The UK customs landscape for international postal operations changed significantly on 16 July 2025, when the Customs (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 came into force. This legislation introduced a new authorisation scheme specifically designed for foreign postal operators handling goods destined for the United Kingdom.

If your business is involved in importing goods via international post, or if you work with overseas postal carriers, this article explains the key changes, who is affected, and what the practical implications are for customs compliance.

The official legislation is published at: The Customs (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 – GOV.UK.

Background: Why a New Authorisation Scheme?

International postal operators — national post services and similar carriers from countries outside the UK — have historically operated under a different customs framework than commercial freight carriers. As e-commerce has grown exponentially, the volume of postal imports has increased dramatically, and the existing rules were not designed to handle the scale or complexity of modern international parcel flows.

The 2025 regulations create a formalised, structured relationship between HMRC and foreign postal operators, enabling them to use certain customs simplifications while meeting security and revenue-protection standards that apply to other operators.

Key Features of the New Authorisation Scheme

Scale: 30–40 Foreign Postal Operators

The new scheme is expected to cover approximately 30 to 40 foreign postal operators. These are the national postal services of key trading partner countries — organisations like Deutsche Post, La Poste, Australia Post, and similar national carriers worldwide — that regularly dispatch goods to UK recipients.

Authorisation is not automatic. Foreign postal operators must apply and demonstrate that they meet the required standards for customs data accuracy, security, and compliance management.

Postal Customs Simplifications

Authorised foreign postal operators gain access to customs simplifications that are designed to streamline the processing of postal items. These simplifications recognise the practical realities of postal operations, where individual items may be worth only a few pounds but are processed in extremely high volumes.

The simplifications allow authorised operators to use alternative customs declaration procedures that are more compatible with the postal processing environment, while still ensuring that HMRC has access to the data it needs for revenue collection and security purposes.

CN22/CN23 Forms: No Longer Required for General Correspondence

One of the most practically significant changes is that CN22 and CN23 customs declaration forms are no longer required for general correspondence handled by authorised postal operators.

Previously, items classified as general correspondence (letters, documents, and similar non-commercial items) were still required to have CN22 (for items up to 2kg) or CN23 (for items over 2kg) labels attached. This administrative requirement was a source of friction for both senders and postal operators.

Under the new scheme, authorised operators processing genuine general correspondence are exempt from this requirement, reducing administrative burden without compromising customs control over goods that may be liable to duty or VAT.

Note: the exemption applies to general correspondence, not to goods (commercial items). Packages containing goods still require appropriate customs documentation.

Implementation Costs

The government’s impact assessment provides transparency on the costs associated with implementing the new scheme:

• IT costs: £2.5 million — investment in the systems required to process applications, manage authorisations, and interface with foreign postal operators’ data systems.
• Staffing costs over 5 years: £0.7 million — the additional HMRC personnel required to administer the authorisation scheme, process applications, and monitor compliance.

These figures reflect HMRC’s resource requirements; the costs for foreign postal operators themselves in adapting their systems to meet UK requirements are separate and will vary by operator.

What Does This Mean for UK Importers?

If you regularly import goods via international post — whether you are a business importing components or finished goods, or a high-volume individual importer — the 2025 changes have several implications:

1. Improved data quality: Authorised operators are required to provide better data about the items they carry, which should mean more accurate duty and VAT assessments and fewer delays caused by incomplete information.
2. Faster processing for compliant items: Where operators are authorised and data is complete, items should clear customs more quickly.
3. Continued scrutiny of non-authorised operators: Items arriving via postal operators that are not authorised under the new scheme will continue to be handled under existing rules, potentially with more rigorous inspection.
4. No change to duty liability: The new scheme changes the process of customs clearance for postal items, not the underlying liability to pay customs duty and VAT where applicable.

For businesses managing complex postal import operations, working with specialists in postal customs clearance can help navigate the new requirements efficiently.

What Does This Mean for Foreign Postal Operators?

Foreign postal operators wishing to benefit from the simplifications under the new scheme must:

• Submit an application for authorisation to HMRC
• Demonstrate compliance with data and security requirements
• Implement IT systems capable of transmitting required customs data electronically to UK systems
• Maintain records and submit to HMRC audits as required
• Comply with conditions set out in their authorisation at all times

The authorisation is not a one-time formality — it requires ongoing compliance and can be suspended or revoked if standards are not maintained.

The Broader Context: UK Customs Modernisation

The 2025 postal operator regulations are part of a wider programme of UK customs modernisation following Brexit. The UK Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) and various amendments to the Customs and Excise Management Act framework are collectively reshaping how goods — including postal items — enter the UK.

The direction of travel is clear: more data, more automation, more pre-arrival information, and greater differentiation between compliant trusted traders and those who require more intensive scrutiny. The postal operator authorisation scheme is a component of this overall strategy.

For comprehensive support with parcel import services in the UK, specialist customs agents can provide end-to-end solutions. Explore parcel import services tailored to your needs.

FAQ — Foreign Postal Operator Authorisation 2025

Conclusion

The introduction of the foreign postal operator authorisation scheme from July 2025 marks a significant step in bringing international postal customs operations into the modern UK customs framework. The new regime balances operational simplifications for high-volume, compliant operators with the data and security requirements that HMRC needs to protect UK revenue and borders.

For importers, the message is straightforward: items arriving via authorised postal operators should experience smoother and more predictable clearance, while the underlying duty and VAT obligations remain unchanged. Staying informed about which operators are authorised and ensuring your suppliers use appropriate documentation remains important for smooth import operations.