Guidance

Register to make an entry summary declaration in Northern Ireland

Use the Import Control System if you import goods from outside of the EU into Northern Ireland or move goods into Northern Ireland from Great Britain, to give information to customs before your goods arrive.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Published: 1 December 2020
• Last updated: 20 November 2024 — See all updates

Applies to Northern Ireland

• Guidance for England
• Guidance for Scotland
• Guidance for Wales

Import Control System Northern Ireland (ICS NI), the current safety and security declaration system for movements into Northern Ireland is being replaced by a new system called Import Control System (ICS2).

When you need to start using ICS2 depends on the type of transport by which you move goods into Northern Ireland. You can now begin to register for ICS2.

For traders currently registered to use the Trader Support Service, you can continue to do so to submit safety and security declarations.

If you import goods from outside of the EU into Northern Ireland or move goods into Northern Ireland from Great Britain, you’ll need to use ICS2 to tell customs that your goods are arriving before they leave the country they’re coming from.

The ICS2 system manages:

• lodging of pre-arrival entry summary declarations to customs authorities  
• notification of arrival of goods to customs authorities 
• presentation of goods to customs authorities 
• assessment of safety and security risk by customs authorities

Before you register

You’ll need:

• an EORI number starting XI — if you do not have one you can apply for an EORI number when you register
• the postcode for the address given in your EORI registration

How to register

Find out what steps you’ll need to take to register to use ICS2.

If you still need to use ICS NI

You can access this through either:

• Trader Front End (you’ll need a Government Gateway user ID and password — if you do not have a user ID, you can create one when you access this)
• Community System Providers

You’ll receive an activation code by post if you access ICS NI by Trader Front End.

Find out what to do if ICS NI is unavailable.

Get more information

Businesses that move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or bring goods into Northern Ireland from outside of the UK, may want to sign up for the Trader Support Service.

If you need more information, contact the Import Control System Helpdesk.

Published 1 December 2020
Last updated 20 November 2024 + show all updates

1. 20 November 2024

   Information has been added about Import Control System 2 replacing Import Control System Northern Ireland for movements into Northern Ireland.

2. 1 December 2020

   First published.