What do Route 1, Route 2, Route 6 mean in clearance? [2026]

The customs system (CHIEF/CDS) automatically assesses risk and assigns a "Route" to the declaration.

• Route 6 (Green): Immediate approval. Release without inspection. (Best-case scenario).
• Route 1 (Orange): Document control. Scans of invoices and waybills must be sent to the authority (NCH - National Clearance Hub). Goods are not physically inspected, only paperwork.
• Route 2 (Red): Physical and documentary inspection. The customs officer goes to check the goods. The vehicle waits.
• Route 3: (Rare) Detention for investigation by other agencies (e.g. Health Authority, Police).

If your clearance takes longer than 10 minutes, you have probably hit Route 1 or 2.

What the current official guidance means in practice

For operational work, the current procedural rules, declaration fields and relief conditions should be checked directly against the official guidance. For this topic, the core reference points are European Commission, GOV.UK / HMRC.

Operational watch-outs

Most delays come from inconsistent data between the commercial invoice, packing list, tariff classification, reference numbers and transport assumptions. Before shipment release, confirm who is responsible for clearance, whether the data set is complete and when the declaration must be filed.

Documents and data to prepare

The minimum working pack worth preparing before speaking to customs support or filing a declaration includes:

• commercial invoice with a complete goods description
• packing list with quantities, weight and package count
• HS/CN code and origin information
• EORI number and the party responsible for the declaration

Practical notes for UK-PL operators

For regular flows, keep a stable data template: goods description, HS code, origin, Incoterms, carrier details and source documents. This shortens response time and reduces border corrections.

Official sources

• EU Commission (Customs procedures) — European Commission, 2026-03-04
• UK GOV (Importing into the UK) — GOV.UK / HMRC, 2026-03-04
• GOV.UK: Customs Declaration Service — GOV.UK / HMRC, 2026-03-04