Entry and exit summary declarations
You have to send pre-arrival and pre-departure information to the customs authority for all goods entering or leaving the EU, according to EU legislation. The purpose is to protect the EU from dangerous goods and to meet the increased security requirements in world trade. The information should be sent in the form of entry and exit summary declarations.
What are entry and exit summary declarations?
Entry and exit summary declarations are electronic messages that you send to Customs a certain time before your goods enter or leave the EU.
Goods leaving the EU
- Export declaration including pre-departure information. The exporter/declarant is responsible.
- Separate exit summary declaration — used only in the few cases where no export declaration is required. The carrier is responsible.
- Transit declaration including pre-departure information. The declarant is responsible.
Goods entering the EU
- Entry summary declaration. The carrier is responsible.
- Transit declaration including pre-arrival information. The declarant is responsible.
Exceptions to the general rules
There are some exceptions to the requirement of providing pre-departure information. You can find out more about these exceptions by following the link Exceptions to the general rules.
Conditions for submitting pre-departure information
To submit pre-arrival or pre-departure information you need an authorisation to submit electronic declarations.
Read more about electronic declarations by following the link to EDI – Registration for electronic communication via EDI
Air traffic
For goods transported by air different rules apply. See Entry summary declarations for goods consignments transported by air
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