What the service involves
The Smart Border system (frontière intelligente) operates at crossings between the UK and France. Instead of showing documents, the driver scans a barcode that links the vehicle to customs declarations submitted in advance.
During the crossing, French customs analyse the data. On arrival, the vehicle is directed to the green lane – and continues without stopping – or to the orange lane if an inspection or clarification is needed.
Which lane the lorry takes depends on the declarations submitted in advance: export, import or transit declarations, the ENS and the ELO envelope with the vehicle's barcode. We prepare them together so the data is complete before the vehicle enters the terminal.
- instead of documents when boarding and leaving the ferry
- 1 barcode
- crossing without stopping when the data is complete
- Green lane
- Calais, Dunkirk and Eurotunnel
- 3 crossings
What the service includes
- We submit export, import or transit declarations
- We submit the ENS (ICS2) before entry into the EU
- We prepare the ELO and the barcode for the vehicle
- We send the driver the barcode to scan
- We resolve the issue if the vehicle is sent to the orange lane
- We link the data to the GMR on the UK side
Not included
- We don't arrange transport – your haulier or freight forwarder does that
- We don't carry out veterinary or phytosanitary checks – we'll tell you where to notify the goods
Information most often required
For the vehicle to take the green lane, we need:
- A submitted export declaration (for exports from the UK)
- Vehicle and transport details – haulier, crossing, time
- The EORI number of the importer or exporter
- Correct commodity codes
- The invoice and packing list
What sends a vehicle to the orange lane
- No declaration or an incomplete barcode for the vehicle
- Goods subject to checks – e.g. food, plants, excise goods
- Mismatched data between the declaration and the ENS
- Licences or certificates not attached to the declaration
Controlled goods – e.g. veterinary, phytosanitary or excise goods – require licences or certificates. Without them, the vehicle will be held until the matter is resolved.
Step by step
- 1
You send the documents
The invoice, packing list, vehicle and crossing details.
- 2
Customs declarations
We submit the export declaration in the UK and the import or transit declaration on the EU side.
- 3
ENS declaration
We submit the safety and security data in ICS2 before the vehicle enters the EU.
- 4
Barcode for the driver
We prepare the ELO with a barcode and send it to the driver.
- 5
Crossing
The driver scans the barcode at the terminal. On arrival, the vehicle takes the green or orange lane.
- 6
Clarifications
If customs have questions, we respond straight away to keep the stop short.
Documents needed
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- EORI number of the importer or exporter
- HS commodity codes
- Vehicle, haulier and crossing details
- Licences or certificates – for controlled goods
Templates to download
Packing list – business shipment
Template for businesses: seller and buyer with EORI and VAT numbers, goods description, HS code, quantity, value, weight, country of origin and Incoterms.
XLSX · 18 KB · English and Polish
Customs Clearance Services Agreement
Agreement for businesses: company details, scope of representation before HMRC (direct or indirect), customs charges and payment terms.
PDF · 284 KB · English
