ENS ICS2 UK — How to Submit an Entry Summary Declaration Step by Step (2025–2026)

Who Must Submit ENS ICS2 for the UK — Carrier, Freight Forwarder or Exporter

The answer to 'who submits the ENS' is critical because a wrong assumption (e.g. that the exporter submits it rather than the carrier) is the most common reason for a missing ENS at the border. UK ENS regulations have not changed in this regard with ICS2: submission of the ENS is the obligation of the carrier — i.e. the company that physically transports the goods. For road transport this is the haulage company. The exporter or sender may submit the ENS on behalf of the carrier as an authorised representative — but the carrier remains responsible for completeness and timeliness.

The Carrier as ENS Submitting Party — Definition and Responsibility

<p>According to HMRC guidance (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-an-entry-summary-declaration">gov.uk — Making an entry summary declaration</a>), the ENS for road transport to the UK is submitted by the carrier — the road haulier, i.e. the transport company whose vehicle (tractor + trailer) physically enters the UK. For Polish haulage companies this means: if you operate TIR transport from Poland to the UK with your own fleet, your company is the carrier and submits the ENS.</p><p>Representative: the carrier may authorise a customs agent or freight forwarder to submit the ENS on their behalf. Authorisation does not transfer responsibility — if the ENS is incomplete or submitted late, the carrier is liable to HMRC.</p><p>Exception: if goods are travelling on franco terms (the exporter organises transport), the exporter as the transport principal may submit the ENS — but must have all the required transport data (vehicle registration number, port of entry, planned arrival time).</p>

Customs Agent as ENS Representative — How to Authorise Easy Clearance

<p>Easy Clearance can submit ENS declarations on behalf of a Polish transport company or exporter under a written authorisation (Power of Attorney or Letter of Authority). The same authorisation required for CDS customs declarations can be extended to cover ENS.</p><p>How it works in practice: (1) you sign a one-time authorisation, (2) for each transport you send us the cargo details 1–2 hours before departure, (3) we submit the ENS through the UK ICS2 system and send you the ENS MRN number, (4) the ENS MRN is entered into the GMR in GVMS by the customs agent or carrier.</p><p>ENS service cost: from £25 to £50. <em>Rates quoted are indicative — exact pricing after documents are submitted.</em></p><p>Contact: WhatsApp <a href="https://wa.me/447404091503?text=ENS+ICS2+enquiry&utm_source=easyclearance.pl&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=ens-ics2-deklaracja-jak-zlozyc-polskie-firmy">+44 7404 091503</a> or tel. +44 7404 091503.</p>

ENS Submission Deadline and Mandatory ICS2 UK Fields — Complete List

The ENS for road transport to the UK must be submitted before loading or — for short routes — no later than 1 hour before the vehicle's planned arrival at the UK port. This is the statutory minimum — HMRC recommends submitting the ENS at least 24 hours in advance, especially for high customs-risk cargo. The UK ICS2 system (Import Control System 2) automatically analyses risk and may issue a 'do not load' or 'examination required' decision — the earlier the ENS is submitted, the more time there is to respond.

ENS Submission Deadline for Road Transport — the 1-Hour Rule

<p>For road transport to the UK through RoRo ports (Dover, Folkestone/Channel Tunnel, Holyhead and other GVMS ports): the ENS must be submitted <strong>at least 1 hour before the vehicle's planned arrival at the port</strong>. This means one hour before entering the port — not before leaving Poland.</p><p>For air freight: 4 hours before loading. For sea cargo: the schedule depends on the region — minimum 24 hours for EU-origin cargo and 24–48 hours for third-country cargo. This article focuses exclusively on road RoRo transport.</p><p>Practical significance of the 1-hour rule for a TIR driver from Poland: if the driver leaves Poznan and drives for 18 hours to Dover, the ENS should be submitted no later than 1 hour before reaching Dover port — meaning the customs agent or carrier should have cargo data <strong>before departure</strong>, not during the journey. Best practice: the previous day or early on the morning of departure.</p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-an-entry-summary-declaration">GOV.UK — Making an entry summary declaration</a>.</p>

Mandatory ENS ICS2 UK Fields — Full List of Data Required from the Polish Exporter

<p>The following fields are required in the ENS ICS2 UK declaration for road transport (based on GOV.UK guidance and HMRC ENS API specification):</p><ol><li><strong>Carrier details</strong> — UK EORI (or EU EORI if the carrier does not have a UK EORI), transport company name</li><li><strong>Cargo details</strong> — goods description, HS code (at least 6 digits), gross weight, number of packages/pallets</li><li><strong>Sender EORI</strong> — exporter EORI (Polish or EU)</li><li><strong>Consignee EORI</strong> — UK importer EORI or address if the consignee does not have an EORI</li><li><strong>Vehicle details</strong> — registration number of tractor and trailer</li><li><strong>Port of entry</strong> — e.g. GB000060 for Dover</li><li><strong>Planned arrival time</strong> — date and time of ETA at UK port</li><li><strong>Country of dispatch</strong> — Poland (PL)</li><li><strong>Country of origin of goods</strong> — country of production (may differ from country of dispatch)</li></ol><p>Any missing mandatory field = rejection of the ENS by the ICS2 system. HMRC returns an error code identifying the specific field — the customs agent diagnoses and corrects it.</p><p>ENS API technical specification: <a href="https://developer.service.hmrc.gov.uk/api-documentation/docs/api/service/import-control-entry-declaration-store/1.0">HMRC ENS API documentation</a>.</p>

ENS MRN Number — What It Is and How to Link It to the GMR in GVMS

<p>Once the ENS is correctly submitted, the UK ICS2 system generates a Movement Reference Number (MRN) for the ENS — a unique reference number for the declaration. This number is essential for creating the GMR in the GVMS system.</p><p>How to link the ENS MRN to the GMR:</p><ol><li>The customs agent or carrier logs into GVMS via Government Gateway</li><li>Creates a new GMR for the movement (vehicle, port, date)</li><li>Enters the ENS MRN into the GMR — alongside the import customs declaration MRN and, if applicable, the T1 transit MRN</li><li>GVMS verifies that the ENS with that MRN has status 'accepted' and is linked to the same vehicle</li><li>If verification passes — the GMR is generated and ready to present at the port gate</li></ol><p>Note: the ENS MRN and the customs declaration MRN are two different numbers — do not confuse them. Entering the customs declaration MRN in the ENS MRN field in GVMS results in the GMR being rejected.</p>

Most Common ENS ICS2 Errors and How to Avoid Them

Errors in the ENS cost time and money — every error resulting in ENS rejection means the GMR cannot be generated and the driver waits or is turned back. Based on Easy Clearance's operational experience, we have compiled the most common reasons for ENS rejection by the UK ICS2 system. Knowing these errors means you can prevent them before they occur — rather than reacting at the port gate.

Error 1 — Missing or Invalid UK EORI for the Carrier

<p>The most common error in ENS submissions for Polish haulage companies: the carrier does not have a UK EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification — HMRC system number) or enters their EU EORI. A UK EORI is a separate number from an EU EORI — HMRC issues it after registration at gov.uk/eori.</p><p>Solution: every Polish haulage company operating to the UK should have a registered UK EORI. Registration is free and typically takes 3–5 working days. A UK EORI number begins with the letters GB (e.g. GB123456789000). If the carrier does not have a UK EORI, the ENS can be submitted using the carrier's EU EORI — but it is better to obtain a UK EORI before the first UK run. Entering an incorrect EORI number results in an error message from the ICS2 system.</p><p>UK EORI registration: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/eori">gov.uk/eori</a>.</p>

Error 2 — Imprecise or Incorrect HS Code

<p>The ENS requires the goods' HS code at a minimum of 6 digits. The UK ICS2 system will not reject an ENS for a 4-digit chapter code — but HMRC may direct a consignment to inspection if the goods description and HS code are inconsistent. Entering an EU (CN) tariff HS code instead of a UK Trade Tariff code can lead to discrepancies — UK and EU codes are identical at the 6-digit HS level, but differ at the 8- and 10-digit level.</p><p>Solution: use the 6-digit HS code for the ENS (this is compatible between UK and EU). The full 10-digit UK Trade Tariff code is required on the CDS customs declaration — not on the ENS. Check your goods' HS codes on <a href="https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk">UK Trade Tariff</a>.</p>

Error 3 — ENS Submitted After Deadline (After Vehicle Arrives at Port)

<p>Submitting the ENS after the vehicle arrives at port is technically possible — the ICS2 system will accept the declaration — but will not automatically link it to a GMR already in a pending state. In practice: the driver is at the gate, the GMR has not been generated, the customs agent submits the ENS urgently and waits for ICS2 acceptance — which can take from a few minutes to tens of minutes.</p><p>Solution: always submit the ENS before the transport departs, not during the journey. If cargo data is available the day before departure — submit the ENS the day before. Easy Clearance can set up a standing arrangement whereby we receive cargo data the day before and submit the ENS automatically for every UK run.</p>

What the current rules say

The ENS (Entry Summary Declaration) through the UK ICS2 system has been mandatory for all road consignments to the UK since 31 January 2025 — without an ENS the driver cannot obtain a GMR and cannot pass through the port gate. The obligation to submit the ENS lies with the carrier or their representative, at least 1 hour before arrival at port. The most common errors are a missing UK EORI for the carrier, an incorrect HS code and a late ENS — all preventable through advance preparation or a standing arrangement with a customs agent. ENS service cost: from £25 to £50. Rates quoted are indicative — exact pricing after documents are submitted. This article reflects the legal position as of 2026-04-18. Contact a customs broker before taking action.

FAQ — frequently asked questions

Who must submit the ENS for road transport to the UK?

The obligation lies with the carrier — the transport company whose vehicle enters the UK. The carrier may authorise a customs agent to submit the ENS on their behalf. The exporter may submit the ENS if they organise transport on franco terms and have the vehicle data.

How far before port arrival must the ENS be submitted for RoRo road transport?

At least 1 hour before the vehicle's planned arrival at the UK port. HMRC recommends submitting the ENS 24 hours in advance for higher customs-risk cargo. In practice: submit the ENS before the transport departs from Poland, not during the journey.

What is the ENS MRN and what is it used for?

The Movement Reference Number (MRN) for the ENS is a unique number generated by the UK ICS2 system after the ENS declaration is accepted. This number is entered into the GMR in the GVMS system to link the ENS to a specific vehicle movement. Without the ENS MRN, the GMR cannot be generated.

How much does submitting the ENS through a customs agent cost?

ENS service cost: from £25 to £50. Rates quoted are indicative — exact pricing after documents are submitted. Contact: WhatsApp +44 7404 091503 or tel. +44 7404 091503.

Can a Polish haulage company without a UK EORI submit an ENS?

The ENS can be submitted using the carrier's EU EORI if they do not have a UK EORI — but HMRC recommends obtaining a UK EORI. UK EORI registration is free and takes 3–5 working days at gov.uk/eori. Every Polish haulage company regularly running to the UK should have a UK EORI.

What happens if the ENS is submitted late or contains an error?

An incorrect or late-submitted ENS will not be linked to the GMR — the driver cannot pass through the GVMS gate. HMRC may open an investigation and impose an administrative penalty on the carrier. Easy Clearance submits ENS declarations urgently in emergency situations — contact: +44 7404 091503.

Official sources

• Making an entry summary declaration — GOV.UK
• ENS for imports into GB — GOV.UK
• HMRC ENS API documentation — HMRC
• GVMS — Goods Vehicle Movement Service — GOV.UK
• UK EORI registration — GOV.UK