Do I need an EORI number?

Yes, a GB EORI to import or export from the UK, plus an EU or XI EORI for the other party where the movement needs one. We can guide you through registering if you do not have one yet.

CDS is HMRC's Customs Declaration Service, the platform that replaced CHIEF for UK import and export declarations. We file directly on CDS for both imports and exports.

Can you handle duty deferment and postponed VAT accounting?

Yes. We can use your duty deferment account or ours where arranged, and most B2B imports move under postponed VAT accounting. We confirm the right treatment for your goods before we file.

How quickly are entries cleared?

Most declarations are lodged and cleared the same day, often within hours of receiving complete paperwork. Pre-arrival declarations such as ENS and GMR references are prioritised to meet their deadlines.

HMRC · CDS · NCTS

UK Customs Clearance

Customs clearance for UK imports and exports, handled in-house by a real desk rather than a bolt-on. We file your import and export entries, NCTS transit and Safety & Security (ENS) declarations, explain the tricky bits in plain English and keep your loads moving.

In-house CDS team

Experienced, HMRC-authorised customs agent.

Same-day entries

Most loads cleared within hours.

All declaration types

Imports, exports, transit, ENS, GMR.

Transparent fees

Per-entry pricing, confirmed in writing.

Our services

Everything you need at the border

One desk for every customs touchpoint, so you're never juggling brokers, software logins or chasing paperwork.

Import Clearance

We manage import customs procedures for all types of goods entering the UK by air, sea or road freight. Swift clearance, correct classification and full HMRC compliance, every time.

Export Clearance

Leave the export paperwork to us. Accurate, efficient export declarations so your goods leave the UK smoothly and reach their destination without issue.

NCTS (UK ↔ EU Transit)

Moving goods under transit procedures? Our team lodges NCTS declarations and monitors the full journey so your shipments stay on track and compliant from office of departure to office of destination.

Safety & Security (ENS)

We submit Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) for goods entering the UK and EU, meeting all pre-arrival safety and security requirements within the required deadlines.

Declaration types

What we lodge for you

Declaration	Use	Typical turnaround
Import entry (CDS)	Standard release into free circulation	Same day
Export declaration	Pre-lodged CDS export	Same day
NCTS / T1 transit	Movement under union/common transit	Same day
ENS (Safety & Security)	Pre-arrival declaration	Priority
GMR (Goods Movement)	GVMS reference for RoRo crossings	Priority
Inward / Outward Processing	Customs special procedures	Bespoke

Import entry (CDS)
Same day
Standard release into free circulation
Export declaration
Same day
Pre-lodged CDS export
NCTS / T1 transit
Same day
Movement under union/common transit
ENS (Safety & Security)
Priority
Pre-arrival declaration
GMR (Goods Movement)
Priority
GVMS reference for RoRo crossings
Inward / Outward Processing
Bespoke
Customs special procedures

How it works

From paperwork to cleared, in four steps

Whether the load is on our trailer or someone else's, the same desk takes it from documents to release.

1
Send us the details
Commercial invoice, packing list and movement details, however you have them.
2
We classify & prepare
Commodity codes checked and the right procedure and duty treatment confirmed.
3
Lodged with HMRC
Import, export, NCTS or ENS declaration filed directly on CDS, most within hours.
4
Cleared & released
Clearance and any GMR reference back to you so the load keeps moving.

Why CMI

Why businesses bring their customs work to CMI

Customs is not a bolt-on here. It is an in-house desk that clears our own trailers and containers every day, and it clears loads moved by other hauliers on exactly the same footing.

Independent UK forwarder
Est. 2009
UK-wide collections
AEO customs team

Ireland trailer service CPC code reference

One person who knows you
The same specialist looks after your account from day one. They know your commodity codes, routing and commercial terms before you pick up the phone, and they don't get swapped out on you.
Customs on the same desk
Import and export entries, NCTS transit and ENS declarations are filed in-house by our AEO customs team, not handed to a third-party broker.
Lane specialists since 2009
Independent and UK-based, running daily Ireland departures and scheduled EU lanes from our own hub, with a team that has spent decades on these exact routes.
Written quotes up front
Every rate is confirmed in writing before anything is booked, so you know the delivered cost before you commit, with no minimums buried in the small print.

FAQ