International: Ireland

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

International RHOL Required

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles across borders. A domestic-only National RHOL doesn’t cover cross-border haulage. An International RHOL is required for any road transport into the EU, Great Britain, or Northern Ireland, with the Transport Manager holding the International CPC. Where a mover subcontracts the cross-border haulage, the haulier’s own licence covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use hauliers that hold it.

CMR Does Not Cover Furniture Removal

Ireland has ratified the CMR Convention, which generally governs international road carriage, but Article 1(4)(c) of the Convention explicitly excludes furniture removal from its scope, confirmed in the Convention’s own text and by UNIDROIT. This means an international household-goods move does not automatically fall under CMR’s liability limits or consignment-note requirement; general Irish contract law continues to govern the international leg by default.

Insurance

No rule requiring movers to insure customers’ goods on international moves was identified in this research. Customers should ask what protection, if any, is offered.

OverviewOverview & Scope

A mover operating its own vehicles on international relocations involving Ireland needs an International RHOL on top of the domestic licence covered on the Ireland page, with the Transport Manager holding the International CPC. Where the cross-border haulage is subcontracted, the haulier’s own licence covers it. On liability, general Irish contract law continues to govern the international leg by default, since the CMR Convention explicitly excludes furniture removal from its scope.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers that haul goods across borders in their own vehicles must:

1. Hold an International RHOL, with the Transport Manager holding the International CPC.

Movers that subcontract the cross-border haulage must:

2. Use hauliers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• International RHOL held, with the Transport Manager holding the International CPCWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles across borders)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired