Ireland and Canada enjoy a strong trade relationship across ICT, agri-food, and specialized manufacturing. Trade and investment are supported by bilateral tax treaties and the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which reduces or eliminates customs duties for qualifying goods.
Jet Worldwide provides parcel, pallet, and e-commerce shipping solutions from Canada to Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and across Ireland and the EU.
This complete shipping guide covers:
- Carrier options from Canada to Ireland
- How to lower Canada↔Ireland shipping costs
- Canada Post → An Post services
- FedEx/UPS/DHL & Purolator options
- Air vs. Ocean freight (LCL/FCL)
- Canadian export declarations (CERS)
- Incoterms: DDP vs. DAP (DDU)
- Irish customs, EORI, VAT, and IOSS for e-commerce
- CETA duty-free shipping for Canada-origin goods
- Shipping Ireland→Canada, CLVS & CARM
- FAQ
Disclaimer: The information in all Jet Worldwide content, including this post, is for general information only.
Expand your cross-border logistics between Ireland (EU) and Canada (North America). Get one-on-one help from seasoned professionals to choose the right modes, routings, and processes. Contact Jetship now.
Parcel Shipping Options between Canada and Ireland
What’s the cheapest way to ship a package to Ireland?
For small, non-urgent personal parcels, Canada Post surface services are usually the lowest cost.
Download: Shipping to Europe from Canada (PDF)
How much does it cost to ship to Ireland?
Costs vary by destination, weight, size, and service. As a general guide, Canada Post surface can start around CA$35 for up to ~2 kg. Commercial courier economy options for ~4.5 kg (~10 lb) often start around CA$150, depending on discounts, fuel, and address.
How to Get Lower Canada↔Ireland Shipping Costs
- Compare post vs. express vs. freight for your weight band.
- Reduce dimensional (chargeable) weight with right-sized boxes.
- For recurring volume, negotiate program rates or leverage a logistics partner.
- Consolidate shipments (weekly) to reduce per-piece costs.
- Use CETA when applicable to reduce/eliminate duty on Canada-origin goods.
- Choose ocean for heavy freight with longer lead times.
Shipping to Ireland via Canada Post (delivered by An Post)
Best for individuals shipping small parcels/personal items. Parcels import to Ireland and are delivered by An Post.
- Small Packet: Surface, Air, and Tracked Packet (≤2 kg)
- International Parcel: Surface
- Xpresspost International
Shipping to Ireland via FedEx, UPS, DHL & Purolator
FedEx and UPS are North America’s largest carriers and—along with DHL—offer reliable express/economy services from Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, and across Canada to Dublin and nationwide.
- International Express (Priority)
- International Economy
Purolator (a Canada Post subsidiary) provides international parcel delivery via partners (e.g., UPS).
Shipping between Ireland and Canada via Jet Worldwide
Jet Worldwide has provided international shipping options for over 40 years. We support parcels, pallets, and e-commerce, with tailored routing and billing solutions.
Get a Canadian Address to Receive Goods and Ship to Ireland
Need a MyUS-style solution but in Canada? A Canadian address lets you access Canadian suppliers and NA-only products and forward to Ireland (with consolidation to save). Avoid certain U.S. trade limitations by leveraging CETA.
Air vs. Ocean Freight Canada→Ireland
Air freight is ideal for urgent/high-value cargo (typically ~1 week door-to-door). Ocean suits heavier shipments with longer lead times (allow extra time for consolidation and deconsolidation).
LCL (Less-Than-Container Load)
Send one or several pallets; best when you don’t fill a container.
FCL (Full-Container Load)
20'/40' containers; faster at destination and often lower unit cost at volume—even if not fully packed.
Download: Shipping to Europe from Canada (PDF)
Canadian Export Declaration (CERS) for Shipments to Ireland
Exports from Canada to Ireland valued at CA$2,000+ (or otherwise regulated) generally require a CERS export declaration prior to export. Learn more: Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS).
Shipping Terms to Consider (Incoterms)
Default for many carriers is DAP (formerly DDU): the receiver pays duties/taxes. DDP (shipper pays import charges) improves recipient experience but requires tax handling and can limit VAT recovery for the importer. More: Incoterms for packages & online orders.
Ireland Import Customs: Goods Shipping from Canada
Tariff Classification (HS/CN/TARIC)
Ireland applies the EU’s Combined Nomenclature (CN). Classification determines duty rate and treatment. While CN is common across the EU, rates and measures can vary by product. Review HS basics: What is an HS code?
- Confirm import licensing requirements for your goods.
- Duties/taxes assessed on CIF value (goods + insurance + freight).
- Include a commercial invoice and supporting documents for accurate declarations.
VAT in Ireland: Standard rate is 23%. Reduced rates (e.g., 9% for books/newspapers) may apply.
EORI Number for Imports to Ireland
Business importers need an EORI (EU Economic Operators Registration & Identification) number for customs declarations.
- Format: Member State country code + unique identifier
- For B2B shipments, an EORI is typically required; for B2C e-commerce, see IOSS below.
VAT/IOSS for E-commerce Parcels (≤ €150)
All goods imported to the EU are subject to VAT. For e-commerce ≤ €150, use IOSS to collect VAT at checkout and speed clearance. Learn more: IOSS & pre-paid VAT • EU guide: Publications Office of the EU.
Low-Value Relief
Gifts from an individual in Canada to an individual in Ireland may be duty-free under €45 (conditions apply). Consignments under €150 can be customs duty-free but VAT still applies unless correctly handled under IOSS.
CETA: Duty-Free Clearance for Canada-Origin Goods
CETA allows duty-free entry for qualifying goods of Canadian origin imported to Ireland. For shipments ≤ CA$3,300 to Canada (reverse lane), formal proof of origin is waived; the EU provides similar low-value flexibilities subject to value/commodity. For Ireland imports, a statement of origin on the commercial invoice typically suffices—no separate certificate needed.
Understand origin rules vs. ship-from country: Country of origin basics • When to include a certificate of origin
Shipping Canada from Ireland (Reverse Lane) & Canadian Import
Common options from Ireland to Canada: An Post (via Canada Post) for personal parcels, and DHL/FedEx/UPS for tracked business shipments.
Get a shipping estimate for Ireland→Canada
Canadian import: Goods from Ireland are subject to duty/taxes. Most courier shipments ≤ CA$3,300 can clear under CLVS (Courier Low Value Shipment) processes. See common Canadian import fees.
CARM (CBSA Assessment & Revenue Management)
Register in the CARM portal for commercial imports (broker assignment, bonding, payments). Learn more: CARM overview
FAQ: Shipping from Canada to Ireland
What’s the cheapest way to ship to Ireland?
For small, non-urgent personal parcels, Canada Post surface is usually cheapest. For heavier/time-sensitive parcels, compare economy courier and air freight.
How long does delivery to Ireland take?
Express courier: ~3–6 business days. Economy air: ~5–10 business days. Ocean LCL/FCL: ~4–10 weeks door-to-door.
Which documents are required?
Commercial invoice, waybill, HS codes, and any required licenses. For B2B, provide EORI. For CETA claims, include a statement of origin on the invoice.
Do I need IOSS for e-commerce?
For B2C ≤ €150, IOSS lets you charge VAT at checkout and speed EU clearance. Without IOSS, VAT is typically collected on import, often with carrier fees.
DDP or DAP (DDU)—which is better?
DDP improves recipient experience (charges paid by shipper) but needs tax handling; DAP shifts import charges to the receiver and can cause delivery delays if charges are unpaid.
