Check how to move goods through ports that use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service
Source: gov.uk (2025-05-27)

What you need to do to get goods through customs if you’re using a UK port which uses the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.

You will not be able to move goods through ports using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service without a goods movement reference and you may face delays at the port.

The Goods Vehicle Movement Service brings together multiple declaration reference numbers into a single goods movement reference. This speeds up the clearance of goods through customs.

When you’ll need a goods movement reference

You may need to create a goods movement reference for journeys of goods through locations using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service from:
- the EU to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) — a goods movement reference is needed for all movements
- Great Britain to the EU — a goods movement reference is needed for all movements and it must be in place before attending the port of departure
- Great Britain to Northern Ireland — a goods movement reference is needed for all movements
- Common Transit Convention movements
- Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) and Admission Temporaire or Temporary Admission (ATA) Carnet movements
- EU (Ireland) export declarations for indirect exports from Ireland to Great Britain through a Northern Ireland port
- movements from Northern Ireland to Great Britain under a customs special procedure or on a list of goods where specific international processes apply
If your movement type is not listed, you do not need to create a goods movement reference even if travelling through a port using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.

How to move your goods

To move your goods, you’ll need to:

Find out which ports use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/list-of-ports-using-the-goods-vehicle-movement-service).

Register for the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-for-the-goods-vehicle-movement-service).

Get a goods movement reference (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-a-goods-movement-reference).

If you’re a trader sending goods

Before the goods arrive at the departure port, you must give the haulier your movement reference numbers from any:
- import or export declarations for all goods
- Transport Internationaux Routiers (TIR)
- Admission Temporaire or Temporary Admission (ATA) Carnets
- Common Transit Convention movements
You must add all transit movement reference numbers to the goods movement reference if you are moving goods into the UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transporting-goods-into-the-uk-under-transit-step-by-step) under the Common Transit Convention at all Goods Vehicle Movement Service locations. Do not add any associated import declaration references.

You must give the haulier your EORI number if you’re approved to make an entry in your own records and declare goods in this way (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-an-import-declaration-in-your-records). You can include the safety and security import entry summary declaration movement reference number, but it is not mandatory.

If you’re a haulier

You must enter references for all the goods contained in the vehicle, trailer or container and follow instructions to find out if you need to get your goods checked by customs on arrival, or if you’re able to continue your journey.

You must also make sure the goods movement reference is created before attending an Inland Border Facility for endorsement of the documentation when either moving:
- goods out of the UK under ATA or TIR carnets
- an offline version of the Transit Accompanying Document (TAD) that travels with the goods, if NCTS is unavailable at office of departure (this would be entered under Manual Transit Procedure on your goods movement reference)
If your business has been hired by someone to move goods, you can register for an application platform interface (API) (https://developer.service.hmrc.gov.uk/api-documentation).

If you’re a carrier

If you’re transporting a vehicle for a haulier, you must:

Check if the port where the goods are arriving is using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/list-of-ports-using-the-goods-vehicle-movement-service).

Get access to the carrier application platform interface (API) (https://developer.service.hmrc.gov.uk/api-documentation).

Check if a goods movement reference is valid (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-a-goods-movement-reference-is-valid).

If you’re a postal operator

If you’re a postal operator (or an Extra-Territorial Office of Exchange) and goods you move include postal items moved under Universal Postal Union rules, you must tell the haulier to select the ’Postal Declaration’ option when creating their goods movement reference.

This applies to goods with:
- CN37, CN38 and CN41 movement documents
- CN22 and CN23 item declaration forms