Guidance

Submit an arrival notification to the Import Control System

Find out when and how to submit an arrival notification if you're bringing goods to the UK.

From:
HM Revenue & Customs
Published
18 September 2020

The arrival notification is a message sent to the customs Office of First Entry to let them know that the vessel or aircraft has arrived.

When and how to submit

You’ll need to submit an arrival notification when the goods arrive in the UK. It must cover all entry summary declarations on the vessel or aircraft.

You can make the arrival notification using either:

  • the Entry Key data elements, such as:
    • mode of transport at the border
    • identification of the means of transport crossing the border
    • expected date of arrival at first place of arrival (as declared in the original entry summary declaration)
    • country code of the declared first office of entry
    • declared first place of arrival code
    • actual first place of arrival code
  • the MRN for all the shipments carried on the means of transport, together with:
    • mode of transport at the border
    • country code of declared first office of entry
    • declared first place of arrival code
    • actual first place of arrival code

Get more information

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

Updates to this page

Published 18 September 2020

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