Customs declaration requirements for United Kingdom
Customs Declare produces the completed Full (Standard) Import Declaration -- Declaration Category H1, filed via the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) for United Kingdom’s own customs authority, in English, from your invoice and supporting documents. You or your broker review and submit it -- nothing leaves your workspace automatically.
Declaration form
Confirmed against the authority’s own published source- Form
- Full (Standard) Import Declaration -- Declaration Category H1, filed via the Customs Declaration Service (CDS)
- Issuing authority
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
- Primary language
- English
- Accepted languages
- English
- Required supporting documents
- Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill or CMR, certificates and licences where applicable
- Last verified
- Aug 30, 2026
Import requirements & restrictions
Import licensing required
Post-Brexit divergence from the EU rows above: for most general goods, the UK recognizes the CE mark indefinitely as valid for the Great Britain market -- there is currently no announced deadline forcing a switch to the separate UKCA mark. This does NOT apply to all sectors: medical devices and construction products have their own sector-specific transitional deadlines (e.g. certain medical device classes' CE recognition ends 30 June 2026, most others 30 June 2028) -- check sector-specific status before relying on the general "CE still works" rule for those categories.
UK Government (Department for Business and Trade)
Duty & tax
- VAT (default rate)
- 20%
- MFN duty rate data
- Available
- Preferential rate
- Available under an applicable trade agreement
- Free duty calculator
- Check a duty rate for United Kingdom
Quick answers
What customs declaration form does United Kingdom require?
United Kingdom’s import declaration is the Full (Standard) Import Declaration -- Declaration Category H1, filed via the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Which languages does United Kingdom accept on a customs declaration?
English
What supporting documents are required to import into United Kingdom?
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill or CMR, certificates and licences where applicable
What is the VAT rate on imports into United Kingdom?
The default VAT rate on record for United Kingdom is 20%.