Dover is the United Kingdom's most important roll-on roll-off port and the gateway most road shipments from Türkiye and continental Europe use to enter the UK. Our 24/7 customs clearance office at Dover has clearance running around the clock — but the experience for the importer is much smoother when the paperwork is ready before the truck arrives.
This guide walks through how it works in practice.
How UK customs clearance works for road freight
Since the UK left the EU, every shipment entering the UK by road needs to be declared to HMRC and linked to a vehicle movement through GVMS. There are three core pieces of paperwork:
- Customs Declaration Service (CDS) entry — the formal import declaration to HMRC
- GVMS movement (GMR) — the reference that links the customs declaration(s) to a specific vehicle
- T1 transit document — when goods are moving under the Common Transit Convention
For groupage shipments the trailer can carry many declarations, all consolidated under a single GMR. We handle the lodgement on the importer's behalf as a customs agent.
What documents do you need?
For a standard import declaration at Dover, the importer needs to provide:
- Commercial invoice with full value and currency
- Packing list with weights and dimensions
- CMR waybill or other transport document
- EORI number of the UK importer
- Importer authorisation (a one-off appointment letter, supplied on first job)
For some commodities you'll also need licences, certificates of origin, health certificates or specific compliance documentation. We flag the requirements as part of the pre-clearance review.
Common delays — and how to avoid them
Missing EORI. Any business or individual importing into the UK needs an EORI number. Without one, the declaration cannot be submitted. If you don't have an EORI, we can help you apply — most are issued within 3–5 working days.
Vague commodity description. A description like "general goods" is not enough. We need to assign an HS commodity code, and that needs a clear description (e.g. "100% cotton women's t-shirts, knitted").
Mismatched values. The value on the invoice must match the value on the customs declaration. Discrepancies trigger HMRC queries that can hold the goods at the port.
Late paperwork. Sending us the documents only when the truck is already at the port is the most expensive scenario — fees go up and clearance time goes up. Send documents as soon as the truck is loaded.
What "AEO" means for you
We operate under Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) procedures. AEO is HMRC's recognised quality mark for customs compliance. For you as an importer, it means:
- More predictable customs handling
- Reduced risk of physical examination
- A more efficient process when documents are correct
What if HMRC stops the goods?
Occasionally HMRC will select a shipment for document or physical examination. This is normal and not a sign that anything is wrong. Our team manages the interaction with HMRC, attends physical inspections at Dover where required, and keeps you informed throughout.
Need clearance for your next shipment?
If you'd like us to handle UK customs clearance at Dover (or any other UK port), get in touch using our contact form with the commodity, value, origin and expected arrival date — we'll come back with a fixed clearance fee and a checklist of what we need.