Taking commercial goods out of Northern Ireland in your baggage
Check what you need to do when exporting commercial goods from Northern Ireland in your accompanied baggage to outside the EU.
Applies to Northern Ireland
Commercial goods, also known as Merchandise in Baggage, are goods (to sell or use in your business) where:
- a commercial transport operator does not carry them for you鈥�
- you鈥檝e travelled from Northern Ireland carrying goods in your baggage
There is a different way to鈥痙eclare goods that are for personal use or commercial goods you鈥檙e bringing into Northern Ireland in your baggage.
Moving goods from Northern Ireland to outside the EU
This process remains the same as before 1 January 2021.
Making a full declaration
You must submit a full export declaration if your goods:
- have a value of more than 拢873
- weigh more than 1,000kilograms
- are restricted goods
- are alcohol, tobacco or fuel (excise goods)
- need a licence (controlled goods)
- are being put into a customs special procedure
You must also submit a full declaration if you鈥檙e:
- claiming relief
- delaying paying duty
You鈥痮r (someone dealing with customs for you)鈥痺ill need to get an EORI number.
You鈥檒l need software that works with the Customs Declaration Service if you are making your own declaration.
Making an oral declaration
If you do not need to make a full declaration, you can make an oral declaration if the goods:
- have a value of less than 拢873
- weigh less than 1,000 kilograms
- are not restricted goods
- are not alcohol, tobacco or fuel鈥�(excise goods)
You can go through the red channel at the port to do this.
When you leave Northern Ireland
You鈥檒l need to present your goods to the Border Force officer at the airport or port of departure 3 hours before you leave and either:
- bring proof of your declaration
- make a declaration in the red channel at the port
If there are no red channels at your port of departure
You will need to pre-lodge your goods into the Customs Declaration Service by completing forms C1601 and C1602 and submit them to the National Clearance Hub.
National Clearance Hub will then automatically accept your goods at the port of departure.
If a customs agent has made a declaration on your behalf you need to contact them about any National Clearance Hub messages.
Moving goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain
You do not need to make an import declaration if you carry commercial goods in your accompanied baggage from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
This process is fully unfettered and remains the same as before 1 January 2021.
You do not need to make an export declaration, except in some very limited exceptions.