Get a goods movement reference
Use this service to get a reference after registering with the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.
Use this service to get a goods movement reference after registering with the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.
What you’ll need
You’llThis need:table will confirm what is required to get a goods movement reference.
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— Goods from the EU to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales ) (Common Transit Convention movements only until January 2022) Goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland Goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain A vehicle registration number,number if your movement is accompaniedtheYes Yes Yes The trailer number or container reference number,number if your movement is unaccompaniedMovementYes Yes Yes Transit ReferenceAccompanyingNumbersDocumentfrommovementsafetyandsecuritydeclarationsauniquethatforprovesCommonaTransitdeclarationConventionhasmovementseitherifbeenrelevantYes Yes Yes Reference pre-lodgednumbersorforisATAnotandneeded,TIRthisCarnetwillmovementseitherifbe:relevantNo Yes Yes aPaper transitTransitaccompanyingAccompanyingdocumentDocumentmovementorreferencethenumber,ATAwhenormovingTIRgoodscarnets,underforthecommonCommontransit,TransitATAConventionaormovementTIRreferenceCarnetnumber,movementsfor—goodsthesemovingmustfromtravelGreatwithBritainthe(England,goodsScotlandthroughoutandtheWales)journeyYes Yes Yes An toimportsNorthernmovementIrelandreference(declarednumber declared into the Customs Declaration Servicefrom1January2021)anNo Yes No An EORI,EORI number, for goods where the trader is authorised to make declarations in their own recordsNo Yes No A andcombinedwherecustomstheandgoodssafetyareandmovingsecurityfromexportGreatdeclarationBritain—toUniqueNorthernConsignmentIrelandReference(from(DUCR)1declaredJanuaryinto2021)antheATACustomsorDeclarationTransportsServiceInternationauxinRoutierslimited(TIR)circumstancesNo No Yes An carnetExportreference,Accompanying Document forgoodsanmovingindirectfromexport to Great BritaintodeclaredNorthernin the Republic of IrelandNo No Yes Safety (declaredandfromsecurity1importJanuaryENS2021)themovementpaperreferencetransitnumberNo Yes No Safety accompanyinganddocument,securityorexporttheEXSATAmovementorreferenceTIRnumberNo No Yes carnet,(emptyforpallets,transit,containersATAandorvehiclesTIRbeingcarnetmovedmovementsunder–athistransportmustcontract,travelonlywithwhenthemovedgoodsunderthroughouttransit) - walking through a customs control point (this can be a green channel signed ‘nothing to declare’) with the goods, if you’re an individual on foot
- driving (or being driven) past a customs control point with the goods inside your vehicle, if you’re importing or exporting goods in a vehicle
- continuing your onward journey, if there are no customs control points
These therules journeywill change on 1 January 2022.
Declaring goods orally or by conduct
You can declare certain goods orally or by conduct at the border. ‘By conduct’ means that when you arrive at a point of exit or entry for Great Britain, you can make a ‘declaration by conduct’ by:
If you’re moving an empty trailer or any other commercial goods that can be declared orally or by conduct, from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, you’ll need to get a goods movement reference. You can do this by selecting the ‘empty’‘oral goodsor movementby referenceconduct declarations’ option within the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.
In some cases, you may need to complete a safety and security declaration, where you must indicate if your goods are moving under contract of carriage (the service will provide more information on how to do this).
If you’re moving your personal goods yourself or commercial goods in your own accompanied baggage, you’ll not need a goods movement reference.
Find out what to do when moving personal goods or commercial goods in this way from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Get a goods movement reference
You’ll need the Government Gateway user ID and password you used when you registered for the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.
Online services may be slow during busy times. Check if there are any problems with this service.
What happens next
You need to present the goods movement reference at the port youyou’re are leaving from. Contact the carrier at the port to find out how to do this.
The carrier will allow you to embark if the goods movement reference is valid.
You must follow instructions on whether you need to get your goods checked by customs on arrival or if youyou’re are able to continue your journey.
Last updated
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Definition of ‘declaration by conduct’ added.
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More information about what you’ll need to get your goods movement reference has been added.
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Information about what you'll need to get a goods movement reference has been updated.
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Welsh translation added.
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Information about what you'll need to get a goods movement reference has been updated.
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Information added about declaring goods orally or by conduct.
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Information has been added about needing a goods movement reference if you are moving an empty trailer.
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First published.
Update history
2025-05-01 07:59
A link to guidance for movements of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland using entry in declarant’s records has been added.
2025-01-21 14:25
The guidance has been updated to reflect the change of the Single Administrative Document (SAD) to the Manual Transit Procedure as of 21 January 2025.
2024-09-16 12:15
Information updated to confirm you need to use your goods movement reference to check if you need to report for an inspection.
2024-07-08 00:15
Guidance on goods moved from Great Britain to Northern Ireland has been updated.
2024-03-01 11:30
Guidance on goods moved from Great Britain to the EU has been updated.
2024-01-31 00:01
Information about moving qualifying goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain through Ireland has been added. Information about moving goods from Ireland to Great Britain has been removed.
2023-08-08 12:29
Translation added.
2023-08-01 00:15
Addition of Declaration Unique Consignment References and Transit Accompanying Document Movement Reference Numbers for Common Transit Convention movements to the list of what needs to be included in a goods movement reference for goods sent from Great Britain to the EU.
2023-03-28 00:15
Information about moving goods under Carnets, paper Single Administrative Document (SADs) has been updated to support an update to the Goods Vehicle Movement Service, and guidance about the Common Transit Convention has been updated to make it clear you should not add associated import declarations to a goods movements reference.
2022-10-04 14:25
Welsh translation added.
2022-08-28 00:30
What you’ll need to get a goods movement reference for Common Transit Convention movements has been updated.
2022-08-01 00:30
For Common Transit Convention movements of goods from Great Britain to the EU, you will need a goods movement reference with all the export declaration references, or you can choose to present a Master Unique Consignment Reference in writing at an office of departure.
2021-12-31 15:21
Guidance about when you declare goods orally or by conduct has been updated.
2021-12-29 08:00
The requirements to get a goods movement reference from 1 January 2022 have been updated. This is because of changes to the goods vehicle movement service and the decision to temporarily extend staged customs controls for goods moving from Ireland and Northern Ireland (where applicable) to Great Britain.
2021-12-15 13:22
From 1 January 2022, haulier’s will need to check if they need to report for an inspection if they are arriving a the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel or Holyhead. Guidance on how to do this has been added. Guidance has also been added about what you’ll need to include from 1 January 2022 when you present a goods movement reference at an ‘arrived export’ location using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service, and when you present a goods movement reference at other locations as part of a pre-lodged export declaration using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.
2021-10-26 15:32
Definition of 'declaration by conduct' added.
2021-02-24 12:22
Welsh translation added.
2021-02-16 14:38
Information about what you'll need to get a goods movement reference has been updated.