Skip to main content

FAQs & Resources

Navigating the intricacies of customs can be challenging. To provide you with valuable insights into the CustomsPro system and address common questions, we have compiled helpful information for your reference.

No, there are NO on-boarding fees or subscription charges. You simply pay a flat rate per consignment.

Yes, the deadlines vary:

 

✈Air freight: Short-haul flights (less than 4 hours) – by the time of take-off; long-haul flights – at least 4 hours before arrival. SS-declarations-by-AIR (1)

 

🚢Sea freight: Container shipments – at least 24 hours before loading at port of departure; Bulk or break-bulk cargo – at least 4 hours before arrival. SS-declarations-by-SEA (1)

 

🚛Road freight: RoRo accompanied and unaccompanied freight – at least 2 hours before arrival of the ferry operator. SS-declarations-by-RO-RO (1)

 

🚊Rail freight: Short rail journey (less than 2 hours duration) – at least 1 hour before arrival of the train; Long rail journey (more than 2 hours duration) – at least 2 hours before arrival of the train. SS-declarations-by-RAIL (1)

 

🚇Eurotunnel: Road traffic (Channel Tunnel – Le Shuttle Freight) – at least 1 hour before arrival at the Eurotunnel terminal (at Coquelles, France). SS-declarations-by-EUROTUNNEL (1)

 

As a CustomsPro customer you will not need to have your own DTI badge. ChannelPorts have extensive coverage across all RoRo ports in the UK.

Yes, amendments can be made to an ENS declaration, but only by the person or entity that lodged the original ENS. Amendments can be made up until the goods arrive at the first point of entry, but frequent or last-minute changes may trigger additional risk assessments.

Submitted entry summary declarations can be amended but not cancelled. If the goods will no longer be shipped, it is not necessary to inform the service.

More information can be found on the UK government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safety-and-security-requirements-on-imports-and-exports#imports-into-great-britain-and-northern-ireland

Yes, you can stop using the CustomsPro system when you choose.

Yes, you can delegate ENS submission to a customs broker or another party in your supply chain. However, the carrier remains legally responsible for ensuring the declaration is accurate and submitted on time.

CustomsPro should not be used for the export of Excise goods, particularly when these goods are in a Duty Suspended state. The reason behind this restriction lies in the requirement of including the Electronic Case Management System (ECMS) reference in a specific field of the export declaration. Unfortunately, CustomsPro currently does not support the inclusion of this critical information.

 

If you have any shipments of this nature, we kindly request that you refrain from entering them onto CustomsPro. Instead, please open a support ticket with us, and our support team will take it from there. They will be responsible for completing the necessary declaration on your behalf. As part of this process, our staff will also reach out to the exporter, if needed, to confirm whether the goods are indeed duty suspended. In such cases, they will obtain the required ECMS number. If the goods are duty paid, an ECMS number is not necessary.

 

To aid in identifying Excise dutiable goods, please take note that the first 4 characters of the commodity code are as follows:

 

2203 (Beer)

2204 (Wine)

2205 (Fortified Wines)

2206 (Ciders/Perry)

2207 (Ethyl Alcohol)

 

Furthermore, please be aware that goods covered by a commodity code starting with 2208 (spirits such as Whisky, Vodka, etc.), as well as 2402 (Cigarettes) and 2403 (Tobacco), ChannelPorts prohibit involvement in the clearance of these goods.

Yes. Once your IT department have reviewed the CustomsPro API we can provide access to the CustomsPro sandbox for testing prior to going live.

Customs clearance will be required before the goods arrive at the border. To avoid costly delays and downtimes, it is worth establishing cooperation with a professional customs clearance organisation such as ChannelPorts as early as possible.

Yes, the “UNN” reference provided in the IPAFFS declaration is required to lodge your customs declaration in CDS – our team can handle both declarations for you.

At the moment we only support import declarations with the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) and export declarations with Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) . Please contact us for more information.

ChannelPorts is authorised to complete and stamp these documents. Please get in contact here to discuss your needs.

CustomsPro ENS offers a fast, easy-to-use platform for submitting ENS declarations. It reduces the risk of errors, ensures timely submissions, and integrates seamlessly with existing customs processes.  Please contact us to find out more.

CustomsPro has been upgraded to include ENS compliance within the standard UK import product, in addition to the usual benefits and at no additional cost. CustomsPro offers a comprehensive solution:

✅Compatibility: Works at all UK RoRo ports.

✅Integrated Services: Includes Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) application as well as ENS compliance.

✅Cost-Effective: Flat fee per consignment, irrespective of the number of HS codes, including ENS documentation and compliance.

✅No Hidden Fees: No sign-up fees, monthly subscriptions, or contracts.

✅Expert Support: Benefit from specialised Brexit advice and support from our team with over 50 years of cross channel customs clearance experience.

Accuracy and completeness are critical for avoiding delays and penalties. Double-check all information before submission and use reliable software like CustomsPro ENS to minimize errors.

✳ Safety & Security entry summary declarations (ENS declarations) are submitted into an IT platform called Safety and Security Great Britain (S&S GB)

✳You can enter this information yourself or you can use a customs agent/intermediary such as ChannelPorts (using our CustomsProENS system)

✳If you choose to submit the ENS declaration yourself, you will need to register to use the S&S GB platform

✳In order to register, you will need to have a Government Gateway ID and password

✳You will also need a GB EORI number

✳The S&S GB service does not have a user interface and therefore data will need to be lodged using compatible software.   We can help you here as CustomsPro ENS offers a fast, easy-to-use platform for submitting ENS declarations.

 

If you already submit safety and security declarations for imports from countries outside the EU (or already voluntarily submit them for EU imports), you don’t need to change your existing systems or procedures if you don’t want to.

However, you can benefit from the reduced dataset by only completing the mandatory and any relevant conditional fields from 31 January 2025.

 

More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-to-make-an-entry-summary-declaration-in-great-britain

Put us to the test

Book a demo now to find out how CustomsPro can enable you to complete customs declarations in under 2 minutes.

15 minutes is all it takes to show how quick and simple CustomsPro is to use. No customs experience needed.

 

See how CustomsPro can save you time and money and be live in your business within 1 hour.

2 minute timer gif
Book a demo Get a quote