Moving to Australia or Canada from Ireland? What to Do With Your Belongings

October 20, 2026

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A Life Does Not Fit Into Two Suitcases

Australia and Canada remain two of the most popular destinations for Irish people moving abroad. Some go on a working holiday visa for a year or two. Others are moving to Australia from Ireland with plans to settle for good.

Either way, the visa, the flights and the first few weeks of accommodation tend to get all the attention. The question of what happens to everything left behind is usually left until the final fortnight, when there is the least time to deal with it properly.

That is when good furniture gets sold for a fraction of its value, sentimental items end up in a damp garage, and family members inherit a spare room full of boxes they did not ask for. A little planning a couple of months out avoids all three.

The Short Version

If you are moving abroad from Ireland, you have four choices for your belongings: sell them, ship them, store them or leave them with family. Shipping is expensive and rarely worth it for a working holiday. Selling makes sense for anything cheap to replace. For furniture, sentimental items and anything you will want when you come home, long-term storage keeps them safe, dry and out of everyone else’s way until you return.

Sell, Ship, Store or Leave With Family

Most people moving abroad end up using a mix of all four. The right choice for each item depends on its value, how easily it can be replaced, and whether you expect to come back.

Your Options at a Glance

Option	Best Suited To	Things to Consider
Sell	Large, low-value items and anything cheap to replace abroad	Second-hand prices are low, and quick sales before a flight are lower still
Ship	Permanent moves with high-value or irreplaceable items	Costs rise quickly with volume, and transit to Australia can take several weeks
Store	Working holidays, uncertain timelines and anything you will want back	A monthly cost, offset by not having to buy everything again on your return
Leave with family	A handful of small, lightweight boxes	Space runs out, belongings get moved around, and goodwill wears thin after a year or two

Why Shipping Rarely Suits a Working Holiday

Many Irish people moving to Australia or Canada go on a working holiday visa first, with no fixed plan beyond the first year. Shipping a household across the world for a stay that may last twelve months is difficult to justify. Rented accommodation abroad is often furnished, and a sofa that suited a Dublin semi-detached home rarely suits a shared flat in Sydney or Toronto.

Shipping makes more sense once a move is permanent. Until then, most people are better off travelling light and deciding later.

Why Storage Suits Anyone Planning to Return

A large share of Irish emigrants come home within a few years. Those who sold everything before leaving face the cost of furnishing a home again from scratch, usually at the same time as finding somewhere to live and starting a new job.

Long-term storage removes that problem. Your belongings stay in Ireland, secure and dry, and are ready the moment you need them. It also takes the pressure off family. Nobody has to give up a spare room or garage, and nothing gets lost or damaged in the meantime.

What People Moving Abroad Typically Keep in Storage

Furniture. Beds, sofas, tables and wardrobes that would cost far more to replace than to store.
Sentimental items. Photographs, keepsakes, family heirlooms and anything that simply cannot be bought again.
Household essentials. Kitchenware, bedding and small appliances, ready for the first week back in a new home.
Sports and hobby equipment. Bikes, golf clubs, instruments and gear that will not make the baggage allowance.

When to Start Planning

The best time to sort your belongings is six to eight weeks before you fly. That leaves time to sell items at a fair price, pack properly for long-term storage, and move everything into a unit without a last-minute rush. Many people plan their move over the winter and leave in the new year, so it is worth booking a unit before the Christmas period gets busy.

Before you go, take photographs of what you are storing and keep a simple inventory. It makes life much easier when you come home, or if a family member needs to collect something on your behalf. It is also worth checking the latest visa requirements on the official Australian and Canadian government websites, as eligibility rules and age limits can change.

Whether you are moving to Australia from Ireland, heading to Canada, or relocating from Northern Ireland, U Store It has storage centres in Galway, Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Belfast, with unit sizes to suit everything from a few boxes to the contents of a full home.

Moving abroad? Get a price for your nearest U Store It centre and travel knowing your belongings are safe at home.