The Republic of Ireland is a member of the European Union, so goods from Poland travel there within the single market, with no clearance and no customs border. The key decision is the route: a direct ferry from the continent to Ireland, or the faster landbridge across Great Britain, which nonetheless introduces transit through a territory outside the EU. OTSL matches the option to the type of cargo and the deadline.
Two routes to Ireland
- A direct ferry: sailings from continental ports, among others from France, Belgium and the Netherlands, to Dublin, Rosslare or Cork. The goods stay within the EU throughout, with no customs formalities.
- The landbridge across the UK: a run through Great Britain with two crossings. It can be faster, but it requires transit through a territory outside the EU, and therefore a transit document and the planning of crossings.
When each option fits
The direct ferry simplifies the formalities and can be calmer for sensitive cargo, while the landbridge can shorten the time when the deadline counts. The difference between a full truck and a part load on these routes is explained in the text on FTL or LTL. If your delivery combines Ireland with the British market, it is worth setting in advance who is responsible for clearance on the UK side, which is put in order by the Incoterms rules.
Carrying goods to Ireland? Describe them in the contact form and we will propose the route and the crossing. The Irish destination in a wider context is covered by the guide to the islands of Britain and Ireland, and we discuss Northern Ireland separately.
