[vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
HMRC has confirmed that businesses moving goods by road or rail from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI) can keep using the legacy Import Control System Northern Ireland (ICSNI) for Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) until 31 December 2025 if they need more time to migrate to ICS2.<\/strong> Traders that are already on ICS2 should stay the course, and those close to migrating should continue preparations. From 1 January 2026, ICS2 will be mandatory for these movements.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n The EU\u2019s Import Control System 2 (ICS2)<\/strong> is the bloc\u2019s advanced cargo pre-arrival security regime. It\u2019s already live for air and maritime, and the final phase (Release 3 for road\/rail) is moving into place across Member States. The European Commission reported on 29 August 2025 that the transition to Release 3 is complete, albeit with limited, temporary derogations<\/strong> in some countries. The Commission also published fresh operational guidance<\/strong><\/a> for road\/rail, including how ICS2 interacts with the new NCTS Phase 6 transit processes.<\/p>\n HMRC\u2019s communication gives GB\u2192NI road\/rail traders breathing room to finish their switch without disrupting supply chains, while still steering everyone toward the ICS2 dataset by the end of 2025.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n For GB\u2192EU movements, ICS2 requirements vary by country and timing<\/strong> during this rollout. Always verify whether your first EU country of entry expects an ICS2 ENS for road\/rail from 1 September 2025<\/strong>, or whether they use the NCTS P6 derogation<\/strong> (and under what conditions). The Commission\u2019s ICS2 landing page<\/strong><\/a> and the road\/rail derogation guidance<\/strong> are your primary references. If you\u2019re entering via France<\/strong>, plan for ELO<\/strong> adoption<\/a> (and thus ICS2 readiness).<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n If you move goods GB\u2192NI by road\/rail<\/strong>, you now have until 31 December 2025<\/strong> to complete your migration to ICS2<\/strong>, with ICSNI<\/strong> remaining available in the interim. Don\u2019t lose momentum: map your lanes<\/strong>, check Member State rules<\/strong>, register your interest for ICS2 filing with the <\/strong>Customs Declarations UK platform<\/strong><\/a>, and align data and timelines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n We value your feedback, and if you have any comments, suggestions or anything else that you would like to highlight to us, we will be delighted to hear from you and incorporate your feedback into our content. <\/i><\/b><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Note: While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this Site has been obtained from reliable sources, Customs Declarations UK is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information in this Site is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Nothing herein shall to any extent substitute for the independent investigations and the sound technical and business judgment of the reader. In no event will Customs Declarations UK, or its partners, employees or agents, be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this Site or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Certain links in this Site connect to other Web Sites maintained by third parties over whom Customs Declarations UK has no control. Customs Declarations UK makes no representations as to the accuracy or any other aspect of information contained in other Web Sites. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=””][vc_column_text] HMRC has confirmed that businesses moving goods by road or rail from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI) can keep using the legacy Import Control System Northern Ireland (ICSNI) for Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) until 31 December 2025 if they need more time to migrate to ICS2. Traders that are already on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2857,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17,16],"tags":[623,618,223,625,628,617,616,624,615,619,590,622,621,627,626,620],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\nWhy this matters (and what changed)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
ICS2, NCTS P6 and \u201cwho files where\u201d: the quick explainer<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
GB\u2192NI (road\/rail): what you can do between now and 31 December 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
You can keep filing via ICSNI<\/strong> or switch to the ICS2 dataset<\/strong> when ready. TSS will move all users to ICS2 by 31 December 2025\u2014no separate ICS2 registration required for TSS users.<\/li>\n
You must register for ICS2<\/strong> to file ENS via the EU systems. Start with HMRC\u2019s \u201cRegister to use the Import Control System 2<\/strong><\/a>\u201d guidance, and follow the steps to get access to the EU Customs Trader Portal (STP\/STI)<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n
ICS2 is used only for goods entering NI<\/strong> (not GB). For GB safety & security, use the separate GB service; for GB\u2192NI you\u2019ll use ICSNI or ICS2 during the transition.<\/li>\n
B2C parcel movements from GB to NI do not require a customs declaration or ENS<\/strong>, while B2B parcels<\/strong> have specific data rules\u2014review the government\u2019s Windsor Framework parcel guidance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nGB\u2192EU by road\/rail: check the Member State and the date<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Key dates to circle<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Bottom line<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/em><\/p>\n