New customs requirements for parcel shipments to Northern Ireland

From the 1st May 2025, the Windsor Framework will introduce new requirements for shipping parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

This guide explains what’s changing, how it affects you, and what you need to do to keep your shipments running smoothly.

Why are the rules changing?

Since Brexit, Northern Ireland has remained in the EU single market for goods, unlike the rest of the UK. This is due to its land border with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state.

As a result, a de facto trade border was created between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. To address the practical challenges this caused, the Windsor Framework was introduced in 2023. It aims to streamline trade while maintaining the legal requirements of both the UK and EU markets.

The agreement includes an end to the temporary waiver on customs requirements for parcel shipments, which will be replaced with new processes from 1 May 2025. Shippers will now be required to provide more customs data, and some shipments will become subject to EU duties.

Green Lane vs Red Lane

A new 'lanes' system has been introduced to categorise goods based on their destination:

Green Lane: For goods that will remain in Northern Ireland. These do not require a full customs declaration and are not subject to EU duties.

B2B (Business to Business) shipments are also eligible for the green lane if either the sender or receiver is registered with UKIMS. This confirms the goods are not at risk of moving into the EU and allows for simplified processing.

Red Lane: For goods that may enter the EU or do not meet the green lane criteria (e.g. B2B shipments without UKIMS registration or above the weight limits). These require a full customs declaration and may be subject to duties.

Customs Clearance: Green vs Red Lane Summary

What changes are Transglobal making?

When booking shipments to Northern Ireland, you'll be asked to select the nature of your shipment by choosing one of the following:

Your selection determines whether your shipment is considered “at risk” of entering the EU. Depending on your choice, we may request additional details such as an EORI or UKIMS number to meet the framework’s requirements.

If you expect to send the same type of shipment regularly, you’ll have the option to set your preferred selection as the default for all future orders to Northern Ireland.

For full details on parcel movements under the Windsor Framework, you can also refer to the UK government’s official guidance.

Get in touch

We understand the Windsor Framework brings some new processes to get used to. If you have any questions about how it affects your shipments, our team is on hand to guide you through it.