UK and Ireland — Jun 2026
Ireland's position in European supply chains
For freight moving from mainland Europe, there's no land route to Ireland — every shipment crosses water at some point. The two practical options are a direct ferry between mainland Europe and Ireland, or a shorter sea crossing to Great Britain followed by a road journey across the UK and a second ferry to Ireland — commonly called the 'landbridge'.
The UK landbridge and why it changes the customs picture
Because Ireland and the rest of the EU are both inside the EU customs union, goods moving directly between them don't need full customs declarations on the EU side. But the moment a shipment crosses Great Britain — which is outside the EU customs union — to reach Ireland, it's technically leaving the EU and re-entering it.
In practice, this means landbridge shipments move under transit procedures (commonly T1) for the UK leg, even though both the origin and destination are within the EU. We explain how T1 and T2 transit documents work in our guide to customs documents explained.
Direct ferry routes versus the landbridge
Direct ferry services between mainland Europe (typically France) and Ireland avoid the UK transit step entirely, which simplifies the paperwork — but the crossing itself takes longer, and sailing frequency is lower than the short-sea routes via Great Britain.
The landbridge is often faster door-to-door for time-sensitive freight, particularly from Benelux, but it means planning for the additional transit declaration and the UK customs procedures covered in our UK Customs Guide 2026. Which option makes sense depends on the origin, the cargo, and how time-critical the delivery is.
Northern Ireland is a separate case
Freight moving into Northern Ireland follows different rules again, reflecting its position relative to both the UK and the EU single market for goods. We don't cover the detail here, but it's worth flagging early if a shipment's final destination is in Northern Ireland rather than the Republic — the documentation isn't the same as for a Dublin-bound load.
How Alvora delivers across Ireland
Our Dublin terminal is the base for nationwide distribution across the Republic of Ireland, including tail-lift delivery for both commercial and retail consignees. Depending on the route and cargo, we plan shipments via direct ferry or the landbridge — whichever gets the load there reliably, with the customs side handled by our own team rather than passed to a broker.
More on how our terminal network covers Ireland alongside the rest of the UK is in our UK and Ireland coverage, or get in touch to talk through a specific route.
Frequently asked questions
Is the UK landbridge still used for Ireland-bound freight after Brexit?
Yes. The landbridge remains a commonly used route, particularly for time-sensitive freight from continental Europe. It requires transit documentation for the UK leg, but for many routes it's still faster door-to-door than a direct ferry crossing.
Do shipments between mainland Europe and Ireland need a full customs declaration?
If moving directly between EU member states (e.g. via a direct France–Ireland ferry), no customs declaration is needed because both ends are inside the EU customs union. If routed via the UK landbridge, a transit declaration is needed for the UK leg even though both ends remain in the EU.
How long does delivery to regional Ireland typically take from mainland Europe?
It depends on the route and the final destination, but a landbridge shipment from Benelux to Dublin, followed by onward distribution to regional towns, is typically planned in a small number of days rather than same-day — sailing schedules and the final tail-lift delivery both factor into the total time.