Customs Clearance
Frequently Asked Questions
What paperwork is required to Import Customs clear goods in the UK?
Typically, you will require a Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice(s), Packing List(s) and depending on the commodity being imported, one or more of the following:
- Certificate of Origin Health Certificate (Foodstuffs)
- GSP – Generalised System of Preferences / Certificate of Origin
Other documents and forms may need to be supplied/completed. Contact our team for more
information.
What paperwork is required to Export Customs clear goods from the UK?
Typically, you will require a Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice(s), Packing List(s), also information such as the
vessel name and the Port of Discharge.
vessel name and the Port of Discharge.
Depending on the commodity being exported one or more of the following may be required:
- EHC – Export Health Certificate (animal products)
- Phytosanitary Certificate (timber or non-manufactured wood products)
Other documents and forms may need to be supplied/completed. Contact our team for more
information.
How long does it take to clear goods through Customs?
Depending on what the goods are, whether Customs have selected the entry for a document examination etc, these can all affect how long it takes to Customs clear but as a guideline, it could take anything from 30 minutes (allowing time to submit the entry to Customs) upwards.
We can give you a more accurate estimation once the entry has been submitted to Customs.
My shipment is on its way to the UK, can my goods be entered to Customs before they arrive?
We recommend that you advise us as soon as your goods are in transit however your goods can only be entered to Customs once it has been manifested onto the UK port’s computer system. This is usually completed a couple of days prior to vessel arrival at the UK port.
My shipment is planned to leave the UK in the next 2 weeks, when will my goods be entered to Customs?
We recommend that you advise us as soon as your goods are booked to be loaded into a container however your goods can only be entered to Customs once it has been manifested onto the UK port’s computer system. This is usually completed a couple of days prior to vessel departure at the UK port.
What are the differences between the Customs routing types?
- Route 1: This is the most common route; Customs want to look through the paperwork before clearance is granted. It is a full document check that requires all of your original documentation to be examined in detail.
- Route 2: Customs have selected the shipment for physical examination of the goods, as well as your original documents. This route has no time limit; however, Customs do try to complete examinations as soon as possible.
- Route 3: Customs will issue immediate clearance (once all duty/VAT has been paid if applicable) however, Customs still require copies of your original documents to examine, but
they can be usually presented within 24 hours. - Route 6: Customs will issue immediate clearance (once all duty/VAT has been paid if applicable) without any paperwork needing to be presented.
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