Ireland and Canada enjoy a powerful trade relationship across the technology, agri-food and specialized manufacturing sectors. While the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) removes customs duties for qualifying goods, navigating the 2026 EU customs landscape requires a strategic logistics partner.
Quick answer
For personal items, Canada Post is usually the cheapest way to ship to Ireland, with An Post delivering. Business parcels go fastest by express courier, in about 2 to 3 business days. Since 1 July 2026, e-commerce parcels up to €150 pay a flat €3 duty per tariff category, plus 23 percent Irish VAT. Get our lowest spot quote for shipments over 10 kilograms.
What you will learn in this guide
CAD 4.7 billion
Two-way merchandise trade in 2024
55.6 percent
Share of Canada's imports from Ireland that were pharmaceuticals in 2024
23 percent
Irish standard VAT, charged on imports along with any duty
The lane is lopsided, and that shapes how it ships. Canada exported CAD 891.6 million in goods to Ireland in 2024, led by cereals, while importing CAD 3.8 billion, led by medicines. Services trade is almost even, at about CAD 3.5 billion each way in 2023. For a Canadian shipper, that means two very different flows: bulk agri-food and industrial goods heading east, and high-value, temperature-sensitive life-sciences cargo moving in both directions.
E-commerce parcels to Ireland valued at €150 or less, which used to be free of duty, pay a flat €3 duty for each distinct item category in the parcel, based on tariff sub-headings. What counts is the number of different sub-headings on each invoice line.
A separate EU customs handling fee is due from 1 November 2026. The Commission's draft rules set it at €2, and Irish reporting indicates it will most likely apply to each item in a parcel rather than once per parcel. Couriers and An Post may also add their own handling fees for collecting duty and VAT.
Finding the lowest shipping cost requires matching your weight, volume and urgency with the correct service. For individuals shipping personal items to Ireland, Canada Post is usually the best option. For our lowest spot market rate on shipments over 10 kg, contact our team.
| Carrier option | Best for | Delivery partner in Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Post | Individuals and small, non-urgent personal parcels | An Post |
| FedEx, UPS, DHL, Purolator | Express business shipments and tracked e-commerce | Own network or local partners |
| Jet Worldwide | Heavy parcels, pallets, e-commerce and specialized commercial freight | Support for Canadian shippers and direct EU carrier networks |
| Service | Typical transit |
|---|---|
| Express courier | About 2 to 3 business days |
| Economy courier | About 3 to 5 business days |
| Air freight | About 1 week door to door |
| Ocean freight (LCL or FCL) | About 3 to 8 weeks door to door |
Goods shipped via Canada Post are imported and cleared by An Post. On top of Revenue's charges (the €3 duty per tariff category on parcels up to €150, plus 23 percent VAT), An Post may add its own fee to handle, collect and process the item.
Gifts between private individuals worth €45 or less, including postage, are free of VAT and customs charges when correctly declared.
For companies seeking to sell to Ireland, contact our team for direct shipping options (minimum volumes are required).
Air freight is ideal for urgent or high-value cargo, typically taking about one week door to door. Ocean freight suits heavier shipments with longer lead times. You can choose less-than-container load (LCL) for pallets or full-container load (FCL) for high volume, which often yields a lower unit cost. Dublin Port handles most Irish container traffic, with Cork as the main alternative.
The island has two customs territories, and the address decides which one applies:
Ireland (EU)
Northern Ireland (UK)
Jet Worldwide data
Shippers from Canada are increasingly taking advantage of CETA free trade for duty free import to Ireland.
Ireland's life-sciences industry is concentrated around Dublin, Cork and Galway, and medicines are the single largest product Canada buys from Ireland. Jet Worldwide supports Canadian biotech firms collaborating with Irish manufacturing sites.
For air transport, the box must let the carbon dioxide gas vent, and the net weight of dry ice must be marked on the package and on the air waybill. Read more about dry ice shipping from Montreal.
Ireland applies the European Union's Combined Nomenclature, so the duty rate for a product is the same as anywhere else in the EU. Accurate tariff classification determines your duty rate. Duty is assessed on the CIF value (cost plus insurance plus freight), and VAT on the CIF value plus duty. Irish customs is run by the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue).
For B2C e-commerce shipments valued at €150 or less, registering for IOSS allows sellers to charge VAT at checkout and remit it directly to the authorities. The customer pays no VAT at the door, and clearance into the EU is faster. Canadian sellers need an EU-established IOSS intermediary to register.
CETA allows duty-free entry for qualifying goods of Canadian origin imported to Ireland. A statement of origin written directly on the commercial invoice, with the prescribed wording and the exporter's Canada Revenue Agency business number, is enough.
Exports from Canada to Ireland valued at CAD 2,000 or more generally require a CERS export declaration before leaving the country. Read about the Canadian export declaration.
The default setting for many carriers is Delivered at Place (DAP), meaning the receiver pays duties and taxes on arrival. Shipping Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) greatly improves the recipient experience, as the shipper pays the import charges. However, DDP prevents a VAT-registered importer from recovering the import VAT.
If you are importing goods from Ireland to Canada, most courier shipments up to CAD 3,300 can clear under the Courier Low Value Shipment (CLVS) program. Courier parcels from Ireland are free of duty and tax only up to CAD 20. For CETA claims on commercial goods valued at CAD 3,300 or less, the CBSA does not require proof of origin at import, though the importer must keep records to support the claim. Commercial importers must register in the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) portal to handle broker assignments and duty payments.
Express courier typically takes about 2 to 3 business days and economy courier about 3 to 5. Air freight takes about one week door to door, and ocean freight about 3 to 6 weeks, longer with transshipment.
Which documents are required to ship to Ireland?You need a commercial invoice, waybill, accurate HS codes and any required licences. B2B importers must provide an EORI number of the consignee.
How much duty does a parcel to Ireland under €150 pay?A flat €3 for each distinct tariff category in the parcel, since 1 July 2026. A silk blouse and four wool blouses are two categories, so the duty is €6, with 23 percent Irish VAT on top.
What VAT rate applies to imports into Ireland?The standard rate is 23 percent, with reduced rates of 13.5 and 9 percent for some goods and services. Books, most food and children's clothing are zero-rated. VAT is charged on the CIF value plus any duty.
Is shipping to Northern Ireland the same as shipping to Ireland?No. Northern Ireland, with BT postcodes, is part of the United Kingdom and uses UK customs and VAT rules. Ireland, with Eircodes, is in the EU and uses EU customs rules and Irish VAT.
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Disclaimer: information is provided for general guidance only. Consult a Jet Worldwide logistics professional for specific legal or tax advice regarding EU customs laws.