The MRN (Movement Reference Number) is a unique number the customs system gives a declaration once it is accepted. It lets you track the status of clearance, communicate with the customs office and prove that an import or export was lawful.
What an MRN is
The MRN is a number the customs system assigns to a declaration after it has been accepted. It identifies the declaration in dealings with the authorities, lets you check the clearance status and is used as a reference in transport documents. It is not issued by the agency – the agency just passes on the number the system generated once the declaration was lodged.
Do not confuse the MRN with earlier reference numbers: the LRN is assigned by the declarant before the declaration is accepted, and the DUCR identifies the consignment in UK systems. The differences are explained in What Is an LRN? and MRN, DUCR and LRN – What They Mean.
Questions and answers — MRN
Where do I find my shipment's MRN?
You receive the MRN from the customs agency or forwarder that lodged the declaration, and you can see it in the system where the declaration was lodged. For imports from the UK to Poland you usually deal with two numbers:
- UK export MRN – assigned to the export declaration on the UK side; the haulier uses it as a declaration reference when creating a GMR in GVMS (see GVMS – what it is),
- PL import MRN – assigned to the import declaration on the Polish side; it is the reference for the release of the goods.
Agree with the agency that both numbers reach the driver and the importer before the vehicle gets to the border.
How do I check the status of a declaration by MRN?
Check the status in the system where the declaration was lodged (in Poland, PUESC after logging in to the entity's account; in the UK, your CDS-connected software) or with the agency that lodged it. For GVMS movements see also how to check GMR status.
What does release of the goods mean for an import MRN?
Release means the customs authority has accepted the declaration and the goods may leave customs supervision. Before release the goods remain under customs supervision and cannot be used or handed to the consignee. Release follows verification of the declaration (or its acceptance without verification) and, where a customs debt arises, payment of the duty or provision of a guarantee (Articles 194–195 of the Union Customs Code, Regulation (EU) No 952/2013).
How long should I keep the MRN and the declaration documents?
An MRN is permanently attached to one declaration – it has no "validity period". In the EU, documents and information relating to customs formalities must be kept for at least 3 years (Article 51 UCC); in the UK, documents for goods declared to HMRC are kept for 4 years and VAT records for at least 6 years (GOV.UK). In an audit the MRN lets you link the goods to a specific declaration.
Can I lodge the customs declaration myself and get an MRN?
Yes. In Poland you can lodge a declaration yourself through PUESC, which usually requires an account on the platform, an EORI number and an electronic signature. In practice many companies use a customs agency, because errors in a declaration prolong clearance – see what to do about an error in a declaration. Want to hand clearance over? Get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the MRN?
The customs system assigns the MRN once the declaration is accepted – not the agency or the forwarder. The agency passes on the number the system generated.
What is the difference between an MRN and an LRN?
The LRN is assigned by the declarant before the declaration is accepted, to identify it in their own system; the MRN is assigned by the customs system after acceptance. The MRN is used for further contact with the authorities and for checking status.
Do I need an MRN for a GMR?
When creating a GMR in GVMS the haulier gives references to the declarations, including the MRN. That is why the UK export number must reach the driver before the border.
What does release of the goods mean?
That the customs authority has accepted the declaration and the goods may leave customs supervision. Until then they cannot be used or handed to the consignee.
How long should documents linked to an MRN be kept?
In the EU at least 3 years (Article 51 UCC); in the UK 4 years for documents on goods declared to HMRC and at least 6 years for VAT records.
Related guides
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