Other transit routes (via Ireland)

Trading NI-GB via Dublin or Rosslare after 1 January 2021

Since 1 January 2021 a number of new steps must be completed in order to move goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain via Dublin or Rosslare.

Traders can choose if they will manage the new steps in-house or via a customs agent. In practice, most are likely to appoint a customs agent.

All actors in the chain (e.g. traders, logistics companies, customs agents, hauliers etc.) should understand and agree in advance who is responsible for each of the steps.

Traders moving goods from Northern Ireland moving to GB via Dublin or Rosslare can now use either a customs transit procedure or indirect export procedure – either of which must include safety and security information - in order to board a ferry in Dublin or Rosslare Ports. In either scenario, the declaration will be lodged to the UK's HMRC IT systems, either NCTSor CDS.

Operators will need to create a Pre-Boarding Notification (PBN) on the Irish Customs RoRo Service and must ensure they have a ‘Good to proceed to check-in’ status before proceeding to the Port.

If these steps are not completed, the consignment should not proceed to the port as it will not be allowed board the ferry.

Operators must decide which process works best for them but, in every case, they can assist in minimising delays by ensuring accurate and complete Customs declarations are submitted in advance of moving goods. Video guides to import, export, transit and the Customs RoRo Service are available on the Revenue website.

The UK Government provides information on requirements for entry into the UK.