Ready for Brexit as a customs agent

All ferry terminals and shortsea terminals in the Netherlands make participation in our chain-wide solution for the soon-obligatory customs formalities mandatory. Without a pre-notified customs document, cargo cannot enter or leave the terminal.

The checklist below will help you as a customs agent to handle the customs formalities quickly. In addition, for imports, please take into account the customs requirements in place since the introduction of the CVB?

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Your checklist

As a customs agent, will you make sure that your (new) clients can transport smoothly via the Dutch ports? Read here which actions are required on your part for both shortsea and ferry traffic.

Step 1: Make sure your client is registered with Customs

Will your client start importing and/or exporting for the first time due to Brexit? Then arrange an EORI number from Customs as soon as possible. Every company in Europe involved in import or export requires such a unique identification number from Customs. Also if they use you for their import and export declarations.
Pay attention! Have you worked with a British EORI number until now? Because of the Brexit you have to convert this to an EORI number from the EU.

Step 2: Arrange the import or export declarations for your customers

Your day-to-day operations involving import and export declarations require no further explanation on our part.

You may also need to arrange this:


*NVWA is Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority

Step 3: Determine who will pre-notify the customs documents

The pre-notification of customs documents via Portbase is mandatory at all ferry terminals and shortsea terminals in the Netherlands. As a customs agent, you can take care of this pre-notification, but the importer/exporter can also do this, as can the forwarder or, on occasion, the transport company. Make clear agreements about this! Without pre-notification, cargo cannot enter or leave the terminal.

Step 4: Subscribe to the Portbase services

You use Portbase to digitally pre-notify customs documents at shortsea and ferry terminals.

For import: service Notification Import Documentation


Take note! Additional information for existing customers of Notification Import Documentation

  • In order to pre-notify import documents to shortsea and ferry terminals, existing customers of Notification Import Documentation have to sign a supplementary terminal contract. In consultation with these terminals, Portbase has drawn up a single umbrella contract. By sending an email to sales@portbase.com, you can request the umbrella contract and return the signed copy to Portbase.
  • If you are an existing customer of Notification Import Documentation using a system link-up, then please check with your IT department or software supplier that you are using the correct version of the service. The message specifications can be found here.

Costs and participation Notification Import Documentation
The use of Notification Import Documentation for the pre-notification of import documents at ferry terminals involves a one-off connection fee € 249.50 (excluding VAT) for new customers. For the day-to-day use, there is a monthly subscription fee plus a transaction fee per message.

For export: service Notification Export Documentation


Take note! Additional information for existing customers of Notification Export Documentation
If you use a system link-up, then as an existing customer a small modification is required on your part. The message specifications can be found here.

Costs and registration Notification Export Documentation
The one-off connection costs are € 249.50 (excluding VAT). The day-to-day usage is free of charge.

Curious how the services work?

Watch the video Notification Import Documentation

Learn more about Notification Export Documentation

Step 5: Check beforehand whether the terminal has the customs documents

After your pre-notification, you can use Portbase to track the cargo in real-time. If necessary, you can still take action should something not be correct with the pre-notification.

For import: service Import Status

Service for real-time insight into the customs status of incoming cargo at shortsea and ferry terminals. You can immediately see whether the required customs obligations have been met and whether Customs might want to inspect the cargo. The transporter is expected to use Import Status to verify whether the customs documents are known at the terminal prior to departing for said terminal. Without correctly pre-notified customs documents, the cargo is not permitted to leave the terminal. The driver that picks up the cargo, will then be referred to a public parking location. In consultation with his planner or you as customs agent, he can still arrange the customs formalities here.

Costs and registration Import Status
Import Status is a free service.


For export: service Track & Trace Export

This service offers 24/7 insight into all export shipments at shortsea and ferry terminals: from the moment of arrival from the hinterland until the departure to sea. Your transporter is expected to use Track & Trace Export to verify whether the customs documents are known at the terminal prior to departing for said terminal. Without correctly pre-notified customs documents, the transporter will not be granted access to the terminal. His driver is then referred to a public parking location. In consultation with his planner or you as customs agent, the formalities can still be arranged.

Costs and registration Track & Trace Export
Track & Trace Export is part of Notification Export Documentation and is a web-based service. After registration for Notification Export Documentation, the use of this service is completely free of charge.


Curious how the services work?

See how simple Import Status works

Learn more about Track & Trace export

These terminals and shipping companies are participating

This is how the Brexit services of Portbase work