Why Some Ports Need You to File Before the Goods Even Arrive
Some UK ports run fast enough that there is no time to start paperwork once the vehicle arrives. That is why a CDS pre-lodged declaration exists: a customs entry submitted before the goods physically reach the UK, so clearance can happen the instant they turn up.
HMRC validates the entry and issues the MRN in advance. Most RoRo movements, especially at Goods Vehicle Movement Service ports, rely on this model. Inventory-linked sea and air ports tend to use an arrived entry instead, filed once the goods reach the frontier, as this guide to pre-lodging customs declarations under CDS sets out clearly.
Knowing which model applies to your port is the first decision that shapes everything else in the filing process.
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