Commercial invoice
Trade invoice showing the customs value, goods description, seller and buyer details, and delivery terms (Incoterms). Must be in English.
Always required
UK Import – Customs Documentation
UK Import Documents – what you need ready before customs clearance
A complete checklist of documents required for every import into the United Kingdom. Check the core pack, conditional documents by goods type and the most common reasons clearance is held up.
task_altCommercial invoice and packing list – required for every import.
badgeGB EORI (importer) – required to submit a declaration in the UK CDS system.
categoryCommodity code – determines the duty rate and sector-specific requirements.
Core pack
Documents required for every UK import
These documents are required as standard, regardless of goods type. If any of them is missing, clearance will normally be blocked or delayed.
Packing list
Summary of the shipment contents: number of packages, gross/net weights, dimensions and detailed goods description. Essential at customs examination.
Required in practice
GB EORI (importer)
UK customs registration number (format: GB + 12 digits). Without a GB EORI you cannot submit an import declaration in the CDS system. Registration via HMRC takes 5–7 working days.
Always required
Check well in advance
Commodity code
10-digit tariff code from the UK Trade Tariff. Determines the customs duty rate, regulatory requirements and the need for additional licences. Incorrect code = risk of duty underpayment.
Always required
Transport documents (CMR / AWB)
Carriage document confirming the route, carrier and delivery date. CMR for road transport, AWB for air freight, bill of lading for sea freight.
Always required
Got the core documents but not sure what else may be needed?
Check the conditional documents by goods type below, or use the generator.
* The information provided is operational and informational in nature. Regulated goods, special procedures and imports via Northern Ireland may require additional documents.
Conditional documents
Additional documents by goods type
Beyond the core pack, many goods categories require additional regulatory or sector-specific documents. Expand your category.
Food and beverages
Regulated
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Food and beverages
Regulated
- warningIPAFFS notification – mandatory pre-notification in the IPAFFS system (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System). Required before the goods arrive in the UK.
- verifiedHealth certificate – issued by the competent sanitary or veterinary authority of the country of dispatch. Required for most food products.
- verifiedCHED-PP (CHED for plant products) – entry document for plant products subject to phytosanitary controls.
- infoCertificate of Analysis (CoA) – required by some importers and border authorities for processed products.
BCP (Border Control Post) inspection is mandatory for many food categories – not all UK ports have a BCP.
Animal products (meat, dairy, fish)
Regulated
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Animal products (meat, dairy, fish)
Regulated
- warningCHED-A (Common Health Entry Document – Animals) – entry document for animal products. Mandatory inspection at a BCP.
- verifiedVeterinary health certificate – issued by the veterinary authority of the country of dispatch on the official UK form.
- verifiedIPAFFS notification – notification at least 24 hours before arrival in the UK.
- infoEstablishment approval number – UK approval number of the production facility.
Plants and wood
Regulated
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Plants and wood
Regulated
- warningPhytosanitary certificate – issued by the national plant protection authority of the country of origin. Required for plants, seeds, wood and plant products.
- verifiedISPM-15 (wood packaging material) – pallets, crates and wooden packaging must carry the ISPM-15 mark (HT or MB). No mark = rejected at the border.
- verifiedIPAFFS notification – required for high-risk plants before arrival in the UK.
Machinery and electronics
Standard+
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Machinery and electronics
Standard+
- verifiedUKCA / CE Declaration of Conformity – required for most electrical equipment, machinery and electronics placed on the UK market. UKCA replaces CE for products sold in England, Scotland and Wales.
- infoTechnical documentation – technical specification, operating manual in English, safety declarations.
- infoImport licence / permit – required when importing dual-use products or military equipment.
Chemicals and chemical products
Regulated
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Chemicals and chemical products
Regulated
- warningSafety Data Sheet (MSDS/SDS) – mandatory for hazardous chemicals. Must comply with UK REACH and GHS.
- verifiedUK REACH registration – chemical substances imported into the UK (above 1 tonne/year) may require registration with UKCA or notification via a UK Responsible Person.
- infoUN classification (for hazardous materials) – UN number, ADR class and transport instructions required for road carriage.
Textiles and clothing
Standard+
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Textiles and clothing
Standard+
- verifiedOrigin declaration / statement of origin (TCA) – if the goods originate in the EU and you wish to claim the 0% preferential duty rate under the TCA, a statement of origin on the invoice is required, or a REX exporter statement on origin.
- infoLabelling – clothing and textiles sold in the UK must carry labels compliant with UK requirements (composition, country of origin, UK size).
- infoFibre composition documents – declaration of material composition, particularly at customs examination of high-value goods.
Alcohol and tobacco products
Excise
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Alcohol and tobacco products
Excise
- warningCustoms warehouse licence or Authorised Warehousekeeper status – required to import alcohol and tobacco products under excise duty suspension.
- verifiedeAD (Electronic Administrative Document) – electronic document accompanying excise goods in the EMCS system during transit under duty suspension.
- verifiedUK Excise Duty declaration – settlement of excise duty payable when goods are released for consumption in the UK.
- infoTobacco import licence – required from HMRC; importing tobacco without a licence is illegal in the UK.
- infoHealth warnings / labelling – packaging must comply with UK Tobacco Products Regulations (health warnings in English, UK format).
Don't see your category? Message us on WhatsApp – we'll check the requirements for your goods and import scenario. WhatsApp 24/7 →
Common problems
What most commonly blocks UK imports
Most common reasons clearance is held up
- cancel Missing or incorrect GB EORI – the EORI must be active and linked to the importer in CDS. Older numbers not updated after Brexit may be invalid.
- cancel Mismatch between invoice and packing list – different goods descriptions, quantities or weights across documents is the most common trigger of an HMRC query.
- cancel Incorrect commodity code – an overly broad or wrong code leads to an incorrect duty rate, a requirement to amend the declaration, or the goods being held by HMRC.
- cancel Missing regulatory documents – regulated goods (food, chemicals, electronics) without the required certificates are held at the BCP or at the border.
- warning Late IPAFFS notification – for food and animal products the notification must be submitted in advance. Notifying after arrival means automatic delay and risk of destruction.
Operational example
Situation: Transport from Poland to Birmingham – 12 pallets of automotive parts, road freight, clearance via broker. The driver arrived at Dover terminal and the broker received an HMRC query flag.
Cause: The invoice described the goods as "automotive parts" while the packing list said "car accessories" – the discrepancy triggered an automatic document consistency query.
Easy Clearance action: Rapid document check, contact with the client, preparation of clarification and supplementary information for HMRC within 40 minutes.
Outcome: Clearance granted without a physical examination; the driver departed the same day.
In a similar situation or want to avoid these problems?
WhatsApp 24/7 – we'll reply fastImport checklist generator
Check your document readiness for your import step by step
The generator analyses your import scenario – role, goods type, shipment status and documents already held – and identifies gaps and the next step. Scope covers primarily imports into England, Scotland and Wales.
Step 1 of 5
To complete
Your import case
Generator result
Your UK import documents checklist
Generator ready
Disclaimer
This generator is operational and informational in nature. It does not replace legal, tariff or sector-specific advice. Regulated goods, Northern Ireland, urgent cases and goods in transit require manual verification.
Use your browser's print function to save the result as a PDF.
You have a result. What next?
If you'd like, Easy Clearance can review this case before you ship.
This is especially important for regulated goods, urgent shipments, a missing GB EORI, an unconfirmed commodity code or a preference claim.
Optional next step
Request a document review
The form appears only after a result has been generated.
How to read the result
Required
Items without which a standard UK import should not normally proceed to clearance.
Likely required
These appear in the majority of real cases and it is worth having them ready before the shipment reaches the border.
Manual review recommended
This is where the safe minimum flow ends and real operational verification of the case becomes necessary.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about UK import documents
What documents are typically required to import into the UK?expand_more
The standard UK import pack includes: a commercial invoice (with customs value), a packing list, the importer's GB EORI number, a commodity code (10-digit tariff code) and transport documents (CMR or other carriage document). Conditional documents may also be required depending on goods type: health certificates, phytosanitary certificates, UKCA declarations or proof-of-origin documents for a preference claim.
Is a GB EORI number required before importing into the UK?expand_more
Yes, a GB EORI is required for standard commercial imports. Without it you cannot submit a customs declaration in the CDS system. GB EORI registration is done via HMRC and typically takes 5–7 working days. A missing or inactive EORI number is one of the most common reasons clearance preparation is held up.
Does the commercial invoice have to be in English?expand_more
In practice, yes. HMRC and UK customs brokers work in English. The invoice should include: a goods description in English, the value in GBP or the transaction currency with a conversion rate, Incoterms, seller and buyer details, and the importer's GB EORI number. An invoice issued solely in Polish may cause delays during verification or HMRC queries.
Is a packing list always required?expand_more
Formally, a packing list is not a legal requirement in every case, but in practice it is expected at the majority of customs examinations. Its absence complicates verification of the invoice against the shipment contents. It is especially important for multi-pallet consignments, mixed cargo and regulated goods.
What is a commodity code and where do I find one?expand_more
A commodity code is the 10-digit tariff code used in the UK Trade Tariff. It determines the customs duty rate, regulatory requirements and the need for import licences. You can find it using the UK Trade Tariff search tool on gov.uk. For ambiguous goods it is worth asking a broker to classify them — an incorrect code risks underpayment of duty or the goods being held by HMRC.
What additional documents are needed when importing food into the UK?expand_more
When importing food into the UK, the core pack must be supplemented by: an IPAFFS notification submitted in advance, a health certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of dispatch, and a CHED-PP (for plant products) or CHED-A (for animal products). Many UK ports have a Border Control Post (BCP) through which regulated goods must pass. Not all ports have a BCP – port selection matters operationally.
Does this generator replace customs advice?expand_more
No. The generator is operational and informational in nature and serves as a starting point for checking document readiness. Regulated goods, Northern Ireland, goods in transit and special procedures require manual verification by a licensed customs broker.
Can I save the generator output as a PDF?expand_more
Yes. Once the checklist has been generated, Print and Save as PDF buttons are available. The output is print-optimised – you can also email it or share it with the driver and operations team as a starting point for compiling documents.
What is an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) and is it required for UK imports?expand_more
An Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) is a safety declaration submitted by the carrier or agent before goods arrive in the UK. From 31 January 2025, the UK has been implementing the S&S GB (Goods Vehicle Movement Service, GVMS) system – the ENS must be submitted electronically before entry into UK territory. The ENS is submitted by the carrier or an authorised agent, not the importer. If you use Easy Clearance, we can submit the ENS on your behalf as part of the import clearance service.
When is an IPAFFS notification required, and who submits it?expand_more
IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System) is the UK's border notification system for food, animal products and plants. The IPAFFS notification must be submitted before the goods arrive in the UK and must be lodged by the importer or their customs agent. It applies to: animal products (meat, dairy, fish), high-risk food, plants and plant products, and propagating material. Timelines: notification at least 1 working day before arrival (animal products) or up to 24 hours before (plant products). Failure to notify IPAFFS results in the shipment being held at the UK border.
Why Easy Clearance
Importers and carriers choose Easy Clearance because we operate hands-on
Fast response, no waiting
We respond quickly – even when the goods are already on their way and documents are missing. We prioritise urgent cases at no extra charge.
Licensed UK customs agency
We operate as a licensed customs agency based in the United Kingdom. Import, export, T1, ENS and ATA Carnets – all in one place.
One point of contact, clear status
Once we take on a case you receive a list of missing information, a clear next step and status updates passed to the driver or your team. No case ping-pong between departments.
Got a question about documents?
We'll reply quickly and check whether your document pack looks right.
Easy Clearance can review your case, identify missing documents and confirm whether the shipment is ready for clearance. Particularly important for regulated goods, urgent deliveries or when the driver is already on the road.
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