Customs Declaration Service (CDS) Downtime Scheduled for 4–5 July 2026

BY:

Gail Leeson
4 July 2026

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HMRC has advised that the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) will be unavailable from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 5 July 2026 due to scheduled maintenance.

During this period, CDS will be unavailable for the following duration:


From: Saturday 4 July 2026, 20:00

Until: Sunday 5 July 2026, 02:30

 

Do not submit declarations during the outage period

HMRC advises users not to submit declarations during the outage period, from 20:00 on Saturday 4 July to 02:30 on Sunday 5 July 2026.


HMRC has also advised that creating, updating or embarking a goods movement reference (GMR) during this time may be affected.


Goods with pre-lodged declarations attached to a GMR will be permitted to move using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS).


GVMS service availability is published here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/goods-vehicle-movement-service-service-availability-and-issues


Check GVMS declaration status — Imports

For import movements using GVMS, users should check the declaration status and manually arrive the goods when required.


Further information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/manually-arrive-your-goods-in-the-uk


Controlled goods with pre-lodged import declarations

If consignments containing controlled goods are moving under pre-lodged declarations, users are advised to attend the relevant port inspection facility or inland border facility to have the goods inspected and released where required.


A list of goods controlled on import is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/list-of-goods-imported-into-great-britain-from-the-eu-that-are-controlled


Exports

Export movements should have Permission to Progress (P2P) before travelling.



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