Moving goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain
See the steps involved when moving goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain including where an export declaration is required.
Last updated: 18 July 2024
There are two journeys for moving goods out of Northern Ireland and into Great Britain:
- a direct journey: moving goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain
- an indirect journey: moving goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain via Ireland
Most goods moving directly from NI to GB will not require an export declaration. However, there are some limited exceptions where an export declaration is needed, which include:
- under a customs special procedure in NI (including transit)
- in an authorised Temporary Storage Facility (TSF)
- on a list of goods for which special processes apply, based on specific binding international obligations on the UK and European Union (EU)
The indirect movement of goods from NI to GB via Ireland requires an export declaration.
This guide shows the processes for the direct movement of goods from NI to GB and the indirect movement of goods from NI to GB via Ireland.
Direct movement of goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain
Find out more about moving goods directly from NI to GB.
Most goods moving directly from Northern Ireland (NI) to Great Britain (GB) will not require declarations. However, export declarations are needed in the following limited circumstances, where goods are:
- placed or moving under a customs special procedure in NI (including transit)
- in an authorised Temporary Storage Facility (TSF)
On the following list of certain prohibited and restricted goods for which specific processes apply, based on binding international obligations on the UK and EU:
- drug precursor chemicals
- endangered plants and animals, including under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
- firearms, their parts and components and ammunition
- fish – Atlantic Tuna, Dissostichus
- fluorinated gases (F-gas) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS)
- genetically modified organisms
- hazardous chemicals
- mercury and mercury-added products
- persistent organic pollutants
- rough diamonds
- torture goods
In these circumstances, you are required to complete an export declaration. Import declarations are not required for goods moving directly from NI to GB.
The export declaration raised on your behalf by the Trader Support Service (TSS) will also satisfy your safety and security obligations. You will not need to raise a separate Exit Summary Declaration (EXS).
Sign up for the Trader Support Service to move goods into and out of Northern Ireland.
Licences, certificates and other documents
If your goods are subject to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls, you must indicate this in your Trader Support Service submission. You must comply with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) requirements and provide TSS with the appropriate SPS certificates.
If the commodity codes of your goods require any other licences, certificates or documents, you must indicate this in your TSS submission. You must also provide any associated reference numbers and attach any relevant documents.
Document checks
When the Trader Support Service submits the export declaration on your behalf, they will be notified on whether a documents check is required, and if so:
- TSS will contact you to ensure the required documents are attached to your case
- once all required documents are attached, TSS will send the documents to HMRC and the goods will usually be released for movement after two hours
- in this two-hour window, HMRC may flag that your goods need to be physically checked; TSS will inform you if so and advise on where physical checks need to be conducted
- TSS will provide the Movement Reference Number (MRN) once the goods are released for movement
Creating a Goods Movement Reference
Hauliers must create a Goods Movement Reference (GMR) for a direct movement from NI to GB when an export declaration is required. This must be presented to the carrier at check-in at Belfast, Larne or Warrenpoint ports. To do this as a haulier you must be registered for Goods Vehicle Movement Service. Once registered you can create a GMR, inputting the Declaration Unique Consignment Reference (DUCR) provided by Trader Support Service.
Actions at the Northern Ireland port
The action required at the NI port is dependent on the type of goods being moved:
- If you are moving goods from NI to GB that are under a customs special procedure or in an authorised Temporary Storage Facility (TSF), you must report straight to the carrier check-in at the NI port (Belfast, Larne or Warrenpoint).
- If you are moving certain prohibited and restricted goods for which specific processes apply based on binding international obligations, you must take the actions listed in .
Indirect movements of goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain via Ireland
Find out more about moving goods indirectly from NI to GB via Ireland.
All goods moving indirectly from Northern Ireland (NI) to Great Britain (GB) via Ireland require an .
The majority of goods moving from NI to GB through Ireland will not require import declarations on arrival in Great Britain. However, goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain through Ireland will have to complete import declarations if they are:
- non-qualifying Northern Ireland goods
- goods which do not merely pass through the Republic of Ireland once they have left Northern Ireland (e.g., goods held in storage or undergoing further processing)
- goods such as excise goods (alcohol, tobacco or energy products) or endangered species
- goods moved on this route for an avoidance purpose
If you use the Trader Support Service (TSS), the export declaration raised on your behalf by TSS will satisfy your safety and security obligations for GB and NI. You will not need to raise a separate Exit Summary Declaration.
Sign up for the Trader Support Service to move goods into and out of Northern Ireland.
Licences, certificates and other documents
If your goods are subject to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls, you must indicate this in the Trader Support Service submission.
You must comply with Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) requirements and provide TSS with the appropriate sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certificates. In addition, appropriate Export Health Certificates and other SPS documents must be entered into the Irish border systems by the NI exporter.
If the commodity codes of your goods require any other licences, certificates or other documents, you need to indicate this in your TSS submission. You must also provide any associated reference numbers and attach relevant documents.
Document checks
When the Trader Support Service submits the export declaration on your behalf, they will be notified on whether a documents check is required, and the next steps if so:
- TSS will contact you to ensure all the required documents are attached to your case
- once all required documents are attached, TSS will send the documents to HMRC and the goods should be cleared within two hours
- in this two-hour window, HMRC may flag that your goods must be physically checked and TSS will inform you of this and advise on where physical checks need to be conducted
- TSS will provide the Movement Reference Number (MRN) once the goods are released for movement
Roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) and create a Pre-Boarding notification (PBN)
You, or your haulier, must create a Pre-Boarding notification (PBN) on the Irish RoRo system, using the Movement Reference Number (MRN) provided by TSS. When creating the Pre-Boarding notification (PBN), you or your haulier must select the Movement Direction as ‘Out of Ireland’.
Hauliers can email customsPBN@revenue.ie if they have queries.
Creating a Goods Movement Reference
For ports using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS), hauliers must complete a Goods Movement Reference. However, for most movements, hauliers will only need to indicate they are moving qualifying Northern Ireland goods.
This can be done by selecting the ‘no declaration required’ option when creating a Goods Movement Reference.
Import declarations
If an Import declaration is required, the importer must make the declaration at the point of import. Unless the goods have received customs clearance, they will not be released from the port.