First-time importers
Importing for the first time? We'll clear it for you.
Our in-house customs team walks you through every step, from getting your EORI number to getting your goods released. No jargon, no guesswork.
Air freight from
£15
Sea freight from
£25
Help getting your EORI number set up
Duty and VAT worked out before you ship
Use our deferment account, so there's nothing to set up
Get my clearance quote
Tell us what's coming in. A member of our customs team will get back to you within 30 minutes in working hours.
Thank you for reaching out
We have received your submission
and will be in touch soon.
Thank you for reaching out
We have received your submission
and will be in touch soon.
Thank you for reaching out
We have received your submission
and will be in touch soon.
Our accreditations and partnerships
Our accreditations and partnerships
Our accreditations and partnerships
Sound familiar?
Your first import shouldn't feel like a gamble
Customs is full of codes and forms nobody explains. Get one wrong and your goods sit at port while the bills pile up.
"What do I need?"
EORI numbers, commodity codes, invoices. Nobody tells you what's missing until your goods are stuck.
"What will it cost?"
Duty and VAT you didn't budget for, plus port charges if anything is late.
"Who do I ask?"
Your forwarder passes your paperwork to an agent you never speak to.
"Who do I ask?"
Your forwarder passes your paperwork to an agent you never speak to.
There's a simpler way.
How we're different
Talk to the people doing the work
Most forwarders hand your clearance to an outside agent. We do it ourselves, so you can ask the person who's actually lodging your entry.
Most forwarders
Expect you to know which documents you need
Pass your entry to an outside agent you never speak to
Leave duty and VAT as a surprise when your goods land
Expect you to have your own deferment account
Put you through to whoever picks up the phone
Walk you through everything before you ship
Clear your goods with our own licensed customs team
Work out your duty and VAT before your goods land
Let you use our deferment account, so there’s nothing to set up
Give you one named contact from start to finish
Our bonded warehouse
Not ready to pay duty yet? Store it in bond.
Not ready to pay duty yet? Store it in bond.
Our own bonded warehouse near Felixstowe Port lets you hold your goods without paying duty or VAT upfront.
Our own bonded warehouse near Felixstowe Port lets you hold your goods without paying duty or VAT upfront.
01
Pay when you're ready
Duty and VAT are only due when your goods leave the warehouse.
01
Pay when you're ready
Duty and VAT are only due when your goods leave the warehouse.
02
Cleared on site
Our team clears your goods where they're stored. No outside agent.
02
Cleared on site
Our team clears your goods where they're stored. No outside agent.
03
Delivered when you need them
Our own trucks bring your stock to you, all at once or bit by bit.
03
Delivered when you need them
Our own trucks bring your stock to you, all at once or bit by bit.
Near Felixstowe Port
70,000 sq ft of space
24/7 CCTV security
What's included
What you get with every clearance
What you get with every clearance
No outside agent involved. Everything below is done by our own team.
No outside agent involved. Everything below is done by our own team.
Your import declaration lodged with HMRC on CDS
HS code classification check
Duty and import VAT worked out before your goods land
Use of our deferment account
GVMS and GMR for road freight through ferry ports
HMRC queries, holds and inspections handled for you
Post-clearance amendments if anything needs correcting
Updates at every stage from a named contact
Air freight clearance
from
£15
Sea freight clearance
from
£25
Your quote confirms the exact price before we start.
How it works
Your first import, step by step
Your first import,
step by step
Why Mercium
Built for first-time importers
Built for first-time importers
We explain things in plain English and stay with you until your goods arrive.
We explain things in plain English and stay with you until your goods arrive.
Plain-English help
We explain what you need and why, before you ship.
No surprise costs
Duty and VAT worked out in advance.
Use our deferment account
Pay duty and VAT through us, with nothing to set up.
Our own customs licence
The team that advises you is the team that lodges your entry.
Our own bonded warehouse
Store goods without paying duty upfront.
Delivered to your door
Our own fleet of 120+ trucks.
Proof
Importers who trust us with their clearance
Importers who trust us with their clearance
Real people, real shipments, real results.
Real people, real shipments, real results.
Case study
Bolt Rush: a first UK launch, cleared without penalties
THE PROBLEM
Bolt Rush was launching in the UK for the first time, with more than 10,000 units forecast for the first quarter. The documentation rules weren't clear, which put shipments at risk of holds, delays and penalties.
WHAT WE DID
We handled the customs paperwork, freight and delivery into the UK, and made sure every product met UK rules before it shipped.
THE RESULT
A launch with no stock-outs, with stock stored and packed in our UK warehouse, ready for Amazon.
What our clients say
Real messages, shared with permission.
Mercium's tailored logistics solutions and proactive updates ensure our shipments move smoothly and on schedule.
K. Krudysz
Northumberland GmbH
Mercium's tailored logistics solutions and proactive updates ensure our shipments move smoothly and on schedule.
K. Krudysz
Northumberland GmbH
All done. Your first shipment is cleared and on its way to you.
Thank you for walking me through everything. Much easier than I expected!
All done. Your first shipment is cleared and on its way to you.
Thank you for walking me through everything. Much easier than I expected!
All done. Your first shipment is cleared and on its way to you.
Thank you for walking me through everything. Much easier than I expected!
Mercium provides cost-effective, flexible transport solutions, ensuring our retail deliveries are always on time and efficient.
S. Lekehal
Euro Customs
Mercium provides cost-effective, flexible transport solutions, ensuring our retail deliveries are always on time and efficient.
S. Lekehal
Euro Customs
Our accreditations
and partnerships
What they mean for you and your goods.
Our own customs licence. We're authorised to lodge customs declarations with HMRC ourselves, so your entry never goes through a middleman.
BIFA member. We trade under the British International Freight Association's standard terms, the benchmark for UK forwarders.
FIATA. Part of the international federation of freight forwarders, which sets the global standards our industry works to.
JCTrans Elite member. We're one of the biggest JCTrans partners in the UK, working with vetted forwarders where your goods are shipped from.
WCA Inter Global. Part of the world's largest network of independent freight forwarders, so we have trusted partners in almost every country you import from.
DF Alliance. A global alliance of independent forwarders that gives us more reliable partners at origin, and a smoother handover when your goods reach the UK.
FAQ
Answers to your questions
Still unsure? Send us your question and our customs team will get back to you.
Do I need an EORI number?
Yes. Any business importing into the UK needs a GB EORI number. It’s free from HMRC and usually takes a few days. We’ll tell you exactly how to apply and check it’s set up before your goods ship.
What’s a commodity (HS) code?
It’s the code that tells HMRC what your goods are and decides how much duty you pay. Using the wrong one is the most common cause of delays and overpaid duty, so our team classifies your goods for you.
How much duty and VAT will I pay?
It depends on what the goods are, where they come from and their value. We work it out before you ship, so there are no surprises.
Do I need my own deferment account?
No. You can use ours to pay duty and VAT, so your goods clear without delay.
Do you actually do the clearance yourselves?
Yes. We hold our own customs licence, and our in-house team prepares and lodges every declaration. We never pass your entry to another agent.
How much does customs clearance cost?
Air freight clearance starts from £15 and sea freight from £25. Your quote confirms the exact price for your shipment before we start.
What documents do I need?
Usually your commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air), plus your GB EORI number. We check everything before your goods arrive and tell you straight away if anything’s missing.
What if HMRC queries my entry?
We deal with it directly, because we lodged it. If HMRC asks a question or selects your goods for a check, our team handles it and keeps you updated. If anything on the entry needs correcting, we make the amendment for you.
What happens after I send the form?
A member of our customs team (not a call centre) will get back to you within 30 minutes in working hours. We’ll ask a few questions about your shipment and send you a quote. No obligation, and no one chasing you afterwards.
Get your first import right.
Tell us what you're bringing in, and we'll tell you exactly what you need and what it will cost.
Air freight from £15, sea freight from £25
Cleared by our own licensed team
No obligation, and no one chasing you
Get my clearance quote
Tell us what's coming in. A member of our customs team will get back to you within 30 minutes in working hours.
Thank you for reaching out
We have received your submission
and will be in touch soon.
Get your first import right.
Tell us what you're bringing in, and we'll tell you exactly what you need and what it will cost.
Air freight from £15, sea freight from £25
Cleared by our own licensed team
No obligation, and no one chasing you
Get my clearance quote
Tell us what's coming in. A member of our customs team will get back to you within 30 minutes in working hours.
Thank you for reaching out
We have received your submission
and will be in touch soon.
Get your first import right.
Tell us what you're bringing in, and we'll tell you exactly what you need and what it will cost.
Air freight from £15, sea freight from £25
Cleared by our own licensed team
No obligation, and no one chasing you
Get my clearance quote
Tell us what's coming in. A member of our customs team will get back to you within 30 minutes in working hours.
Thank you for reaching out
We have received your submission
and will be in touch soon.