Pre-arrival information
Pre-arrival information is the mandatory electronic notice of a consignment sent to customs before it reaches the border.
What is pre-arrival information?
Pre-arrival information is the mandatory submission to customs of data about a consignment before it arrives at the border (for road and other modes of transport). It speeds up border crossing and reduces the risk of delay.
It is filed in advance by the carrier or broker, based on the shipping documents. That is why the data in your invoice, packing list and CMR must be accurate and consistent — they are what the notice is built from.
How it works in practice
Pre-arrival information is submitted to EAEU customs before the goods reach the border: the carrier or forwarder sends data on the goods, the vehicle and the documents electronically and receives a registration number. For road transport this is at least two hours before arrival.
We file it centrally for all our shipments — the driver shows the number at the border, the officer already sees the consignment in the system, and the queue moves faster. An error or missing pre-arrival information means a guaranteed delay of the truck at the border crossing.
Pre-arrival information: frequently asked questions
Who files the pre-arrival information?
The carrier, forwarder or customs representative, as agreed. On our groupage shipments our clearance team does it from the packing lists and CMR notes, so that the information matches the driver’s documents.
What happens if it is not filed?
The vehicle will not be allowed to leave the border crossing until the information is submitted on the spot — hours, sometimes a day, of waiting. Repeated violations expose the carrier to administrative penalties.
Does pre-arrival information replace the goods declaration?
No. It is only a notice of import so that border controls can be organised. The declaration is lodged separately, but the pre-arrival data can be used as the basis for a transit declaration and speed up clearance.
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