Moving goods out of Northern Ireland through common transit countries

Guide

Last updated 13 September 2021

You should check if you can use common transit to move your goods and what you need to do to set up your business for transit movements.

Goods can start their journey from an authorised consignor premises or an office of departure.

If the goods are departing from an authorised consignor premises

Before the goods leave

  1. Plan your route.

  2. Get information about your haulier for your records.

  3. Make an export declaration. If you’ve used entry in the declarations records for the export, you’ll need to make exit summary declaration separately.

  4. Make a transit declaration.

  5. Tell your haulier to load the goods, seal the doors (where appropriate), and note the seal number on NCTS.

  6. Wait for clearance from Border Force.

  7. Print the Transit Accompanying Document (TAD) at your premises.

  8. Pass the TAD and other relevant information information about your goods to your haulier.

  9. Tell your haulier to begin their journey.

The TAD will include your transit Movement Reference Number (MRN) (in the top right hand corner) which you need when using transit to move your goods.

If the goods are not cleared by Border Force to leave, you’ll need to keep the vehicle at your premises until Border Force arrive to inspect it.

While the goods are moving

  1. Check the movement of your goods in the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS).

  2. Clear any error messages.

If an incident occurs on route, you or the haulier must contact the customs authority in that country where the incident happened.

When the goods arrive

  1. Check the movement has been ended on NCTS and your guarantee has been released.

  2. You can request a receipt from your haulier.

  3. Keep records of your movement.

If the goods have not been delivered to customs at their destination, we will contact you within 7 days of the date when the goods should have arrived.

If the goods are departing from an office of departure in Northern Ireland

Before the goods leave

  1. Plan your route.

  2. Get information about your haulier for your records.

  3. Make an export declaration. If you’ve used entry in the declarations records for the export, you’ll need to make exit summary declaration separately.

  4. Load the goods, seal the doors, and note the seal number on NCTS.

  5. Make a transit declaration including the export declaration reference number.

After you’ve submitted your transit declaration

  1. Pass information about the goods to your haulier.

  2. Give your haulier the local reference number (a unique number less than 22 characters that you create yourself) that you have generated.

  3. Tell your haulier to load the goods and begin their journey to the designated office of departure.

  4. You must provide Border Force with notification of planned departures before you arrive at the office of departure.

If your goods are moving to an office of departure outside of Northern Ireland, for example Republic of Ireland, you will need to check the requirements with the relevant customs authority.

While the goods are moving

  1. Check the movement of your goods in NCTS.

  2. Clear any error messages.

If an incident occurs, you or the haulier must contact the customs authority in that country.

When the goods arrive

  1. Request a receipt from your haulier.

  2. Check the movement has been ended on NCTS and your guarantee has been released.

  3. Keep records of your movement.

If the goods have not been delivered to customs at their destination, we will contact you within 7 days of the date when the goods should have arrived.

If you’re a haulier departing from an authorised consignor premises

Before the goods leave

  1. Get information about the goods from the exporter, and provide your details.

  2. Get your paper transit accompanying document which will include your transit MRN, this must stay with you throughout your journey.

  3. Get any other customs documentation including export declarations, licences and route information.

  4. Move to the port of exit.

While the goods are moving

  1. Complete the exit and entry requirements at each customs border including the port you’re exiting in Northern Ireland.

  2. Move goods to each office of transit on your TAD.

  3. Present your TAD and goods at the office of transit.

When the goods arrive

  1. Present the TAD and goods to the office of destination or authorised consignee.

  2. Wait for customs authority to clear the goods.

  3. You can send a receipt to the exporter.

If you’re a haulier departing from an office of departure in Northern Ireland

Before the goods leave

  1. Get information about the goods from the exporter, and provide your details.

  2. Get your LRN from the exporter.

  3. Get any other customs documentation including export declarations, licences and route information.

  4. Confirm the exporter has e-mailed Border Force to notify them of your planned departure.

  5. Get a goods movement reference.

  6. Take the goods to the designated office of departure.

At the office of departure

  1. Present goods with LRN to office of departure.

  2. Get your transit accompanying document which will include your transit MRN.

  3. Get a goods movement reference.

  4. Proceed to the port you’re exiting in Northern Ireland.

During the transit movement

  1. Complete the exit and entry requirements at each customs border including the port you’re exiting in Northern Ireland.

  2. Move goods to the office of transit on your TAD.

  3. Present your TAD and goods at the future office of transit.

When the goods arrive

  1. Present the TAD and goods to the office of destination or authorised consignee.

  2. Wait for customs authority to clear the goods.

  3. Send a receipt to the exporter.

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