Frequently Asked Questions

Customs clearance is the official process of getting goods approved by HMRC to enter or leave the UK. It involves submitting a customs declaration with details of the goods, their value and origin, paying any applicable import duties and VAT, and obtaining HMRC's release so the goods can proceed to their destination.

Yes — any business importing or exporting goods to or from the UK needs an EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number. Without one, your goods will be held at the border. An EORI is free to obtain from HMRC and is typically issued within 3 to 5 working days. We can handle the entire application for you.

CDS stands for Customs Declaration Service — HMRC's current platform for submitting all UK import and export declarations. It replaced the legacy CHIEF system, which is now closed. All declarations must go through CDS. We submit all our declarations through CDS and can help you set up access if you are new to the platform.

In most cases, customs clearance is completed within a few hours of receiving complete and correct documentation. Delays usually occur when documents are missing, commodity codes are incorrect, or goods are selected for physical inspection. We minimise delays by checking everything before submission.

For a standard import you will typically need: a commercial invoice showing value, quantity and description; a packing list; a bill of lading or airway bill; and any relevant product licences or certificates. Specific requirements vary by commodity and country of origin. We will tell you exactly what we need for your shipment.

Yes — we offer a fully bilingual service in English and Turkish. This is particularly useful for Turkish businesses importing goods to the UK, or UK businesses exporting to Turkey, who want to communicate in their own language without any risk of misunderstanding.

An ATA Carnet is an international customs document that lets you temporarily export goods — such as trade show samples, professional equipment or film gear — to over 87 countries without paying import duties at the destination, provided the goods are returned within the validity period (usually 12 months).

Yes — we operate 24/7, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Urgent customs clearances do not wait for Monday morning, and neither do we. Contact us any time for an immediate response.

A transit declaration allows goods to move through one or more customs territories without paying duties at each border. Under the Common Transit Convention (CTC), goods can travel across multiple countries under a single declaration, with duties only becoming payable if the goods are not re-exported within the agreed period.

Simply contact us via the form on our Contact page or call us on +44 1480 470 114. We will ask for basic details about your shipment and provide a no-obligation quote. Most clients are ready for their first clearance within 24 hours of getting in touch.