Shipping After Brexit: How to Deliver After Departure

Stay up to date with the ins and outs of the Brexit and the UK's departure from the EU by visiting this page or keep up to date with our simple and easy quote tool.

Deal or No Deal: What to Anticipate After Brexit

As of 23:00 GMT on the 31st of January 2020 the UK was no longer a member of the EU.

However, Interparcel want to assure all of our customers that nothing will change until the 31st of December 2020. Currently, the UK is in a transitional period in which withdrawal arrangements concerning trade will be negotiated. During this time all imports and exports between the UK and the EU will continue as before.

How will this affect my shipments/business?

If the UK government negotiates a deal (in which trading of goods and services remains recognisable to our current agreement) or extends Article 50, customers will be able to book deliveries to the EU exactly as they do now. Those customers who wish to ship outside of the EU, to the U.S or Australia, will still need be required to fill out a customs invoice that we will provide you with.

No Deal

There is a likelihood however that the UK will leave without a deal. In this scenario, shipping to and from the UK will be much like international shipping. Individuals and businesses can make easy preparations for these changes which we've listed below for you:

1. All goods being delivered outside the UK will require a customs invoice stating what items are, their value and country of origin which will provide you with when you book with us.


2. Items that do go through customs won't be charged VAT costs on their shipping. The receiver however may need to cover customs charges, something that the seller will have to disclose. (Please be aware that items shipped to Northern Ireland will result in recipients being taxed and refunded for this if items remain there. If, however, the items enter the Republic of Ireland this refund will not be processed.)


3. Prepare for delays: Customs clearances may affect delivery times, especially when shipping certain restricted items- which also applies to these items being shipped into the UK from the EU.


4. Register for an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number. This is an identification number that any business exporting and/or importing into the UK from the EU is required to have. Register free for one here


5. For commercial shipments, customers will need to provide a HS/Commodity code, which will classify your shipments and make sure the correct tax is applied at customs. Look up your HS code here