From the date of Brexit, the United Kingdom will no longer be part of the European Union. This means that customs formalities and inspections will be implemented for shipments to or from the United Kingdom.
The goods must therefore be accompanied by a customs invoice.
You can find a step-by-step guide for shipping to the United Kingdom here:
1. Obtaining an EORI number
The EORI number (economic operator registration and identification) is a number that allows for each economic operator to be identified, and is used for customs administration.
If you do not yet have an assigned EORI number, you can request this from the customs authorities.
Companies located within the United Kingdom who want to import/export goods within the European Union must also have an EORI number. This number is provided by the British government.
2. Goods classification number
This is a code used by customs authorities in order to classify goods.
It is essential to correctly classify your items in order to facilitate customs administration. This code defines the amount of any customs taxes and duties, the application of tariff preferences or the documents required (importing/exporting licence).
Incorrect classification may result in delays to delivery, return to sender or higher customs fees than those which should have been charged.
You can search for the code corresponding to your goods via the European Customs Portal.
3. Item value
You must indicate the value of your goods in the customs invoice. If shipping several items, you should correctly detail each amount in order to avoid any delays or customs blockage.
The value must be above zero (0).
If you are shipping personal items without a specific value, try to estimate as precisely as possible; how much would you sell these items for second hand?
If you are shipping items you have produced yourself, try to estimate the cost of the materials used for their production.
Indicating a value that is not appropriate to the description (e.g. €1 for a smartphone) may cause delays or block your shipment. In case of any irregularities, the customs authorities will request additional documents.
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4. Restrictions – Prohibited items
Before making a shipment, check that the items are not included on the list of prohibited items.
Some destinations are subject to restrictions and limitations with regard to the importing/exporting of certain products, such as the United Kingdom, in this case. You can consult the list of products which cannot be shipped to the United Kingdom by clicking here.
Some items may be authorised but subject to restrictions and specific taxes.
5. Determining the origin of goods
It’s important that you know the goods’ country of origin, as this must be indicated on the customs invoice. You can find this information on the label, manual, leaflet, packaging or on the product’s invoice.