Everything you need to know — transit times, customs rules, import duties, carrier options and shipping tips for Ireland.
| Carrier | Economy | Express |
|---|---|---|
| DHL Express (air) | — | 1–2 days |
| FedEx International Priority (air) | — | 1–2 days |
| UPS Express (air) | — | 2–3 days |
| DPD Road + ferry | 4–6 days | 3–4 days |
| GLS Road + ferry | 5–7 days | — |
Business days. EU shipments: no customs delay.
Ireland is an EU member — no customs export declarations or import documents are required for shipments from Portugal. The following documents are only needed for commercial B2B shipments.
Standard B2B invoice for commercial shipments. Include Irish VAT number (IE + 8–9 characters) if available for reverse charge. English is the primary language — no translation required.
Itemised packing list for multi-item shipments.
As part of the EU Single Market, no import duties apply between Portugal and Ireland. VAT rate in Ireland: 23% Irish VAT. For B2C e-commerce over €150, IOSS registration may apply.
| Product Category | Typical Duty Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All goods (EU to EU) | 0% customs duty | Ireland is a full EU member — no import duties or customs between Portugal and Ireland (Republic of Ireland). IMPORTANT: Northern Ireland has separate rules as part of the UK — this guide covers Republic of Ireland only. |
| Irish VAT standard rate | 23% | Ireland's standard VAT rate is one of the higher EU rates. Applies to most goods. B2B with Irish VAT number: reverse charge at 0%. B2C: OSS registration covers Irish VAT via Portugal. |
| Irish VAT reduced (13.5%) | 13.5% | Applies to construction, certain fuels, utilities, hairdressing. Also applies to hot food, catering since 2023. |
| Irish VAT reduced (9%) | 9% | Applies to newspapers, electronic publications, tourism and hospitality services. |
| Irish VAT zero (0%) | 0% | Applies to food (most), children's clothing and footwear, books, oral medicines, seeds and plants. |
Duty rates are indicative. Actual rates depend on the HS code classification of your goods. Consult a customs broker for high-value or complex shipments.
The following items have import restrictions or are prohibited in Ireland. Check carrier guidelines before shipping.
Ireland is an island — all goods travel by air or sea. Air express (DHL, FedEx) takes 1–2 days via Dublin Airport. Road economy carriers route via France → UK land bridge → ferry to Ireland, or direct sea freight Portugal-Ireland
Post-Brexit routing change: some road carriers avoid the UK land bridge and route via France → Rosslare or Cork ferry direct — adds time vs pre-Brexit but avoids UK customs complications
DHL Express via Dublin Airport is typically the fastest and most reliable option for parcels — 1–2 business days from Lisbon
For B2C e-commerce to Irish consumers: most Irish online shoppers are highly familiar with EU shopping — no customs friction, but expect delivery in 2–5 days for express/economy air
Irish VAT (23%) is high — for B2C e-commerce, ensure OSS registration covers Ireland once EU B2C sales exceed €10,000/year
Republic of Ireland vs Northern Ireland: always confirm whether your recipient's address is in the Republic (IE postcodes/Eircode) or Northern Ireland (BT postcodes — UK address). Shipping to Northern Ireland = UK customs rules apply
Dublin dominates commerce — most B2B recipients are in Dublin, Cork or Galway; these are well-covered by all major carriers
An Post (Irish national postal service) is the dominant last-mile carrier — DHL, FedEx and UPS all hand off to An Post for some rural Irish deliveries
No — Republic of Ireland is a full EU member state and part of the EU customs union and single market. Shipments from Portugal to Ireland (Republic) are customs-free with no import duties, no customs declarations and no border delays. Important: if you are shipping to Northern Ireland, different rules apply — Northern Ireland follows UK customs rules post-Brexit, so a customs declaration is required. Always check recipient postcodes: Republic of Ireland uses Eircode (alphanumeric); Northern Ireland uses BT postcodes (UK format).
By air express (DHL Express, FedEx, UPS): 1–3 business days Lisbon to Dublin. By economy road (DPD, GLS): 4–7 business days — road carriers must cross France and take a ferry to Ireland (typically via Rosslare or Cork), adding transit time. Since Brexit, some road carriers avoid the UK land bridge, which has extended economy road transit slightly. For e-commerce, DHL Express air is the most consistent fastest option.
Republic of Ireland (country code IE, Eircode postal codes): EU member state — no customs, free movement of goods from Portugal. Irish VAT 23% applies to B2C sales. Northern Ireland (BT postcodes, UK): technically part of the UK but with special status under the Windsor Framework — goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain face checks, but goods from EU member states like Portugal enter Northern Ireland with some EU single market access. For parcel shipping from Portugal: Republic of Ireland is straightforward EU-to-EU. Northern Ireland: treat as non-EU UK shipment — complete customs declaration and apply UK rules.
Ireland's VAT rates: 23% standard (most goods and services), 13.5% reduced (construction, fuels, some catering), 9% (newspapers, digital publications, hospitality), 0% zero-rate (most food, children's clothing, books, medicines). For EU e-commerce B2C: register for OSS (One Stop Shop) in Portugal and charge Irish VAT at the correct rate for your product category. B2B sales to Irish businesses with valid Irish VAT numbers: reverse charge applies — invoice at 0% and buyer accounts for VAT.
For express: DHL Express is the strongest option — direct air to Dublin Airport, typically 1–2 business days. FedEx International Priority is comparable. For economy: DPD and GLS offer road + ferry services at lower cost (4–7 days). UPS Standard is a good economy B2B option. Ireland's island geography means all road carriers add ferry transit time — factor this into delivery promises. For B2C e-commerce, Irish consumers expect tracking and notification — DHL Express provides best visibility. Compare all carrier rates on Cargosender for your specific parcel.
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