Independent guide, affiliated with Easy Clearance, a UK–EU customs agency. Read our disclosure
CustomsBrokerUK

Moving goods between the UK and the EU?

Since Brexit, most shipments need an EORI number, a customs declaration and a border booking before the lorry reaches the port. This guide explains each step, when a customs broker is worth hiring, and how to compare them.

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The five steps of a UK–EU shipment A route from the UK across the Channel to the EU, with five stops: EORI number, customs declaration, GMR booking in GVMS, border crossing, and clearance at destination. United Kingdom The Channel European Union 1 EORI number Register before you ship 2 Declaration Filed in CDS, often by an agent 3 GMR in GVMS Links paperwork to the vehicle 4 Border crossing Port or tunnel check-in 5 Clearance Import declaration at destination
  1. EORI number Register before you ship
  2. Declaration Filed in CDS, often by an agent
  3. GMR in GVMS Links paperwork to the vehicle
  4. Border crossing Port or tunnel check-in
  5. Clearance Import declaration at destination

What a customs broker actually does

A customs agent, also called a customs broker, submits customs declarations on your behalf so your goods can clear the border. They can act for you in one of two ways, and the difference decides who pays if a declaration turns out to be wrong.

Direct versus indirect representation Under direct representation the agent declares in your name and you alone are liable. Under indirect representation the agent declares in its own name on your behalf and you are both liable. Direct representation The agent declares in your name Indirect representation The agent declares in its own name, for you You Agent Declaration Liable if it's wrong: You You Agent Declaration Liable if it's wrong: You + Agent
Based on gov.uk: Appoint someone to deal with customs on your behalf. Either way, you still have to do your own due diligence on what's declared.

Whichever arrangement you choose, get it confirmed in writing before the first shipment. The glossary explains every term on the route above, and the cost guide covers what you'll pay for each step.

Guides to the paperwork

Browse by topic: Cars, vans and vehicles (8) · Food, plants and animals (12) · Moving home and personal goods (10) · Regulated and specialist goods (25) · Business, e-commerce and documents (14) · Transit, borders and transport (14) · Duty, VAT and origin (11) · Customs procedures and declarations (19)

All 113 guides

Watch the short explainers

Short video guides from the Customs Broker UK channel, recorded in Polish for the many Polish-speaking businesses and families trading between the UK and Poland.

PLEORI explained

What the number is and why you need one before shipping.

PLCDS, the Customs Declaration Service

HMRC's system where UK declarations are filed.

PLGVMS: "embarked" vs "arrived"

What the GMR statuses mean for drivers at the port.

See all video guides

Already know you need help?

Easy Clearance handles UK–EU import and export declarations, T1/T2 transit, and household removals between the UK and Poland. See how it compares with other providers, or ask for a quote directly.

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