Guidance

Get proof of origin for your goods

Prove the origin of your goods if you’re trading with a country that has a trade agreement with the UK, or is covered by the Developing Countries Trading Scheme.

From:
HM Revenue & Customs
Published
1 December 2020
Last updated
6 November 2024 — See all updates

To get proof of origin for your goods, you first need to check your goods are covered by a trade agreement and meet the rules. Read the guides on rules of origin to find out.

If you’re importing or exporting goods with a country that has a trade agreement with the UK, the goods are likely to have a reduced or nil rate of duty based on their origin.

Unless the trade agreement says you do not need a proof of origin because the goods have been sent in a small consignment, you’ll need to:

  • prove to HMRC that you can claim preference for the goods you are importing
  • give the person receiving your goods evidence of the origin if they are not using importer’s knowledge, so they can claim preference for them

Check what type of proof you need

The type of proof you need depends on:

  • the type of goods
  • where they’re being imported from, or exported to

You can use the trade tariff tool to check which of the different types of proof of origin you need.

For developing nations, you can check the Developing Countries Trading Scheme to make sure you provide the right type of evidence.

This can be:

  • an EUR1 or EUR-MED movement certificate
  • an origin declaration
  • importers knowledge
  • a Form A

The length of time a proof of origin will be valid for depends on the agreement and the type of proof.

You need to note your proof of origin on your customs declaration. If you use customs warehousing, the goods must then be released to free circulation within 2 years to claim preference.

If HMRC carries out a verification you will need supporting evidence that you were correct when making out a proof of origin. This evidence can be:

  • production records
  • invoices
  • accounting details
  • suppliers’ declarations

EUR1 and EUR-MED movement certificates

Green paper certificates

To get a green paper copy of a EUR1 or EUR-MED movement certificate, contact either your local:

  • Chambers of Commerce
  • office of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers

You may be charged a fee for the certificate.

Where easements are in place in the country you’re exporting to allow for PDF copy and digital certificates, complete the following online forms and email them to HMRC:

  • to claim preferential duty rates on goods exported to countries that have a preferential trading agreement with the EU — complete movement certificate EUR1 (C1299)
  • to record preferential trade in goods between the UK and participating countries — complete movement certificate EUR-MED (C1300)

How to complete the online forms

To complete the online forms and send them to HMRC by email, you need to:

1. Download and save the form you need on your computer.
2. Open it using the latest free version of Adobe Reader.
3. Complete it on-screen.
4. Attach the form to an email with the subject line:

  • ‘EUR1 endorsement’ if you’re sending a EUR1 (C1299)
  • ‘EUR-MED endorsement’ if you’re sending a EUR-MED (C1300)

5. Send your email to [email protected].

The form may not work if you try to open it in your internet browser. If the form does not open, contact online services support for more help.

HMRC will check and verify your application. If appropriate, we will issue a plain PDF version back to your company’s email address within 48 hours.

Requesting and sending a paper form to HMRC

You can request a paper C1299 by contacting the imports and exports helpline if:

  • the customer you’re exporting goods to cannot accept a PDF copy of the certificate
  • no other easements are being put in place by the customs authority in the country of destination

You must send the completed form to:

NCH MICS Team (EUR1s)
5th Floor
Three New Bailey
New Bailey Street
Salford
M3 5FS

You can also send the completed paper form to your local:

  • Chambers of Commerce
  • office of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers

You may be charged a fee for the certificate.

Retrospective EUR1 or EUR-MED certificates

You can ask for a EUR1 or EUR-MED movement certificate retrospectively if the certificate was:

  • not issued at the time of export due to an error, oversight or special circumstance (such as a preferential rate of duty becoming available for the products from a retrospective date)
  • issued at the time of export, but could not be accepted at the time of import for technical reasons (for example, it did not contain all necessary information)

To request a certificate, contact the National Clearance Hub or your local:

  • Chambers of Commerce
  • office of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers

You may be charged a fee for the certificate.

If the certificate is lost, destroyed or stolen

You can ask for a duplicate certificate from HMRC. You will need to declare in writing that you do not have the original but will surrender it immediately to us if it becomes available later. To request a certificate, contact the National Clearance Hub or your local:

  • Chambers of Commerce
  • office of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers

You may be charged a fee for the certificate.

Pre-printed ‘duplicate’ or ‘copy’ certificates are sometimes issued at the same time as the original. You cannot use these to replace an original certificate.

If you need to split a consignment

You need to get a certificate for each part of the consignment you’ve split. This is known as a ‘replacement certificate’.

It replaces all or part of the original certificate.

To request a certificate, contact the National Clearance Hub or your local:

  • Chambers of Commerce
  • office of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers

You may be charged a fee for the certificate.

You can find more information about importing goods under split consignments.

Also read about if the goods are split, combined or changed after they’ve left the exporting country.

Origin declaration

You can make an origin declaration (also known as an ‘invoice declaration’ or ‘statement on origin’) on a commercial document that has enough detail in it to identify the origin of the goods. The document can be:

  • an invoice
  • a packing list
  • a delivery note

If your commercial document does not have enough space to include all the information, you can include it on a separate letter-headed continuation paper. A letter-headed paper on its own will not be accepted. The commercial document and continuation paper must clearly refer to each other.

You can claim preference for different goods on the same document. You’ll need to clearly identify and show the goods that are originating and non-originating.

Origin declarations must be presented to HMRC within 2 years of the date your goods were imported.

You should check how long an origin declaration will remain valid in the relevant trade agreement.

If the trade agreement says you must be an ‘approved exporter’

Depending on the trade agreement, you may only be able to use an origin declaration for consignments over £5,400 if you have applied for and received approved exporter status.

If you have approved exporter status you will not need to present the origin declaration to HMRC to be checked before exporting to:

  • customs
  • a Chamber of Commerce office
  • an Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers office

To apply, you must prove to HMRC that:

  • you export or intend to export goods on a regular basis
  • the goods to be exported meet the relevant origin rules to qualify for the issue of preference documents
  • you will correctly complete the documents and take proper care of them

If you’re an approved exporter, you can complete an origin declaration without a signature if you confirm in writing that you accept full responsibility for the declaration. You must have been given approval by HMRC (known as a ‘signature waiver’) to do this as part of getting approved exporter status.

If you do not have a signature waiver approval from HMRC, you must sign your origin declaration.

If the trade agreement does not mention ‘approved exporter’

You can complete an origin declaration for consignments of any value, but you must include your EORI number in the origin declaration.

Importer’s knowledge

In some agreements, an importer can claim preference using knowledge they have about the origin of the goods they are importing. This is known as ‘importer’s knowledge’. This can be used instead of an origin declaration.

You will need to have supporting documents or records which should cover:

  • the commodity code
  • a brief description of the production process (including the origin of the goods used)
  • if the origin criterion was ‘wholly obtained’, the applicable category (such as harvesting, mining, or fishing and the place of production)
  • if the origin was based on ‘sufficiently worked or processed’ give one of the following:
    • the value of the product as well as the value of all the non-originating or, as appropriate to establish compliance with the value requirement, originating materials used in the production
    • the weight of the product as well as the weight of the relevant non-originating or, as appropriate to establish compliance with the weight requirement, originating materials used in the product
    • a list of all the non-originating materials including their commodity code (in 2, 4 or 6 digit format depending on the origin criteria)
  • if the goods have been altered or transformed
  • any additional information that will help verify the origin of the goods, if HMRC asks for it

If you or the person receiving your goods cannot give this information for commercial reasons you should use an origin declaration.

When to use Form A

Only use Form A if you’re importing goods from countries covered by the Developing Countries Trading Scheme.

Suppliers’ declarations

Suppliers’ declarations are where your supplier gives you information you need to prove the origin of your goods for preferential trade between the UK and other countries.

Find out how to use a supplier declaration as proof of origin.

Discrepancies and obvious errors

If there is a small difference between an origin declaration and the documents submitted to the customs office for imported goods, the origin declaration will be accepted as long as it is clear that the information in it agrees with the goods that have been submitted.

Obvious mistakes in origin declarations will be accepted, as long as the information in the declaration does not suggest that the statements in it are wrong.

Updates to this page

Published 1 December 2020
Last updated 6 November 2024 + show all updates

  1. The postal address for where to send your completed paper C1299 form has been updated.

  2. Information about the Generalised Scheme of Preferences has been replaced with information about the Developing Countries Trading Scheme.

  3. The maximum value threshold for making origin declarations without approved exporter status has been reduced from £5,500 to £5,400.

  4. Information about using the trade tariff tool to check which of the different types of proof of origin you need. The section about issuing green paper EUR1 and EUR-MED movement certificates has been updated.

  5. The amount for when you may be able to use an origin declaration for consignments if you have applied and received approved exporter status has been changed from £5,700 to £5,500.

  6. The origin declaration section has been updated to clarify that you need to clearly identify the goods that are originating and non-originating when claiming preference.

  7. Additional information about origin declarations and when you must be an 'approved exporter'.

  8. First published.

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Contents

Part of Export goods from the UK: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you need to follow this process

    Follow these steps if you're moving goods permanently from:

    • England, Wales or Scotland (Great Britain) to a country outside the UK
    • Northern Ireland to a country outside the UK and the EU

    What you need to do is different if you are:

    1. Learn about exporting, including making export plans, on great.gov.uk

  2. Step 2 Check the rules for exporting your goods

    1. Check duties, rules and restrictions for your goods in the destination country

  3. and Apply for any licences you need to export your goods

    There are special rules and you may need to get licences or certificates if you are exporting any of the following:

  4. Step 3 Get your business ready to export

    You need an EORI number that starts with GB to export goods from England, Wales or Scotland.

    If you move goods to or from Northern Ireland you may need one that starts with XI.

    1. Get an EORI number
    1. Check if you need to register for VAT

    There are processes that can make clearing customs quicker and easier to manage if you export goods regularly.

    1. Find out about using simplified declaration procedures
    2. Check if you can use Common Transit to move your goods
    3. Check if Authorised Economic Operator status is right for you

  5. and Check whoever's receiving the goods can import them

    The business or person receiving the goods may need:

    • to make an import declaration in their country
    • licences or certificates to receive goods from the UK

    Check whoever you are sending the goods to is able to import them into their country.

  6. Step 4 Decide who will make export declarations and transport the goods

    You can hire someone to deal with customs and transport the goods for you, or you can do it yourself.

    1. Find out how to hire someone to deal with customs for you
    2. Find out how to make export declarations yourself
    3. Find out how to transport goods out of the UK by road

  7. Step 5 Classify your goods

    You must find the right commodity code to classify the goods you're exporting.

    Your customs agent or transporter might be able to help you with this.

    1. Find the right commodity code for your goods

  8. Step 6 Prepare the invoice and other documentation for your goods

    The completed invoice and any licences or certificates must travel with the goods.

    When filling in the value of your goods on the invoice, use the price you’re selling them for. If you're not selling the goods, use the market value of the goods. List any freight or export insurance you included in the price separately.

    You may need proof of origin if exporting to a country where your goods have a reduced or zero rate of duty.

    1. You are currently viewing: Get proof of origin for your goods

    You might be able to zero rate the goods for VAT. This means you can charge your customers VAT at 0%.

    1. Check if you can zero rate the goods for VAT

  9. Step 7 Get your goods through customs

    If you've appointed someone to deal with UK customs for you, they'll make the declaration and get your goods through the UK border.

    1. Make an export declaration and get your goods cleared by UK customs

    You may need other documentation to get your goods into the destination country. Ask the person or business buying your goods what information you need to provide.

    1. Check how to bring goods back into the UK if they were rejected for import at another country’s border

  10. Step 8 Keep invoices and records

    You must keep commercial invoices and any customs paperwork.

    If you're VAT registered, record the goods in your VAT accounts even if they are zero-rated.

    1. Find out how to record the goods in your VAT accounts

    If you exported controlled goods, for example firearms, keep the paperwork that shows who owns the goods.