NewsCase StudiesEvents

Moving goods through customs during the coronavirus (COVID-19)

Also in the news...

UK seeks business views on response to US tariffs

Government begins process seeking business views on response to US tariffs

UK/Viet Nam: Free Trade Agreement

This treaty was presented to Parliament in April 2025.

How AI Is Fueling Creative Innovation for Startups Abroad

When most people think about starting a business overseas, their minds immediately jump to logistics: registering the company, navigating local laws, and finding office space. But one of the most exciting (and often overlooked) aspects of expanding internationally is tapping into the global pool of innovation especially in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI).

Support for UK businesses helping to rebuild Ukraine

Department for Business and Trade (DBT) initiatives to support UK businesses helping to rebuild critical infrastructure in Ukraine.

Now is the time to generate growth together with India

£400m of trade and investment wins from UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue set to boost the British economy.

Moving goods through customs during the coronavirus (COVID-19)

Back to News

Border functions and social distancing To help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we have temporarily changed customs border processes. This includes transit and export procedures. This guidance will be updated when this change ends.

Exchanging transit and export documents

Traders, their agents and Border Force staff should exchange documents electronically. This can be by:

  • email
  • fax
  • digital photograph

The information must be legible. You do not need to print documents received in an electronic format.

Documents required by customs officials in EU member states must travel with the goods as a hard copy. These include:

  • Transit Accompanying Documents
  • proof of union status
  • Carnet documents

You should get documents requiring a wet stamp in the usual way, unless you have agreed alternate procedures.

You must provide hard copies of licenses and other documents to the appropriate importer or exporter, by post if necessary. These should be retained in the normal way.

Export Approvals

Traders may apply for permission to extend that authorisation to additional locations, if they are authorised to use:

  • Designated Export Places
  • Customs Supervised Exports
  • Local Clearance Procedures

This will allow you to request ‘permission to progress’ without first needing the goods to be located at the premises set out in your approval.

Read more here

You are not logged in!

Please login or register to ask our experts a question.

Login now or register.