Transit and temporary movement
Transit procedures move goods under customs control between two points, or into and out of a territory temporarily. The documentation and guarantees are different from an ordinary import, and the movements are usually time-limited.
TCSA reviews your enquiry and helps identify suitable member providers. The appointed provider confirms the scope and quotation.
What this covers
Hauliers and forwarders moving goods under transit, businesses sending equipment abroad for events, exhibitions, testing or repair, and organisations moving goods through a third country en route.
Transit declarations
Opening and discharging transit movements, including the guarantee arrangements the procedure requires.
Temporary admission and export
Movement of goods that will return, with the documentation needed to avoid a permanent import charge.
Guarantees and securities
Advice on the guarantee level and form required for the movement, and support arranging it.
Discharge evidence
Tracking movement closure so goods are not left open on the system after arrival.
Who performs the work: A member provider with transit experience on the corridor concerned. Transit corridors vary considerably, so the provider is matched to the route rather than to the country of the customer.
Limits: Transit does not suspend prohibitions and restrictions. Controlled goods still need the licences or authorisations that apply to them.
How membership and accreditation differInformation to have ready
None of this is required to send an enquiry. It helps us confirm the appropriate route and the scope faster.
- Office of departure and office of destination
- Goods description and value
- Transport mode and route
- Whether the goods will return, and when
- Existing guarantee arrangements, if any
- Movement deadlines
What happens next
The same four steps apply whatever the service. Timings are agreed with you rather than promised up front.
- 01
Route review
We confirm the procedure that fits the movement and the offices involved.
- 02
Requirements
Guarantee level, documents and any permits are identified in writing.
- 03
Arrangement
The movement is opened with the agreed member provider, and the reference is passed to you.
- 04
Closure
Discharge is confirmed so no liability remains open on the movement.
What affects the price
Charges reflect the number of movements, the guarantee required and the corridor. Guarantee costs are separate from the handling fee and are confirmed before the movement opens.
Submitting the enquiry is free. The service itself is quoted before any work begins.
The provider who delivers the work sets its own rates. TCSA does not set them.
Where this is available
Enquiries accepted across the eight TCSA markets, with corridor availability confirmed case by case.
Availability on a specific lane, site or regime is confirmed during review.
Who handles the work
Reviewed by staff experienced in transit documentation and guarantee arrangements, with member providers selected for corridor experience.
Membership of TCSA is not a statutory licence, and neither membership nor accreditation guarantees the performance of any provider. Scope and charges are agreed with you before work begins.
Questions about this service
Related services
Customs clearance and brokerage
Support with import, export and transit declarations where goods cross a customs border. TCSA reviews the requirement and identifies a suitable member brokerage for the trade lane involved.
Road freight
Road freight covers the movement of goods by trailer, including cross-border road movements within Europe and inland legs at either end of an air or sea shipment. It suits palletised goods on predictable corridors.
Customs warehousing and bonded storage
Customs and excise warehouses hold goods with duty suspended until they are released, re-exported or moved on. The regime suits importers who need to defer duty, consolidate shipments or store goods for a market they are still developing.
The process
How an enquiry works
Find customs, freight and trade services through TCSA. Tell us what you need and we will review your enquiry, connect you with suitable member providers, or confirm whether TCSA can deliver the service directly. Submitting an enquiry does not book work or accept a quotation, and does not guarantee that a provider is available.
- 01
Choose a service and tell us what you need
Pick the service that fits and describe the requirement. It takes a couple of minutes.
- 02
TCSA reviews the requirement
We confirm the appropriate next step: a member provider, a TCSA-delivered service, or a managed sourcing process.
- 03
The agreed route responds
Suitable member providers or the TCSA team respond according to the route you agreed to.
- 04
You decide whether to proceed
Review the scope, the provider and the pricing before committing to anything.
Membership
What members get on services
You do not need to be a member to enquire. Membership changes the rate you pay and the way opportunities are routed to you as a provider.
For buyers
- Preferential rates on eligible services, confirmed with your quotation.
- Eligibility checked against your membership record, not a self-declaration.
- One enquiry route covering customs, freight, compliance and inspections.
For member providers
- Enquiries matched to your stated services, countries and language capability.
- Only enquiries you are assigned to are visible to you, in the Member Portal.
- Your details are shared only where the customer has permitted it.
Buying a service has no bearing on accreditation. Accreditation is assessed separately against published criteria.