10. NATO Form 302
Explains the NATO 302 process and is for use only by NATO military.
The NATO 302 is used to control the movement of imported third country eligible military goods in and between NATO countries and countries participating in the Partnership for Peace (PfP). This section explains the process and is for use only by NATO military.
The rules concerning the import, export and Transit of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) goods are contained in the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the status of their forces, London 19 June 1951.
You can find a list of NATO members countries on the NATO website.
The Form 302 is not restricted to NATO countries. It is also used by the Armed Forces of Partnership for Peace countries, which includes Switzerland and, from 1 October 2022, Ukraine. Movements of goods to and from these countries should be processed in the usual way.
You can find a list of Partnership for Peace member countries on the NATO website.
The form 302 is used to control the movement of imported third country eligible military goods in and between NATO countries and countries participating in the Partnership for Peace (PfP). Further information surrounding NATO movements and Transit can be found in the Transit Manual section I.4.2.5. The forms cannot be used for movements between commercial enterprises.
Articles 226 (3) (e) and 227 (2) (e) of EU Regulation 952/13 and Articles 285 to 287 of Implementing Regulation 952/13 provide for the use of Form 302 as a Transit Declaration for goods moved from one point in the Union Customs Territory to another.
Paragraph 5 and Schedule 4 of SI 2018/1258, Customs Transit Procedures (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, provides for the use of Form 302 in the case of movement of goods departing from, or arriving at, a point within the United Kingdom.
The customs authorities in each NATO Member State, in agreement with the competent authority of the forces stationed on its territory, has designated a customs office responsible for handling customs formalities and controls concerning all consignments carried out by or on behalf of each unit of the forces stationed on its territory. In the UK this is the NATO Team within the CCTO.
10.2.1 NATO Forces based in the UK – United States
The form is a six-part document and copies 1-6 are all pre-authenticated by the CCTO. The form contains a pre-printed serial number and bears the full address of the CCTO (for the return copies of the document).
- Copy 1 (original white) travels with the goods, and is retained by the Consignee (NATO base at Destination) for their records.
- Copy 2 (duplicate, green) travels with the goods. This copy is stamped by the Customs Authority at the Destination address. For outbound movements from the UK this copy is returned to the CCTO to confirm satisfactory Transit.
- Copy 3 (duplicate, pink) travels with the goods, and is retained by the Customs Authority at destination.
- Copy 4 (Blue) is retained by the consignor (NATO base at departure).
- Copy 5 (yellow) should be sent to the CCTO at the start of any movement from the UK.
- Copy 6 (red) is an optional copy, which can be used for control purposes if required.
10.2.2 NATO Forces based in the UK - British and European Union
The Form 302 is a four-part document. For outbound movements from the UK copies 1-4 are all pre-authenticated by the CCTO.
- Copy 1 (original, white) travels with the goods. It is retained by the Consignee (NATO Base at Destination) for their records.
- Copy 2 (duplicate, white) travels with the goods. It must be stamped by the Customs Authority at the Destination address. For outbound movements from the UK this copy is returned to the CCTO to confirm satisfactory completion of the Transit movement.
- Copy 3 (duplicate, white) is retained by the Consignor (NATO Base of Departure) for their records.
- Copy 4 (white) must be sent to the CCTO at the start of any movement from the UK.
10.3.1 Force of Law
The relevant Force of Law comes from these Customs Statutory Instruments:
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The following has the force of law, by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to The Customs Transit Procedure (EU Exit) Regulations 20181. At the time of dispatch of the goods, the NATO forces shall complete form 302 with a statement that the goods are being moved under their control and authenticate this statement by their signature, stamp and date.
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Where the NATO forces proceed in accordance with paragraph 1, a copy of the form 302 must be given, without delay, to the designated customs office responsible for customs formalities and controls pertaining to the NATO forces which dispatch the goods or on whose behalf the goods are being dispatched.
- The other copies of the form 302 shall accompany the consignment to the NATO forces of destination where the forms must be stamped and signed by those NATO forces.
- At the time of arrival of the goods two copies of the form must be given to the designated customs office responsible for customs formalities and controls pertaining to the NATO forces of destination.
- That designated customs office shall retain one copy and shall return the second copy to the customs office responsible for customs formalities and controls pertaining to the NATO forces which dispatch the goods or on whose behalf the goods are being dispatched.
10.3.2 UK as Office of Departure
Pre-authentication of forms by the NATO Team at the CCTO
The NATO authority at departure will forward batches of blank forms to the CCTO. Batches should be no larger than is sufficient to cover movements that will be made in the forthcoming 3 month period.
The NATO Team at the CCTO will:
- stamp the blank forms in the appropriate box in the first row of the ‘Part Reserved for Customs’ table on the rear of the form, with the HMRC authenticating stamp
- date and number the forms in the appropriate box in the first row of the ‘Part Reserved for Customs’ table on the rear of the form using the HMRC numbering stamp
- sign the forms in the appropriate box in the first row of the ‘Part Reserved for Customs’ table on the rear of the form
- maintain a record of the forms issued to each NATO unit including the quantity of documents issued and both the customs CTC Transit number and the corresponding pre-printed serial number of each form
- return the authenticated forms to the relevant NATO unit accompanied by an advice showing the serial numbers and the total quantity and asking the NATO unit to confirm receipt
- make enquiries with the NATO unit if any pre-authenticated documents have not been used within 3 months, such as copy 2 not received at the CCTO
Documents pre-authenticated at the CCTO may only be used to cover movements which have an Office of Departure within the UK.
Permanent and Temporary Exports
For permanent exports, the exporter will be required to make a standard declaration via the Customs Declaration System (CDS).
For temporary exports, or re-export after temporary import, the NATO form 302 is a ‘declaration by conduct’ and a CDS declaration is not necessary.
10.3.3 Action at the GB Port of Exit
Non-Inventory linked ports
Movements of goods to countries outside the UK once you have completed the form, the shipment can be declared by making a declaration by conduct. Therefore, unless accompanied by a Transit Declaration, or requested to do so by BF, the forms and goods do not need to be presented to Border Force at the port of exit from the UK
Inventory linked ports and airports
In addition to the NATO 302, a C21 should be entered onto CDS (Customs Declaration Service), if the location has no other means of clearing the movement via the Community Systems Provider (CSP). MOD have been advised by HMRC to use Customs Procedure Code 0003 31D to fulfil the C21 requirements for movements under NATO 302. This is to ensure that the appropriate permission to load the consignment onto the vessel or aircraft. Again, there is no need to present the document to Border Force unless accompanied by a Transit Declaration or requested to do so.
The Office of Departure/Exit should not select NATO 302 consignments for examination
10.3.4 GVMS Ports
If the port is a GVMS port, you must raise your Goods Movement Reference (GMR) by selecting the Declaration by Conduct option. The GMR will then allow you to proceed to check in.
Should the GVMS port be inventory linked a C21 will be required as above.
Action by NATO Authority at Destination in the UK
On receipt of the goods and copies 1, 2, 3 and 6 (of the six-part document), or copies 1 and 2 (of the four-part document), the competent NATO Authority stamps and signs all copies, retains copy 1 (of the six-part document), or copy 1 (of the four-part document) and sends copies 2 and 3 (and possibly copy 6) (of the six-part document), or copy 2 (of the four-part document), to the Customs Office of Destination. The NATO authority must make an import declaration on CDS if it is required, the NATO authority will make the declaration via CDS. MOD have been advised by HMRC to use Customs Procedure Code 0003 31D to fulfil the C21 requirements for movements under NATO 302.
Customs will authenticate copy 2 and return it, together with the supporting documents, to the relevant NATO Base.
The NATO Base at Destination will then forward copy 2 to the Customs Office of Departure at the address shown on the Form 302. Customs will retain copy 3 and, if submitted, copy 6 (of the six-part document), but they will not be required to retain a copy of the four-part document, unless they wish to keep a photocopy of copy 2 for their own records.
10.4.1 Action at the GB office of arrival
Movements of goods to the UK using the NATO 302 form can be declared by making a declaration by conduct. Therefore, unless accompanied by a Transit Declaration or requested to do so the forms and goods do not need to be presented to Border Force upon arrival in the UK.
10.4.2 Inventory Linked Ports
In addition to the NATO 302, a C21 should be entered onto CDS (Customs Declaration Service), if the location has no other means of clearing the movement via the Community Systems Provider (CSP). MOD have been advised by HMRC to use Customs Procedure Code 0003 31D to fulfil the C21 requirements for movements under NATO 302. This is to ensure that the appropriate release note and Customs clearance is granted for the consignment on arrival. Again there is no need to present the document to Border Force unless accompanied by a Transit Declaration or requested to do so.
10.4.3 GVMS ports
If the port is a GVMS port, you must raise your Goods Movement Reference (GMR) by selecting the Declaration by Conduct option. The GMR will then allow you to proceed to check in.
Should the GVMS port be inventory linked a C21 will be required as above, if the location has no other means of clearing the movement via the Community Systems Provider (CSP).
These temporary events will be covered by a BF Team. The carrier should present the Form 302 and the goods to BF at the show (in practical terms, they will probably present them to the organisers who would in turn present them to BF against the appropriate Oral Declaration for TA).
For any NATO 302 enquiries contact the CCTO on 0300 322 7906.