Making an indirect export from Northern Ireland
Find out what to do when goods which were declared for export in an EU country leave Northern Ireland, for either Great Britain or another non-EU country.
Last updated 6 July 2021
If your goods are removed from Northern Ireland for a destination outside the European Union and have been declared for export in an EU country, you’ll need to tell HMRC.
What you’ll need
If you’re responsible for EU exports that move through ports in Northern Ireland, you must provide HMRC with the movement reference number of your export declaration that covers your goods. This is available on the Export Accompanying Document issued by the customs authority of the EU country of export.
Moving goods through a Goods Vehicle Movement Service-linked port
If you move goods out of Northern Ireland through a port using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service, you need to create a goods movement reference and include the master reference number from your Export Accompanying Document.
You should provide the goods movement reference to the carrier at check-in. You do not need to provide HMRC with any more information unless requested.
There will be an additional change to this guidance in the coming months to improve the indirect exports process further.
Moving goods through an inventory-controlled port
Goods leaving Northern Ireland through inventory-controlled locations must follow the procedures at that location.
Closing the movement of the goods
After the goods have left Northern Ireland you’ll also need to provide evidence of your departure which can be either:
- customs documentation – for example screen prints from port inventory systems confirming the departure of the goods
- commercial evidence of departure such as airway bills, bills of lading or ferry boarding passes
You must send this evidence to:
FREEPOST
BT OPS
EAD
Your evidence will then be processed and updated on the appropriate EU systems.