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In short: A move from the UK to Donegal is matched to one FIDI-certified partner mover, free and with no obligation to book. Goods travel by ferry and road, usually via the Holyhead to Dublin Port crossing. Since Brexit, a move from Great Britain to Donegal is an EU import, so Transfer of Residence relief on Form C&E 1076 can remove import duty and the 23% Irish VAT when you qualify.
Part-load (shared) and full-load options are available, with customs handled on Form C&E 1076 through Revenue.
A move to Donegal from the UK uses the Holyhead to Dublin Port crossing, run by Irish Ferries and Stena Line at about 3 hours 15 minutes. From Dublin Port, the van takes the M1 north and then the N2 or N3 route through counties Cavan and Monaghan to Donegal. Letterkenny, the largest town, is about 240 km from Dublin Port. Donegal Town is about 260 km from Dublin.
County Donegal is the northernmost county in the Republic and is surrounded by Northern Ireland on three sides to the east and south. It is one of the most remote counties in Ireland for an international removal. The far north includes Malin Head, the most northerly point on the island of Ireland. Donegal also has some of the most remote addresses in the country, including properties on the Fanad Peninsula, the Ards Peninsula, Horn Head and the islands of Arranmore, Tory and Gola.
Many roads in north and west Donegal are narrow. Mountain passes add time beyond Letterkenny. Island addresses need a mainland ferry separately. All of this is confirmed at survey stage. The mover plans the collection date with enough lead time for the Donegal road network before the Holyhead ferry sailing.
International Removals Companies connects your enquiry with one FIDI-certified partner mover for the UK to Donegal route. We are not a removal company. We connect, the mover moves. The service is free.
Donegal has a wider range of delivery environments than almost any other Irish county. From Letterkenny town centre to a remote island cottage, the planning requirements are very different. Tell the mover exactly where you are moving to.
Since Brexit, a move from Great Britain to Donegal is an EU import. A customs declaration is needed when the goods arrive at Dublin Port. Revenue’s Transfer of Residence relief, claimed on Form C&E 1076, removes import duty and the 23% Irish VAT on used personal belongings if you qualify. Your FIDI-certified partner mover files the form on your behalf about two weeks before your goods arrive.
The Common Travel Area covers people, not goods. Donegal borders Northern Ireland. The Common Travel Area allows UK and Irish citizens to live and work freely in each other’s country, but your household goods still go through the customs process when they arrive in Donegal from Great Britain. Transfer of Residence relief is what removes the duty and the 23% VAT, not the travel rules.
After arriving in Donegal, apply for a PPS number — the Personal Public Service number — at your local Intreo centre. You will need it for Revenue, banking and most official matters in the Republic. Include the Eircode for your Donegal delivery address in the enquiry. For island addresses, include both the island name, the mainland ferry port and any seasonal ferry restrictions, as these affect the schedule.
Donegal is a big county. Plan the road time early.
First: give the full Eircode. Not just a townland or a town. The seven-character code. Rural roads in Donegal wind. A wrong turn adds an hour.
Second: if you are on an island, say so on day one. Arranmore, Tory and Gola all need a ferry. That ferry needs to be booked. The mover cannot do this at the last minute.
Third: be clear on dates. The N3 from Dublin to Donegal is good road. But the last stretch to a remote address can be slow. Give the mover a date range, not a single day. A flex of two to three days helps more here than on any other Ireland route.
The Republic of Ireland uses the euro (EUR), not sterling. Moving to Donegal means moving into a euro economy. Deposits, charges at the Irish end and day-to-day costs are all in euro after you arrive.
International Removals Companies works with currency exchange partners. We do not provide currency exchange ourselves. If you need to convert sterling to euro for your move to Donegal, we can connect you with a partner who can help. This is entirely separate from the removals service and carries no obligation.
The Common Travel Area covers people, not goods. Your belongings still go through the customs process when they arrive from Great Britain, even though you can travel freely between the UK and Ireland. Transfer of Residence relief on Form C&E 1076 removes the duty and the 23% Irish VAT if you qualify. After arriving in Donegal, you will need a PPS number — the Personal Public Service number — for Revenue, banking and most official matters. Apply at your local Intreo centre on arrival. Always include the Eircode for your delivery address when you enquire. Townland addresses in rural Ireland have no street number, and the Eircode is how the mover finds the correct door.
We connect you with one suitable FIDI-certified partner mover for your UK to Donegal route. Not a shortlist of firms — one mover who reviews your items, your access notes and your Irish delivery address before confirming the price.
FIDI FAIM is the main quality standard for international removal companies. Partner movers pass an independent audit by Ernst and Young every three years, covering more than 200 quality checks. For a move that crosses an EU customs border, that standard is the one to look for.
Moves to Donegal use the Holyhead to Dublin Port crossing, run by Irish Ferries and Stena Line at about 3 hours 15 minutes. From Dublin Port, the van takes the M1 motorway north and the N2 or N3 through the border county region to Donegal. Letterkenny, the largest town in Donegal, is about 240 km from Dublin Port via the N3 and N13, a drive of roughly 2.5 to 3 hours. Donegal Town is about 260 km from Dublin Port.
County Donegal is one of the most remote destinations in Ireland for an international removal. It is the northernmost county in the Republic and is bordered by Northern Ireland on three sides. The road journey from the ferry port to the far north of the county, including Malin Head, is among the longest in Ireland. Some parts of Donegal — including the Fanad Peninsula, the Ards Peninsula and Horn Head — involve narrow country roads that need careful vehicle planning. The islands of Arranmore, Tory and Gola require extra ferry planning.
Yes, but island deliveries require separate ferry planning. Arranmore Island is reached by ferry from Burtonport. Tory Island is served by a ferry from Magheroarty and Bunbeg, with seasonal timetables. Gola Island is accessible from Annagry. The mover needs the full island address and ferry access details well before collection day. Island deliveries add road time, ferry time and sometimes extra handling. Confirm all of this at survey stage, not on the day.
Transfer of Residence relief is claimed on Form C&E 1076 from Revenue. It removes Customs Duty and the 23% Irish VAT on used personal belongings when you move your home to Ireland from outside the EU. Since Brexit, a move from Great Britain to Donegal is an EU import. Your FIDI-certified partner mover files the form on your behalf about two weeks before your goods arrive at Dublin Port. Check revenue.ie for the current conditions.
A dedicated van from most UK cities to Donegal takes two to three days from collection. The Holyhead to Dublin Port crossing is about 3 hours 15 minutes. The drive from Dublin Port to Letterkenny is about 2.5 to 3 hours. Remote areas of north and west Donegal add further road time. A shared load takes one to three weeks. Always give the mover advance notice of remote or island addresses.
The Common Travel Area covers people, not goods. It lets UK and Irish citizens live and work freely in each other's country. Your household goods still go through the customs process when they arrive in Donegal from Great Britain. Transfer of Residence relief on Form C&E 1076, not the Common Travel Area, is what removes the import duty and the 23% Irish VAT.
An Eircode is the Irish postcode, a seven-character code unique to each address. County Donegal has a large number of rural and remote addresses that use townland names rather than street numbers. Many properties in the far north and west of Donegal, on the peninsulas and on the islands, have no conventional address at all. The Eircode is how the mover locates the correct property. Always include it, and for island addresses, also confirm the ferry timetable and access point.
A small shared load to Donegal starts from about 300 to 900 pounds for single items. A part load of a few rooms runs from about 1,200 to 3,000 pounds. A full house on a dedicated van starts from about 3,500 pounds. Donegal’s distance from the ferry port and the road conditions in remote areas add road time compared with east-coast Irish deliveries. The firm price is confirmed by the mover after a survey.
International Removals Companies is not a removal company. We are a free matching service operated by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD (company 07425576). You send one enquiry and we connect you with one FIDI-certified partner mover for your UK to Donegal route. The mover contacts you with the price, transit time and customs plan. Free, no obligation.
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This guide is written and maintained by Darren Benjamin, founder of International Removals Companies (DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, Companies House 07425576). Darren has worked in international removals and logistics for over 20 years and has been a director of a UK removals company since 2013.
Partner movers hold FIDI FAIM Certified, BAR Overseas, IAM, EUROMOVERS and FEDEMAC accreditations. Only FIDI FAIM is an audited certification, checked by Ernst and Young.
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Send the UK collection address, the Donegal delivery address with Eircode, your room or item list, access notes including any island or peninsula access, and your preferred date. One FIDI-certified partner mover reviews the move and confirms the price and customs plan.
Get a Free Donegal Removals QuoteFree. One FIDI-certified partner mover. DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, operating since 2010.
International Removals Companies connects removals to Ireland enquiries with one suitable vetted partner mover. Partner movers hold FIDI FAIM, BAR Overseas, IAM, EUROMOVERS and FEDEMAC accreditations where confirmed. Working Member of AGM Group since 2010.
Prices, transit times, insurance cover and customs paperwork must be confirmed by the partner mover before booking.