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
This table will confirm what is required to get a goods movement reference.
| — | 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 if your movement is accompanied | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| The trailer number or container reference number if your movement is unaccompanied | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Transit Accompanying Document movement reference number for Common Transit Convention movements if relevant | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reference numbers for ATA and TIR Carnet movements if relevant | No | Yes | Yes |
| Paper Transit Accompanying Document or the ATA or TIR carnets, for common transit, ATA or TIR Carnet movements — these must travel with the goods throughout the journey | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| An imports movement reference number declared into the Customs Declaration Service | No | Yes | No |
| An EORI number, for goods where the trader is authorised to make declarations in their own records | No | Yes | No |
| A combined customs and safety and security export declaration — Unique Consignment Reference (DUCR) declared into the Customs Declaration Service in limited circumstances | No | No | Yes |
| An Export Accompanying Document for an indirect export to Great Britain declared in the Republic of Ireland | No | No | Yes |
| Safety and security import ENS movement reference number | No | Yes | No |
| Safety and security export EXS movement reference number | No | No | Yes (empty pallets, containers and vehicles being moved under a transport contract, only when moved under transit) |
From 1 January 2022
When you present a goods movement reference at an ‘arrived export’ location using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service, the goods movement reference should include:
- the Declaration Unique Consignment Reference, for any goods being exported that are not also declared to the transit procedure
- the transit movement reference number, or the Declaration Unique Consignment Reference, for all goods exports that have been declared to the transit procedure
- the declaration unique consignment reference, for any goods declared to the transit procedure that are covered by an Excise Movement Control System guarantee
TheseWhen rulesyou willpresent changea goods movement reference at other locations as part of a pre-lodged export declaration using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service, the goods movement reference should include the Declaration Unique Consignment Reference.
For excise goods, declarations submitted using the Customs Declaration Service must not use the TRANS code. The declaration should be completed by presenting the Declaration Unique Consignment Reference when the goods leave the UK.
For excise goods leaving GVMS locations, the Declaration Unique Consignment Reference must be entered into a goods movement reference.
If you are a Customs Supervised Export (CSE) trader, you should email: exportpresentationapprovals@hmrc.gov.uk for instructions on 1how Januaryto 2022.obtain a goods movement reference.
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:
- 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
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 ‘oral or by conduct 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 you’re 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 you’re able to continue your journey.
From 1 January 2022
You should use your goods movement reference number in the ‘check if you need to report for an inspection’ service to understand if your goods are held. If you’re arriving into the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel, you’ll need to attend an Inland Border Facility to have these checks carried out.
In some cases you may also be stopped by Border Force officers within the port to have checks performed on your vehicle or load.
If this happens, you must still attend an inland border facility to complete customs functions if you have received instructions to do so.
The goods must be taken to an inland border facility directly and the goods must be in the same condition as they were at the time of importation.
You may be liable to a penalty of up to £2,500 if you fail to follow HMRC instructions.
Last updated
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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.
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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 has been added about needing a goods movement reference if you are moving an empty trailer.
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.