Customs Route 1, Route 2 and Route 6 – what they mean in UK clearance [2026]

The UK Customs Declaration Service (CDS) automatically assesses risk and assigns a "Route" to the declaration.

• Route 6: Permission to progress. Release without inspection. (Best-case scenario).
• Route 1: Document control – the goods wait for permission to progress. Scans of invoices and waybills must be sent to the authority (NCH - National Clearance Hub). Goods are not physically inspected, only paperwork.
• Route 2: Physical / External Party Control – the goods are examined by Border Force or another authorised party. The goods are held until the check is complete.
• Route 3: Non-Blocking Documentary Control – a documentary check without holding the goods; documents are sent to the National Clearance Hub after release.
• Route 0: Risk assessment has not yet been performed.
• H prefix (e.g. H1, H6): the declaration was pre-lodged – the route is provisional.

The route is given in the notification HMRC sends after the declaration is submitted.

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