Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about transit declarations and NCTS
What is a transit declaration?
A transit declaration is a customs document that allows goods to move between customs territories without paying duty at each border. It is governed by the Common Transit Convention (CTC) and filed electronically through NCTS. The two main types are T1 (for non-Union goods) and T2 (for Union goods crossing a third country).
What is NCTS?
NCTS — the New Computerised Transit System — is the electronic platform every customs authority in the CTC area uses to manage transit movements. We file every declaration on the correct NCTS instance and track the MRN from departure to discharge.
What is the difference between T1 and T2?
T1 is the external transit procedure — used for non-Union goods (e.g. goods imported from outside the EU that haven't yet been cleared into free circulation). T2 is the internal transit procedure — used for Union goods moving between two parts of the EU customs territory via a third country (e.g. Ireland → Northern Ireland via Great Britain after Brexit).
Do I need a guarantee for a transit declaration?
Yes. Every transit declaration must be backed by a guarantee covering the customs debt that would arise if the goods were diverted. You can use a one-off individual guarantee (cash, voucher or TC32) or set up a comprehensive guarantee for regular movements.
What is an MRN?
An MRN is the Movement Reference Number issued by NCTS when a transit declaration is accepted. The MRN is printed on the Transit Accompanying Document (TAD) and must travel with the goods until the office of destination discharges the procedure.
What is GVMS and when do I need a GMR?
GVMS (Goods Vehicle Movement Service) is the UK system that pairs customs declarations with the physical vehicle crossing a RoRo port. Every truck arriving at Dover, Eurotunnel, Holyhead and other RoRo ports needs a GMR. We build GMRs for our customers in seconds.
Do you handle Türkiye–UK transits?
Yes. The Türkiye–UK corridor is one of our specialisms. We provide bilingual English / Turkish support, file both UK NCTS and TR NCTS declarations, and coordinate TIR carnets where applicable.
How fast can you issue an MRN?
Typically within an hour of receiving complete documents. For pre-booked regular movements, we can often issue an MRN within minutes.