INTRODUCTION
From the 1st January 2022 goods imported from the European Union will be subject to additional customs control at the border. There are two main customs processes (controls), depending upon what location the goods are imported through. Border locations can ether use the temporary storage model or the pre-lodgement model. In some circumstances the border location may adopt both (known as a hybrid or mixed model location).
1. The Temporary Storage model are inventory linked locations where goods being imported can be stored for up to 90 days before a customs declaration must be submitted. This type of model requires the port to operate a community system (inventory system) which enables government agencies, operators, and customs intermediaries to control the movement of goods, thereby preventing them from leaving the location until they have been customs cleared and released by all government agencies.
2. The Pre-lodgement model are non-inventory linked locations which will require a customs declaration to be submitted for all goods in advance of boarding the vessel in the EU. To support this model, the UK Government has been developing a new IT platform called the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS).
This document will focus on GVMS.

WHAT IS GVMS?
GVMS allows the person moving the goods (the haulier) to link the Movement Reference Numbers (MRNs) for all pre-lodged declarations to a single Goods Movement Reference (GMR) that specifies the vehicle registration details. The haulier only needs to present the GMR to the carrier (the ferry/train operator) at the departure location to prove that all of their goods have pre-lodged declarations.
GVMS is also being used as a digital office of transit. The haulier does not need to present themselves to a physical office of transit. However, this should not be confused with an office of destination, which will still require the person moving the goods (the haulier) to present themselves to a physical office of destination including those located at the UK border (for example, Motis Dover).

WHAT IS A GMR?
A GMR is a unique identifier (for example: GMRI 0001 A1B2) issued by HMRC to identify a vehicle and all declarations declared by the haulier on that vehicle.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
1. The haulier will need the unique reference numbers for each consignment they are carrying. These references include:
• The Transit Accompanying Document (TAD) Movement Reference Numbers (MRNs) for goods moving under transit (The haulier must also have a copy of the TAD)
• Entry Reference Numbers (ERNs) for goods declared into the Customs Handling of Import, Export Freight (CHIEF) system
• Movements Reference Number (MRNs) for goods declared into the Customs Declaration Service (CDS)
• Declarant Unique Consignment References (DUCRs) for goods declared for export into CHIEF or CDS
• The Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number for goods where the trader is authorised to make declarations in their own records
• Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission (ATA) Carnet numbers
• Transport Internationaux Routiers (TIR) Carnet numbers
2. The haulier will create a GMR linking all the declaration references to the vehicle registration details
3. The haulier will present the GMR to the carrier at the departure location
4. The carrier will use GVMS to cross-check the details on the GMR with the vehicle registration details. Vehicles will be turned away at check-in if a valid GMR cannot be presented or their vehicle registration details do not match those on the GMR
5. Declarations will automatically arrive as soon as the vehicle boards the vessel in the EU so that UK import customs declarations can be processed by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) enroute to the UK
6. Once the vehicle embarks on the crossing, the status in GVMS will be updated to ‘EMBARK’.
7. GVMS will generate an electronic notification when inbound goods are successfully cleared before they arrive in the UK, allowing goods to quickly move through customs.
8. If GVMS determines that a movement requires a physical inspection, a notification will be sent within 30 minutes after embarkation. Those vehicles selected for physical inspection must report to a customs inspection centre upon arrival, where customs officials will update the GVMS once the goods have been cleared

HOW CAN PORT PARTNERS HELP?
1. We can assist with the creation of GMRs (please contact us for more details) or
2. We can send a copy of the declaration(s) completed by us for up to three additional email addresses of your choice within 24 hours of receiving your instruction. We recommend:
• A copy of the declaration(s) be sent to the sender of the clearance instruction(s) immediately upon completion; and/or,
• A copy of the declaration(s) be sent to up to two other email address as instructed at time of sending the clearance instructions
NOTE: we must be given the vehicle registration/trailer numbers at time of completing the customs declaration to ensure the declarations can be linked to the correct GMR

REGISTER FOR GVMS
If you are a haulier moving goods through a GVMS (or pre-lodgement location) will need to:
1. Register for the goods vehicle movement service. You should use exactly the same address for GVMS registration that you have used for any other Government Gateway service. Your registration will be delayed if you use different addresses.
2. Get a GB EORI number

HOW TO USE GVMS?
You can use GVMS to:
• Create a new Goods Movement reference (GMR)
• Update a GMR, for example changing the route crossing details or adding a declaration number
• Finalise a GMR
• List all active GMRs
• Obtain GMR details
• Delate a GMR
• Obtain GMR reference data

HOW TO OBTAIN A GMR?
To obtain a GMR you will need the following information:
• The direction of the crossing
• The vehicle registration number
• The trailer number(s) of all trailers attached to the vehicle
• Details of the planned crossing, if available, including the departure and arrival ports, carrier name, and departure time
• Whether the vehicle arriving at check0in will accompany the movement on the crossing
• The MRNs for all goods within the vehicle and its trailer(s) that require them
• Safety and Security declarations refences for all goods within the vehicle and trailer(s) that require them
• Transit declaration references (MRNs) for all goods within the vehicle and trailer(s) that require them
• EORI number(s) for all traders authorised for Entry into Declarant Records (EIDR)
• ATA and TIR declaration references