How Long Does It Take to Release Goods at the Border?

What the release time depends on

No rule sets a fixed time for releasing goods at the border - it depends on several factors:

• whether the declaration is complete and consistent - data on the invoice, the consignment note and the CDS declaration must match;
• whether it was lodged in advance (pre-lodgement) or only after the goods arrived;
• whether the consignment is selected for a documentary or physical check;
• the type of goods - food, plants and animals are subject to extra SPS controls;
• pre-arrival data - the ENS in Safety and Security GB and, for road freight, the GMR.

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Stages from notification to release

1. Prepare the data - EORI number, commodity code, customs value, country of origin and transport details.
2. Lodge the declaration in CDS (UK) or a national system (EU), plus the security declaration.
3. System verification - automatic and, where needed, a check of documents or goods.
4. Payment or guarantee of duty and VAT, for instance from a deferment account.
5. Release of the goods for onward transport.

Keep the roles of importer, exporter and customs representative distinct - they determine who supplies which data. The whole process from the UK-PL side is described in how long UK-PL customs clearance takes.

What causes delays and how to limit them

The most common causes are a commodity code that does not match the description on the invoice, an outdated or wrong EORI number for one of the parties, a wrong customs value, a missing ENS or GMR, and missing licences and certificates. A simple pre-dispatch checklist: goods, value, parties, documents. If the goods are already held, start with the 15-minute checklist for goods held at the UK border, and check the declaration status as described in how to check customs clearance status.

Can a customs agent speed up release

An agent can lodge the declaration before the goods arrive and check the data before it enters the system, which reduces the risk of the declaration being rejected or held. An agent cannot influence whether the authority selects a consignment for inspection. Pre-arrival data is covered in ENS and GMR when importing from the UK.

Record keeping after clearance

In the UK customs records are kept for 4 years and VAT records for at least 6 years (GOV.UK). In the EU the period is at least 3 years, counted as a rule from the end of the year in which the declaration was accepted (Article 51 UCC). Keep declarations, invoices, transport documents, payment confirmations and correspondence with your agent.

Planning a shipment and want to avoid a standstill? Get in touch - Easy Clearance is a customs agency registered in CDS, with a UK EORI number.

Frequently asked questions