Inside Look: What It's Really Like Attending a UK Inland Border Facility

Get a look inside the UK Inland Border Facility: An Eye-Opening Experience

Inland border facilities are sites owned by the UK government that are used for customs and document checks.

These facilities are located away from port locations.

For hauliers who move goods in and out of the UK under the Common Transit Convention (CTC), the facilities act as a government office of departure (for outbound journeys) and a government office of destination (for inbound journeys).

In addition to Transit, the facilities can also be used for ATA Carnets, TIR Carnets, and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) checks.

Before you go to an inland border facility

1. Check what services are offered at each of our inland border facilities, not all inland border facilities carry out the same functions.

2. Check how busy an inland border facility is before leaving for your journey.

3. Book in to attend an inland border facility — booking in will mean we should be able to deal with you more quickly.

Traders who use an Authorised Consignor or Consignee (ACC) do not need to go to an inland border facility.

They can start and end the transit movement of goods at their own premises.

However, if they are arriving at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel or Holyhead and they are moving goods under the Common Transit Convention, and they are not using the services of an ACC to start or end their transit movements, or they have been instructed to report to a site for those goods to be checked, then they will need to attend an inland border facility.

Traders must follow instructions about whether they need to get their goods checked by customs on arrival or if they’re able to continue their journey.

They should use their goods movement reference number in the ‘check if you need to report for an inspection’ service to understand if their goods are held. If an inspection is required, they must check which inspection site they need to attend at their border location. They will need to attend an inland border facility unless they hold an existing commercial agreement.

In some cases, traders may also be stopped by Border Force officers within the port to have checks performed on their vehicle or load. If this happens, they must still attend an inland border facility to complete customs functions if they have received instructions to do so. They may be liable to pay a penalty of up to £2,500 if they fail to follow HMRC instructions.

Authorised Consignor or Consignee (ACC)

Traders do not need to come to an inland border facility if they have an empty vehicle, are travelling in and out of the UK by other ports, are using the services of an Authorised Consignor or Consignee (ACC), or are using other (non-Common Transit Convention) import or export procedures to move their goods in or out of the UK.

Border Ready

To be "border ready", traders must prepare before they reach Kent ports. If they’re crossing the Channel through the Eurotunnel or the Port of Dover, they must check that their heavy goods vehicle (HGV) is ready to cross the border. If they need to use an inland border facility and are coming to Kent from elsewhere, they should get ready before arriving in Kent. They should attend the inland border facility at Sevington to get ready.

Hollyhead

Traders who travel to Holyhead should get ready before they travel. They can use an authorised consignor or consignee to start or end their transit movement. They can check for more information on getting ready for Welsh ports on the Gov.wales website.

Paperwork

Traders will need to bring all relevant paperwork in relation to their movement.

Transit

For Common Transit Convention movements, they will need to get the local reference number (LRN) from their agent or freight forwarder for every consignment, either all the export declaration references and include this in a goods movement reference, or a master unique consignment reference (if there is one) in writing.

They will then need to show the LRN and either all the export declaration references in a goods movement reference, or a master unique consignment reference in writing, at the office of departure to get a transit accompanying document (TAD).

To end a movement at an office of destination, traders will need to present the TAD and provide the movement reference number (MRN) for every consignment. If they’re a trader using an office of destination at an inland border facility, they should make sure that import entries are submitted and have arrived by the time the goods reach the office of destination. If they’re a driver attending an office of destination, they should have details of the customs entries for the consignments they’re carrying (for example, entry numbers and dates). Goods without arrived import entries will need temporary storage. If they’re a driver attending an inland border facility with goods that need temporary storage, they may have to use an alternative facility at their own expense. Inland border facilities cannot be used for commercial storage.

ATA Carnet

For both inbound and outbound ATA Carnet movements, traders will need to present the ATA Carnet documents for each consignment.

CITES

For both inbound and outbound CITES movements, traders will need to present a CITES permit for each consignment.

What to do when attending an inland border facility Sevington inland border facility Holyhead inland border facility Check if there are any delays at the inland border facility your attending, or if it’s full or closed

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