When people in Turkey think about moving to the British Isles, their minds usually stop at London; yet the universities of Edinburgh, the hospitals of Glasgow and Cardiff, the technology companies of Belfast and the international headquarters of Dublin draw a large number of Turkish families every year. The first thing to understand when planning removals to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland is that these four places share a geography but sit under two different customs regimes: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are part of the United Kingdom, while the Republic of Ireland is an independent member of the European Union.
That distinction decides which form you apply with, which port the vehicle passes through and how long the whole move takes. In this guide we look at each region separately and compare the routes and documents. For the details of moving to England, see our ToR1 guide; here we focus on everything beyond it.
The Map First: the United Kingdom versus the Republic of Ireland
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The four form a single customs territory; for goods arriving from Turkey, the same HMRC rules, the same ToR1 application, the same GMR/GVMS crossing record and the same CDS import declaration apply. Northern Ireland has some additional labelling rules under the Windsor Framework, which we explain below.
The Republic of Ireland, by contrast, is an EU member. For goods travelling from Turkey to Ireland, the UK's ToR1 is of no use; instead, a "transfer of residence" relief application is made to the Irish Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) and the goods are imported under EU customs rules. Belfast and Dublin are a two-hour drive apart, but for customs purposes there is a border between them.
| Region | Political status | Customs regime | Relief application | Main delivery cities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | United Kingdom | HMRC / United Kingdom | ToR1 (URN) | Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee |
| Wales | United Kingdom | HMRC / United Kingdom | ToR1 (URN) | Cardiff, Swansea, Newport |
| Northern Ireland | United Kingdom | HMRC + Windsor Framework | ToR1 (URN) | Belfast, Derry/Londonderry |
| Republic of Ireland | Independent, EU member | EU / Revenue | Transfer of residence (C&E 1076) | Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick |
Removals to Scotland: Edinburgh and Glasgow
Goods bound for Scotland are customs-cleared the moment they cross the Channel and enter England; the journey on to Edinburgh is domestic transport. The road from Dover to Edinburgh is a long one, and that time is added to the delivery schedule. City notes:
- Edinburgh: The Old Town and New Town are conservation areas; the four- and five-storey stone buildings known as tenements have no lifts, and the shared stairs are narrow and winding. A parking suspension from the City of Edinburgh Council is required. During the festival in August, city-centre traffic and parking restrictions intensify.
- Glasgow: Victorian tenement buildings are common in the West End; the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) covers the city centre and penalises non-compliant vehicles. Deliveries are planned with LEZ-compliant vehicles.
Removals to Wales: Cardiff and Swansea
Wales lies to the west of England and is easily reached by road from London. Cardiff and Newport are a few hours' drive from Dover and from our London warehouse; Swansea is a little further west. For customs purposes there is no difference at all from England. Delivery notes:
- New-build developments in Cardiff Bay require a time slot and lift booking from the building management.
- The Victorian terraced houses of Cardiff and Swansea have the same narrow staircases as their counterparts in England.
- For North Wales (Bangor, Wrexham) the route runs through the north-west of England and the transit time is longer.
Removals to Northern Ireland: Belfast and the Windsor Framework
Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom; the ToR1 and HMRC rules are the same. What makes the difference is geography and the Windsor Framework. Because Northern Ireland shares a land border with the EU single market, the post-Brexit arrangements created a special regime for commercial goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Household goods for personal use fall outside that commercial regime; the carrier does, however, need to prepare proper documentation declaring that the goods will remain in Northern Ireland (and not move on into the EU).
In terms of route there are two options:
- Via Great Britain: Drive from Dover to south-west Scotland (Cairnryan) or north-west England (Liverpool/Heysham), then ferry to Belfast. The goods have already been customs-cleared on entry into England.
- Via the Republic of Ireland: Ferry from France to Dublin, then by road to Belfast. On this route the goods enter and leave the EU, so the paperwork burden grows; it is rarely chosen for personal effects.
A parking permit (Belfast City Council) is required in central Belfast; delivery addresses are generally suitable for truck access.
Removals to the Republic of Ireland: Dublin and Cork
Because Ireland is an EU member, goods arriving from Turkey are imported under EU transfer-of-residence relief. The conditions follow the same logic as a move to Germany or the Netherlands: at least 12 months' residence outside the EU, goods used for at least 6 months, and import within 12 months of transferring residence. A transfer of residence application is made to the Irish Revenue Commissioners (Revenue); the application form is C&E 1076, accompanied by the inventory list, proof of residence in Ireland (tenancy agreement, employment contract, PPS number application) and proof of residence in Turkey.
Two routes to Ireland
- Direct ferry (France–Ireland): The vehicle crosses Europe under T1 transit and reaches Ireland on the long ferry crossing from Cherbourg to Rosslare (or Dublin). The UK is never entered; a single import declaration is lodged in Ireland. The paperwork burden is lighter, but ferries sail only on certain days of the week and the crossing is long.
- Landbridge (via the UK): The vehicle crosses the Channel, drives across Britain and takes the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin. It offers more frequent sailings and a speed advantage, but because the goods transit the UK, an additional transit declaration (without release into free circulation in the UK) is required.
The route is decided by that week's ferry schedule and your delivery date; in the quote we present both options with their transit times.
Delivery in Dublin and Cork
- Dublin: The Georgian city centre has narrow streets and parking restrictions; a parking suspension is obtained from Dublin City Council. Developments in the Docklands and the suburbs require a time window from the building management.
- Cork, Galway, Limerick: A few hours by road from Dublin; access conditions are more relaxed.
- Eircode: The Irish postcode; requested at the quoting stage.
Routes and transit times compared
| Destination | Route | Channel / sea crossing | Estimated time (groupage) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh / Glasgow | Kapıkule – Europe – Dover – north by road | Calais/Dunkirk–Dover | 9–14 days |
| Cardiff / Swansea | Kapıkule – Europe – Dover – west by road | Calais/Dunkirk–Dover | 8–13 days |
| Belfast | Dover – Cairnryan or Liverpool – ferry | Channel + Irish Sea | 10–14 days |
| Dublin / Cork (direct) | Europe – Cherbourg – Rosslare | Cherbourg–Rosslare (long ferry) | 20–30 days |
| Dublin / Cork (landbridge) | Dover – Britain – Holyhead – Dublin | Channel + Holyhead–Dublin | 20–30 days |
With a dedicated vehicle the times are shorter. Our weekly UK departures are centred on our London warehouse; deliveries to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are planned as onward legs of those departures.
Documents Required
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)
- Passport and visa/residence document (BRP, eVisa, Skilled Worker, Student visa, etc.)
- ToR1 approval and URN
- Inventory list in Turkish and English (box number, contents, quantity, value)
- Document showing your UK address (tenancy agreement, employment contract, council tax)
- Proof of address in Turkey and customs power of attorney
- For Northern Ireland, a delivery-address declaration showing the goods will remain in Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
- Passport and Irish residence permit / visa or job offer document
- Revenue transfer of residence application (C&E 1076) with the attached inventory list
- Proof of address in Ireland (tenancy agreement, employment contract, PPS application)
- Document showing 12 months' residence in Turkey
- Customs power of attorney; carrier documents for T1 transit
What Determines the Cost
For a move to these regions, the quote is built from the usual items, volume (m³), groupage or dedicated vehicle, packing and insurance, plus route-specific items: on top of the Channel crossing, the Irish Sea ferry or the long Cherbourg–Rosslare sailing; the road leg from Dover up to Scotland or out to west Wales; parking suspensions in cities such as Edinburgh and Dublin; the need for an LEZ-compliant vehicle; the additional declaration for Northern Ireland; and a separate EU import file for Ireland. Every item is written on its own line in the quote; you will find the reasoning in our cost guide.
Common Mistakes
- Applying for ToR1 for the Republic of Ireland; Ireland is an EU member and a Revenue application is required.
- Assuming Belfast is in the Republic of Ireland and preparing an EU relief file; Belfast is in the United Kingdom.
- Releasing goods bound for Dublin into free circulation in the UK; this creates a risk of double taxation.
- Taking large furniture to Edinburgh or Glasgow without allowing for tenement staircases.
- Promising or expecting a firm delivery day without knowing the ferry schedule.
- Giving an incomplete Eircode or postcode and delaying the route plan.
Worked Example: A Software Engineer's Family from Ankara to Dublin
A family with a two-bedroom home in Ankara is moving to a suburb south of Dublin on an employment contract. In the first conversation the family says they plan to apply for ToR1; we explain that Ireland is an EU member and that a Revenue transfer of residence application is what is needed. The video survey measures the volume at 19 m³. The C&E 1076 application is prepared with the tenancy agreement, the employment contract and the Turkish proof of residence; the inventory list is drawn up in English. Because the other loads on that week's European groupage departure are going to France, the direct route is chosen: the export declaration is closed at Kapıkule, Europe is crossed under T1, and the vehicle reaches Ireland by ferry from Cherbourg to Rosslare. The import declaration is lodged at Rosslare with the Revenue relief approval; since the UK was never entered, no additional transit declaration is needed. A weekday morning window has been obtained from the building management in Dublin; the goods are delivered on the twenty-second day and the dismantled wardrobe is reassembled. Total time: 22 days; customs duty and VAT paid: zero.
Why REG Transport?
- Command of two customs regimes: ToR1/GMR/CDS for the United Kingdom, the Revenue transfer of residence file for Ireland; we establish in the first conversation which application your address needs.
- London warehouse and weekly UK departures: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland deliveries run as scheduled onward legs from our London warehouse.
- Route flexibility: Cherbourg–Rosslare or landbridge; the best route is chosen according to the ferry schedule and your delivery date.
- Our own fleet: More than 12 years' experience and a departure schedule that does not depend on subcontracted carriers.
- Urban access experience: Edinburgh tenements, the Glasgow LEZ, Dublin parking permits and building-management windows are all planned in advance.
- One dedicated move coordinator, written quote: Ferry, road leg, parking permit and customs items presented item by item the same day; CMR insurance included, all-risk optional.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am moving to Scotland; do the ToR1 rules described for England apply in the same way?
Yes. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are part of the United Kingdom; the same ToR1 application, URN and HMRC import declaration apply. The only difference lies in the road distance and the city conditions.
What does the Windsor Framework mean for goods going to Belfast?
Personal household goods fall outside the commercial goods regime; ToR1 is sufficient. As the carrier, we prepare the delivery declaration showing that the goods will remain in Northern Ireland.
Does passing through the UK cause a problem when moving to Dublin?
No; on the landbridge route the goods transit the UK and are customs-cleared in Ireland. The additional transit declaration required is prepared by us.
Which document replaces ToR1 for Ireland?
The transfer of residence application to the Irish Revenue Commissioners (Revenue), namely form C&E 1076 and its attachments. The EU relief conditions (12 months' residence outside the EU, goods used for 6 months) apply.
How long does a move to Scotland take?
With groupage, an average of 9–14 days from loading to delivery in Edinburgh or Glasgow; shorter with a dedicated vehicle.
A Quote for Every Address in the British Isles
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Swansea, Belfast, Dublin or Cork: share your destination address and inventory list, and receive a written quote the same day with the correct customs file and route plan. See our international household removals page for the scope of service, customs clearance for the customs procedures, and our United Kingdom page for the UK as a whole; for London deliveries read our London guide, and for the full picture our comprehensive guide to moving household goods abroad.
