Making a simplified frontier declaration

How to use the simplified declaration procedure when importing goods into the UK.

Last updated 1 February 2024

You should check if you need to declare the goods you bring into the UK, before you make a simplified frontier declaration.

You must be authorised to use simplified procedures.

You can import your goods on a simplified frontier declaration unless your goods are imported under:

Admission Temporaire or Temporary Admission (ATA) procedures
authorisation by declaration

Check the guidance on ineligible goods and procedures to find out if you can use the simplified declaration procedure to declare your goods.

Find out about other declarations you can make when importing goods.

Before you submit

An entry summary declaration will normally have been lodged for your goods by the carrier while they were travelling to the UK or, in some cases, before the goods were loaded.

You or your representative must present your goods to customs immediately when they arrive in the UK.

When to submit

You’ll need to make a simplified frontier declaration before the goods board:

a vessel or train departing for locations that uses the goods vehicle movement service
a vessel departing for a location that needs you to submit an import declaration before your goods depart for the UK

If you’re using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service, your declaration will usually be marked as ‘arrived’ automatically on the system when your goods are imported. If the status has not been automatically updated you’ll need to manually arrive your goods in the UK.

If you are moving goods that require an import declaration from Northern Ireland to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), you must update the status of your simplified frontier declaration to ‘arrived’ on the system by 11:59pm, on the working day after the day your goods arrived in Great Britain.

When to submit a declaration at other locations

If a temporary storage declaration has been made for the goods, the simplified frontier declaration must be made within 90 days of your goods being presented to customs.

If your goods are arriving at a location without temporary storage facilities, the simplified frontier declaration must be made by the timescale set by the operator of that location.

Choosing to make an early declaration

You may be able to make a declaration up to 30 days before the arrival of your goods, but it will only be formally accepted when they have actually arrived and been presented to customs.

Check what you must do if you’re moving goods into the UK under the Common Transit Convention through a Goods Vehicle Movement Service location.