Apply for Designated Export Place approval
Last updated 4 July 2024
A Designated Export Place (DEP) is a place approved by HMRC, where export consignments can be consolidated and presented to customs inland for clearance. This allows customs checks to be completed on goods before they’re removed to the port or airport for export.
Normal processes will still apply at the port or airport including presentation of goods and departure. You’ll find a DEP outside of but near to to the approved port or airport.
You’ll need to apply for approval from HMRC to operate a DEP.
Which goods are excluded from a DEP
Goods excluded from a DEP are those:
- exported from a customs warehouse
- already declared under the Entry into Declarant Record (EIDR)
- declarations made under Customs Supervised Export Approval
What declarations you can make
You can make the following declarations:
- full pre-shipment export declaration
- export declarations for low value goods
- export declarations for Non-statistical goods
- the 2-part simplified declaration procedure - prior authorisation is required to operate this procedure
Check guidance on using simplified declarations for exports for more information.
What customs controls happen at a DEP
Your goods can be subject to customs controls, this could be:
- document checks
- fiscal or anti-smuggling checks
These checks will be carried while the goods are held on site at the approved location. However, in accordance with the full terms of the approval, checks can be carried out at the frontier if required.
Before you apply
Before you can apply for approval you’ll need:
- your EORI reference number - this begins with GB or XI
- details of the inventory system you intend to use along with DEP locations
- details of the chosen community system provider to be used and any badges held for the DEP locations you wish to have approved
Apply for approval
If you wish to apply for DEP approval you should download the application form, check the terms and conditions and the supporting documents you’ll need.
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Download and fill in the application form.
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Print and sign it.
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Attach and email your form to: exportpresentationapprovals@hmrc.gov.uk.
Application for Designated Export Place
What happens next
When your application is received, the National Export System (NES) authorisation team will contact you to confirm this.
If you get approval
If you’re approved as a DEP operator you’ll be able to:
- accept goods from your clients for export
- consolidate these into an export consignment
- present the export declaration covering them to customs for clearance
Using an electronic inventory system
You must use and maintain an electronic inventory system that meets customs requirements. This is either:
- a system supplied by a Community Systems Provider
- an equivalent in-house inventory system
If you use an inhouse inventory
Any in house inventory system should be:
- approved separately by HMRC before use
- secure, allowing full control and audit of export consignments
- capable of supplying management information on, for example, records of all goods for export entering and leaving the facility
- detailed in the DEP application
What you must do as a DEP operator
You must make available:
- suitable facilities and assistance for unloading, examining, sampling and clearing the goods and for examining vehicles if appropriate
- equipment necessary for weighing, and taking account of goods, maintaining such equipment in a satisfactory condition
- all necessary assistance to customs when goods are selected for examination and sampling
- safe working conditions for customs or Border Force staff attending the premises (this includes safe means of access to containers and vehicles)
You must ensure any customs checks are satisfied so that you can get positive customs clearance before the removal of the goods from the DEP.