Northern Ireland, located in the northeast of Ireland, is part of the United Kingdom and shares a border in the south and west with the Republic of Ireland. Its economy is the smallest of the four constituents of the UK.

Both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community (ECC) in 1973. The UK’s decision to leave the EU has raised questions and uncertainties in numerous areas that impact trade including customs, immigration checks and many other matters of economic, cultural and historical importance.

As Brexit has come into effect on 1^st January 2021, there are a few things you need to keep in mind as you prepare to ship a parcel to or from Northern Ireland.

Brexit’s impact on shipping to Northern Ireland

Since 1st January 2021, the border on the island of Ireland is the only external EU land border between the UK and EU, so the question of how to operate between the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for people (immigration), as well as goods needed to be resolved.

This was achieved through the Ireland/Northern Ireland protocol, by which the UK committed to maintain an open border on the island itself.  Under this arrangement, goods crossing the Irish border will not need to be checked. The rules of the EU Single market (EU’s customs rules and regulations on product standards) will continue to be enforced by Northern Ireland.

But what about goods coming from the UK-Mainland? The situation is different here as the UK no longer adheres to the EU’s guidelines. In order to comply with EU requirements, certain goods entering Northern Ireland from the UK must go through checks ensuring that tariffs on products going into the EU are paid and that certain goods comply with EU standards (for example food products). A border fee of £2.22 applies to shipments between the UK and Northern Ireland.

Take a look at our infographic for a quick overview of the current situation:

Shipping Rates to Northern Ireland

Find a shipping option that suits your needs, whether you’re looking for the fastest way to get your goods across or you’re looking for the most economical way to ship. We’ve listed some examples below, and you can get a quote for your parcel delivery via email. Ready to ship? Then simply head straight to our shipping application to get started.

UPS Access Point locations are a great delivery alternative for people who are out and about a lot and want to save on shipping costs. UPS Access Point locations are also a great way to support local businesses as they make up a network of shops in your neighborhood where you can drop off or collect parcels. Save £2.40 every time you ship from a UPS Access Point location, and £1.20 every time you ship to one.

Rest assured that all our services are fully tracked across country borders for free and you can check on your parcel’s status at any time, as can your customers.

All of our express services include a money-back guarantee at no additional cost. With this, you receive an extra commitment on the delivery time and an added assurance that, if your parcel arrives late, the shipping costs will be refunded or credited. Additionally, your shipments come with a basic protection for loss and damage up to £60. If you wish to increase that protection to £1000, you can do so for only £5.00.