What changes when a consignment leaves the UK
Moving goods out of Great Britain to the EU is an export, and arriving in an EU country is an import. Each side normally needs a declaration. A business moving goods in or out of Great Britain usually needs an EORI number that starts with GB.
Customs paperwork is handled as part of the job, and we help with the documents the road journey needs, including the CMR consignment note, commercial invoices and packing lists. If you already have a customs agent or freight forwarder, tell us when you ask for a quote and we will work with them.
Art, antiques and controlled items
Some works of art and antiques need a UK export licence from Arts Council England before they leave Great Britain. Whether yours does depends on what it is, its age and its value, so check before the collection date rather than after.
Items made from or containing protected species, such as ivory or tortoiseshell, may need CITES permits in both countries. Tick the protected-materials box on the quote form and we will raise it before anything else is arranged.
Both directions, planned as one job
We carry work from the UK to Europe and from Europe back to the UK. A return journey, such as a loan or a fair that goes out and comes back, is planned as one job, so the paperwork for the return is ready from the start. See art fairs and exhibitions.
Sales, loans and exhibitions
Tell us at the start whether a piece is being sold, lent or shown, and the dates that fix the job: a sale, an install, an opening or a return. For a loan, send any transport conditions in the agreement with the request, and we will tell you before booking which of them we can meet.
The routes
| Route | Crossing | Customs |
|---|---|---|
| LondonParis | The Channel, by ferry or through the Channel Tunnel, chosen for each job | Going out: UK export, French import. Coming back: EU export, UK import. One border. |
| LondonAmsterdam | The Channel and the road through France and Belgium, or a North Sea ferry to the Netherlands, chosen for each job | Going out: UK export, then EU import, at entry or under transit at destination. Coming back: the reverse. No declarations at internal EU borders. |
| LondonZurich and Geneva | The Channel, then France to the Swiss border | Going out: UK export, EU transit, Swiss import. Coming back: the reverse. Two borders. |
| LondonMilan | The Channel, then France and the Alps, staying in the EU or passing through Switzerland | Going out: UK export, EU import. Coming back: EU export, UK import. Transit too if the route crosses Switzerland. |
You deal directly with the team planning and driving your job, from the first message to the handover. About HR Logistics.
Official sources
Rules change. Check the official guidance for your own consignment; we will talk it through with you.