What is a Movement Reference Number (MRN)?

A Movement Reference Number (MRN) is a unique customs reference used to identify and track goods moving across international borders. It is generated by customs systems when a declaration is accepted and enables customs authorities to identify the relevant shipment and its customs status.

MRNs are commonly used for import, export and customs transit declarations, helping customs authorities manage and monitor the movement of goods between the UK, EU and other countries.

What is an MRN used for?

An MRN provides a unique reference for a customs declaration, allowing customs authorities, freight operators and customs agents to identify the movement and check its progress.

Depending on the customs procedure, an MRN may be used to:

• Identify an import, export or transit declaration.
• Confirm that a customs declaration has been registered.
• Support customs checks and border formalities.
• Track the progress and status of a transit movement.
• Link customs declarations to other transport documentation.

An MRN is an important part of international freight documentation, but having an MRN does not necessarily mean that goods have been cleared or released by customs.

What does an MRN look like?

An MRN is normally an 18-character alphanumeric reference.

For example, a UK transit MRN begins with the year and country code, followed by characters identifying the customs office and the individual movement.

The exact structure varies according to the customs system and declaration type, but each MRN provides a unique identifier that can be used to retrieve the relevant customs information.

How do you obtain an MRN?

An MRN is generated automatically by the relevant customs system when a declaration is accepted.

For UK customs declarations, this may be through HMRC's Customs Declaration Service (CDS). For goods moving under the Common Transit Procedure, the MRN is generated through the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS).

Businesses generally obtain their MRN from the customs agent such as Efret, freight forwarder or other party responsible for submitting the declaration.

What is the difference between an MRN and a GMR?

Although both are used in customs processes, a Movement Reference Number (MRN) and a Goods Movement Reference (GMR) serve different purposes.

• MRN: Identifies an individual customs declaration, such as an import or transit declaration.
• GMR: Identifies a vehicle or trailer movement through a UK border location using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS).

A GMR can link together multiple customs declaration references associated with goods travelling on the same truck.

What is the relationship between an MRN, T1 and TAD?

A T1 is a customs transit procedure that allows non-Union goods to move between countries while import duties and taxes remain suspended. Today, T1 declarations are processed electronically through the NCTS, which generates a unique MRN to identify and track the transit movement.

The MRN also appears on the Transit Accompanying Document (TAD). However, a printed TAD is no longer generally mandatory, as the MRN can normally be presented digitally.

Can you track a shipment using an MRN?

An MRN can be used to check the customs status of a declaration through the relevant customs system, subject to the information and access available.

For transit movements, this may include confirmation that goods have been released from the office of departure or that the transit procedure has been completed.

However, an MRN is not a live vehicle-tracking number. It identifies a customs declaration rather than providing the physical location of a truck or shipment.

Can Efret arrange an MRN for my shipment?

Yes. Efret's in-house customs clearance team can prepare and submit the necessary customs declarations for eligible international freight movements, generating the relevant MRNs.

As an AEO-accredited Authorised Consignor, Efret can also initiate qualifying customs transit movements under simplified procedures, helping customers manage cross-border freight efficiently.

Our customs specialists work alongside Efret's European road transport operations to coordinate customs formalities and help minimise unnecessary border delays.

Need assistance with customs declarations or transit documentation?

Contact Efret's customs team for expert advice on UK and European customs procedures.

Back