contents list for FSAI compliance
- For commercial goods: HS codes and declared value
Step 3 — Free door pickup
Free pickup in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi; scheduled pickup in Da Nang, Hai Phong, and 60+ provinces.
Step 4 — Transit and tracking
- SMS tracking notification at pickup
- Customs milestone updates through Revenue clearance
- For Transfer of Residence shipments, confirmation once your form is accepted
Step 5 — Door delivery in Ireland
- Express: 4-6 business days
- Standard: 8-12 business days
- Sea freight: 30-40 days indicative
Where We Pick Up and Deliver
Pickup in Vietnam
- Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi — free door pickup
- Da Nang, Hai Phong, and 60+ provinces — scheduled pickup
Delivery in Ireland
- Dublin — capital, largest Vietnamese community, primary tech and pharma hub
- Cork — second-largest city
- Galway, Limerick, Waterford — regional centers
- Coverage across all 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland
- Northern Ireland: served via our UK shipping service, as it operates under separate UK customs rules
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does shipping from Vietnam to Ireland take?
Express: 4-6 business days to Dublin. Standard: 8-12 business days. Sea freight: 30-40 days indicative, mainly used for relocations rather than parcels.
I’m moving back to Ireland after working in Vietnam — how do I ship my belongings?
Ask us about Transfer of Residence relief, which can waive Customs Duty and VAT on personal belongings if you’ve lived outside the EU for 12+ months and owned the goods for 6+ months. We’ll help you prepare the required inventory and Revenue form — start this at least two weeks before your goods ship.
Can you ship to Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, not the Republic of Ireland, and follows separate customs rules. We handle it through our UK shipping service — let us know if your recipient is in Belfast or elsewhere in the North so we route it correctly.
What EU food rules apply to shipments to Ireland?
The EU bans all meat and meat-derived products from Vietnam (including pork floss/ruốc and dried meats), fresh dairy, fresh eggs, and live or fresh seafood. Dried goods, coffee, tea, and bottled sauces ship without issue.
What’s Irish VAT?
23% standard rate. Reduced rates of 13.5% and 9% apply to specific categories.
Does EVFTA reduce duty on my shipment?
For commercial goods, yes — EVFTA is eliminating duty on most Vietnam-origin tariff lines. For personal parcels and relocations, Transfer of Residence relief or the EU’s low-value consignment rules are usually more relevant than EVFTA duty preference.
Can I ship my work laptop and personal electronics home?
Yes, declared accurately on the customs paperwork. If it’s part of a Transfer of Residence shipment, include it in your inventory; if it’s a standalone parcel, we’ll advise on declared value and any VAT exposure.
Is there a deadline for filing the Transfer of Residence form?
Revenue asks for the form to be submitted before your goods arrive — we recommend starting the process at least two weeks ahead of your shipment landing in Ireland, so clearance isn’t held up.
Do you deliver outside Dublin — to Cork, Galway, or Limerick?
Yes, full coverage across all 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland.
Ready to ship to Ireland — or move your life back home? Get a quote and Transfer of Residence guidance from Gateway Express.
📞 Hotline: +84 938 373 343 📧 Email: info@gatewayexpress.com.vn 🏢 Office: 72/5 Giai Phong St., Tan Son Nhat Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Your trusted partner for Vietnam-Ireland shipping.
Packaging & shipping operations at the Gateway Express warehouse
Gateway Express staff packing parcels
Team sorting and preparing international shipments
Warehouse staging area for international freight
Gateway Express warehouse ready for dispatch
Weighing and labelling parcels for shipment
Carefully packaged parcels awaiting pickup
Economy 2026
Transit time:8-15days·VND·Chưa VAT 8%
Per-kg rates (≤ 20kg)
| Weight (kg) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 kg | $63.40 |
| 1 kg | $68.30 |
| 1.5 kg | $73.21 |
| 2 kg | $78.11 |
| 2.5 kg | $83.02 |
| 3 kg | $87.92 |
| 3.5 kg | $92.83 |
| 4 kg | $97.74 |
| 4.5 kg | $102.64 |
| 5 kg | $107.55 |
| 5.5 kg | $116.23 |
| 6 kg | $121.13 |
| 6.5 kg | $126.04 |
| 7 kg | $130.94 |
| 7.5 kg | $135.85 |
| 8 kg | $140.75 |
| 8.5 kg | $145.66 |
| 9 kg | $150.57 |
| 9.5 kg | $155.47 |
| 10 kg | $127.68 |
| Weight (kg) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| 10.5 kg | $137.43 |
| 11 kg | $137.43 |
| 11.5 kg | $147.18 |
| 12 kg | $147.18 |
| 12.5 kg | $156.92 |
| 13 kg | $156.92 |
| 13.5 kg | $166.67 |
| 14 kg | $166.67 |
| 14.5 kg | $176.42 |
| 15 kg | $176.42 |
| 15.5 kg | $193.72 |
| 16 kg | $193.72 |
| 16.5 kg | $203.47 |
| 17 kg | $203.47 |
| 17.5 kg | $213.22 |
| 18 kg | $213.22 |
| 18.5 kg | $222.96 |
| 19 kg | $222.96 |
| 19.5 kg | $232.71 |
| 20 kg | $232.71 |
Bulk rates (>20kg)
| Weight range | Rate (USD/kg) |
|---|---|
| 21–25 kg | $11.64/kg |
| 26–30 kg | $11.45/kg |
| 31–40 kg | $11.26/kg |
| 41–70 kg | $11.07/kg |
| 71–500 kg | $10.88/kg |
Updated: 2026-08-04
Final invoice issued in VND. USD amounts are approximate.
Why Choose Gateway Express?
Vietnam's leading international shipping service
Free Door Pickup
Door Pickup
We pick up packages from your address
Delivery to Ireland
Door Delivery
Delivered directly to the recipient
100% Value Insurance
Full Insurance
Complete peace of mind for every shipment
Real-Time Tracking
24/7 Tracking
Track your shipment anytime, anywhere
Hotline 24/7: 0938 373 343 | 0944 247 267
Our Professional Shipping Process
Optimized into 6 simple steps so you can track your shipment with complete peace of mind.
Consultation & Quote
We advise on procedures, transit times, rates, and confirm the optimal shipping plan for you.
Door-to-Door Pickup
Our team picks up your package from your door — free within city limits.
Inspection & Packing
We inspect, weigh, and pack your goods to international standards (FDA, MSDS compliance).
Customs Clearance
We handle all customs paperwork, declarations, and clearance — so you don't have to.
International Transit
Your shipment travels via trusted carriers — FedEx, DHL, UPS — with real-time tracking.
Successful Delivery
Package delivered to the recipient's door with "Delivered" status confirmed in our system.
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