Apply for Designated Export Place approval

Guide

Last updated 22 April 2025

A Designated Export Place (DEP) is a place approved by HMRC, where export consignments can be consolidated and presented to customs inland for clearance. This allows customs checks to be completed on goods before they’re removed to the port or airport for export. Normal processes will still apply at the port or airport including presentation of goods and departure. You’ll find a DEP outside of but near to the approved port or airport.

You’ll need to apply for approval from HMRC to operate a DEP.

Which goods are excluded from a DEP

Goods excluded from a DEP are those:

  • exported from a customs warehouse
  • already declared under the entry in the declarant’s records procedure
  • declarations made under Customs Supervised Export approval

What declarations you can make

You can make the following declarations:

  • full export declaration
  • export declarations for low value goods
  • export declarations for non-statistical goods
  • the 2-part simplified declaration procedure — prior authorisation is required to operate this procedure

Check guidance on using simplified declarations for exports for more information.

What customs controls happen at a DEP

Your goods can be subject to customs controls, this could be:

  • document checks
  • fiscal or anti-smuggling checks

We’ll carry out these checks while the goods are held on site at the approved location. Your goods may be checked again at the border if required.

Before you apply

Before you can apply for approval you’ll need:

  • your EORI number starting GB or XI
  • details of the inventory system you intend to use along with DEP locations
  • details of the chosen Community System Provider to be used and any badges held for the DEP locations you wish to have approved

Apply for approval

To apply for DEP approval, you’ll need to download the application form, check the terms and conditions and the supporting documents you’ll need.

  1. Download and fill in the application form.

  2. Print and sign it.

  3. Attach and email your form to: customsauthorisations@hmrc.gov.uk.

Application for Designated Export Place

PDF, 153 KB, 10 pages

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After you’ve applied

When we receive your application, the National Export System (NES) authorisation team will contact you to confirm this.

After we’ve considered your application, we’ll send you a letter telling you if we’ve approved your application or not. If you do not get approval, the letter explains the reasons why and tells you about the review and appeals procedure.

If you get approval

When you’re approved as a DEP operator you’ll be able to:

  • accept goods from your clients for export
  • consolidate these into an export consignment
  • present the export declaration covering them to customs for clearance

Using an electronic inventory system

You must use and maintain an electronic inventory system that meets customs requirements. This is either:

If you use an in-house inventory

Any in-house inventory system should be:

  • approved separately by HMRC before use
  • secure, allowing full control and audit of export consignments
  • capable of supplying management information on, for example, records of all goods for export entering and leaving the facility
  • detailed in the DEP application

What you must do as a DEP operator

You must make available:

  • suitable facilities and assistance for unloading, examining, sampling and clearing the goods and for examining vehicles if appropriate
  • calibrated equipment necessary for weighing, and taking account of goods, maintaining such equipment in a satisfactory condition
  • all necessary assistance to customs when goods are selected for examination and sampling
  • safe working conditions for customs or Border Force staff attending the premises (this includes safe means of access to containers and vehicles)

You must make sure any customs checks are satisfied so that you can get positive customs clearance before the removal of the goods from the DEP.

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