Entry summary declarations for movements to Northern Ireland

Find out how to prepare for making an entry summary declaration using the Trader Support Service.

Contents

An entry summary declaration is different from a customs declaration. You’ll need both for most goods movements to Northern Ireland.

This guidance is about using the Trader Support Service to submit an entry summary declaration. It does not cover customs declarations.

What is an entry summary declaration

An entry summary declaration is a safety and security declaration. It tells customs officers:

about the goods being imported
who is moving them
how they are entering Northern Ireland

EU law requires an entry summary declaration. Before goods arrive in Northern Ireland, customs officials need to be able to:

detect prohibited or dangerous goods
prevent smuggling or fraud
target high-risk consignments for checks
protect supply chains and borders
allow low-risk goods to move more efficiently

Some goods do not need an entry summary declaration. You can check the goods that do not need an entry summary declaration (opens in a new tab) to see if your goods are exempt.

If an entry summary declaration is missing or invalid, your goods may be delayed, denied boarding, held at the port, or you may be fined.

When to submit an entry summary declaration

You must submit an entry summary declaration before goods move from Great Britain or from countries outside the EU into Northern Ireland.

Allow enough time to prepare and submit the form. If there are system rejections, you will need time to fix them and resubmit before the goods leave.

When you’ll need a declaration

Examples of types of movements when you’ll need an entry summary declaration include:

accompanied and unaccompanied roll-on roll-off (RoRo) freight
maritime freight movements
some parcel movements under specific arrangements
movements where only the safety and security declaration is needed

You can find out more about when an entry summary declaration is needed on the government guidance making an entry summary declaration (opens in a new tab).

Who submits the declaration

The carrier submits the declaration. This is the person operating the vehicle or vessel bringing goods into Northern Ireland.

You can find more information about the carrier on responsibility for submitting entry summary declarations (opens in a new tab).

Declarations you can make using the Trader Support Service

You can submit declarations for these movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland:

roll-on roll-off (RoRo)
maritime (through non-inventory-linked ports)

You cannot use the service for these movements from Rest of the Word excluding the EU to Northern Ireland:

maritime (through inventory-linked ports)
air (including inventory-linked ports) for any goods movement

When you submit your declaration, it is sent to the Import Control Service 2 (ICS2). This is the EU system for safety and security declarations. Using the Trader Support Service means you do not need to register for ICS2. You’ll need to complete any declarations that are not supported by the Trader Support Service on ICS2. You’ll need to register to use ICS2 (opens in a new tab) to do this.

Options to make your declaration

The Trader Support Service will let you make an entry summary declaration:

on its own, following the standard or consignment first process
combined with a customs declaration

Standard process

You’ll enter all the details about the movement first. You can add the consignment information at the same time or later as the next step.

This process is best if one party, like the carrier or haulier, has all the movement and consignment details ready from the start.

Consignment first process

You’ll create separate consignments and connect them to movement details later.

Any user can make consignments and link them to another user’s account.

This process is best if you need to add or remove consignments linked to the same movement details. For example, if a carrier or haulier is transporting several consignments on one truck.

It’s also helpful when different people need to manage consignment and movement details. For example:

one importer has a consignment with controlled goods
another importer has a consignment with standard goods information
the carrier manages the movement information for them

Giving a reason for making an entry summary declaration without a customs declaration

Following the standard or consignment first process, you’ll make the entry summary declaration only. You do not make a customs declaration at the same time.

You must tell the Trader Support Service why you are creating only an entry summary declaration.

Reasons you can give

The trader must submit an Internal Market Movement Information record or a simplified declaration using a system other than Trader Support Service.

The declarant will either create a simplified frontier declaration outside of Trader Support Service on a different platform using their own Simplified Customs Declaration Process (SCDP) authorisation, or create an Internal Market Movement Information outside of Trader Support Service.
The goods will be declared by Entry in the Declarant's Records (EIDR) using a customs system outside of Trader Support Service.

The declarant will be making a declaration using EIDR outside of TSS using the Importer of Record’s own SCDP authorisation.
The carrier is transporting an empty container/trailer/van/lorry under a contract of carriage, which requires an entry summary declaration for the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS).

The trailer does not contain goods but is under a contract of carriage, which requires an entry summary declaration for GVMS.

You can find information on obtaining a goods movement reference (GMR) so you can move goods using GVMS or the TSS system:
Creating a goods movement reference on Trader Support Service
Create a goods movement reference (opens in a new tab) on GOV.UK
The goods are subject to a Transit declaration or are using transhipment arrangements that do not require an import declaration through Trader Support Service into Northern Ireland.

Goods that are travelling through Northern Ireland to another common transit country do not require an import declaration through Trader Support Service into Northern Ireland.
The goods are being placed in ‘temporary storage’, and if a customs declaration is needed, it will be completed outside of Trader Support Service.

The goods are being sent to a temporary storage facility (outside the Trader Support Service scope), so a declaration must be completed outside Trader Support Service.
A separate/standalone Internal Market Movement Information or standard declaration will be completed and submitted within Trader Support Service.

The Internal Market Movement Information or standard declaration MRN should be given to the carrier, which they will use together with the entry summary declaration MRN to complete the GMR through the GVMS or the TSS system before the goods arrive.

Details on GMRs and GVMS can be found in Creating a goods movement reference.

Making a combined declaration

You may need a customs declaration as well as the entry summary declaration for your goods.

If you're eligible, you can complete Internal Market Movement Information.

Or you can complete a customs declaration at the same time as the entry summary declaration.

You’ll need to provide some extra information.

For UKIMS authorised traders moving ‘not at risk’ goods, check what you need to complete the Internal Market Movement Information.

For all other traders:

check what you need to complete declarations under the Simplified Customs Declaration Process (SCDP)
check what you need to complete a standard declaration

If you do not have an EORI number registered on your Trader Support Service account, you will not be able to create and submit customs declarations. This means the combined declaration will not be available to you.

Important steps to take

Wrong or missing information can slow down the submission process. These steps can help you avoid problems.

Make sure everyone in the supply chain agrees on who will manage information

The carrier submits the entry summary declaration. Anyone using the carrier’s services, such as traders, hauliers, or freight forwarders, must give them accurate information. This is so the carrier can complete and submit the form.

Gather accurate shipping information

You'll need to provide the carrier with on-time, accurate information. See the entry summary declaration checklist for what information they will need.

If you’re making a combined declaration, you will need to find information needed to complete a customs declaration.

Once submitted and accepted, the movement receives an entry summary declaration reference number. This is for use in later stages of the goods movement journey.

Confirm your goods have arrived

You’ll need a notice of arrival and, when applicable, the presentation of goods, for all entry summary declarations.

For this to happen, the carrier must use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) to enter the MRN for each entry summary declaration consignment. They’ll do this when creating the goods movement reference to report the movement of goods.

If you have more than one entry summary declaration MRN for all the goods in a single movement, you must enter them all when creating a goods movement reference. This makes sure you have completed the notice of arrival and presentation of goods. If this is not done, your entry summary declaration will not show as 'arrived/closed' in the Trader Support Service. You will then need to complete this step using a different method. Find out how to submit a presentation of goods notification (opens in a new tab).