Make an entry summary declaration using the Import Control System 2

The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the new safety and security declaration system for movements into Northern Ireland and the European Union. The ICS2 supports: 

• lodging of pre-arrival entry summary declarations, also known as safety and security declarations
• notification of arrival of goods 
• presentation of goods
• assessment of safety and security risk

This system is replacing the current Import Control System Northern Ireland (ICS NI).

If you currently use the Trader Support Service, you can continue to do so to submit entry summary declarations. You do not need to register to use ICS2.

Your entry summary declaration must be complete, accurate, and submitted on time.

When to use

You’ll need to use this system to continue to make entry summary declarations when moving goods by air, maritime, road or rail from:

• Great Britain to Northern Ireland
• countries outside the EU into Northern Ireland
• Great Britain to the EU

Entry summary declarations will only be needed for some parcel movements from Great Britain into Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

Find out more about Sending parcels between Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

Find out more about ICS2 requirements on the Taxation and Customs Union website.

When you must start using it

If you do not use the Trader Support Service, you must use ICS2 to submit an entry summary declaration for all movements into Northern Ireland.

You will need to provide your:

• company name
• company address
• EORI number
• role in ICS2 process (for example, air carrier, postal operator, house level filer)
• deployment window dates 
• date within this window that you expect to onboard

How to use

ICS2 will require you to submit the following information:

• Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) for air movements only 
• entry summary declarations 
• arrival notifications
• presentation of goods notifications

You’ll need to submit PLACI, entry summary declarations and arrival notifications through the EU Shared Trader Interface (also known as the EU Customs Trader Portal). To access this, you’ll need to email admin.uum@hmrc.gov.uk and tell us your: 

• name 
• contact email address 
• address of your business
• EORI number starting XI

A presentation of goods notification is a formal notification that confirms that the goods have arrived and are available for inspection. For Northern Ireland, this notification must be made after the arrival notification to finalise the movement within the ICS2 system.  

A presentation of goods notification must be submitted through the HMRC Presentation of Goods API.

To do this you will need software to connect to HMRC’s Presentation of Goods API. You can:

• develop this yourself
• use a software developer or IT provider to do this for you

To submit a presentation of goods notification you will need to be enrolled for the Import Control System service on the Government Gateway.

This may require an activation code to enrol which will be sent to you and can take up to 10 days to arrive. You should factor this into your preparations for submitting presentation of goods notifications.

If you are a software developer or IT provider you can find out more about the Import Control System Presentation of Goods API.

Moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service

When using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service, your arrival and presentation of goods notifications will be automatically submitted on your behalf if you include the entry summary declaration and Movement Reference Number (MRN) into your goods movement reference.

Find out more about how to move goods using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.

How to register

You’ll need to register with HMRC by emailing ics.helpdesk@hmrc.gov.uk if your EORI number starts with XI.

Find out what steps you’ll need to take to register to use ICS2.