Shipping packages to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework

From May 1st, 2025, the Windsor Framework will introduce new requirements for shipping parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

This guide explains what’s changing, how it affects you, and what you need to do to keep your shipments running smoothly.

What is the Windsor Framework?

The Windsor Framework is a post-Brexit arrangement designed to address issues that arose from the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Due to Northern Ireland’s unique position of sharing a land border with the EU, the framework ensures that goods can move smoothly between Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI) while maintaining the integrity of both the EU and UK markets.

This framework will introduce new requirements for parcel shipments from GB to NI starting 1 May 2025, replacing the temporary waivers that have been in place since Brexit.

What's changing?

The Windsor Framework will introduce several key changes, simplifying and improving the process of sending parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland:

A new two-lane system for goods

Green Lane: This is for goods staying in Northern Ireland, where checks and customs declarations are significantly reduced.

Red Lane: Goods that may move onward into the EU must go through more rigorous checks, including full customs declarations.

UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS):

UKIMS is a crucial part of the Windsor Framework, allowing business-to-business shipments to move through the Green Lane. To qualify, either the sender or the receiver must register and confirm that the goods are not at risk of entering the EU. This registration helps reduce the administrative burden and removes duties for eligible shipments, making the process more straightforward for businesses.

Consumer-to-Consumer Shipments:

If you're sending a parcel as a private individual (for example, a gift), you won’t need to provide a customs declaration or commodity code. You’ll just need to give your carrier a clear and accurate description of the goods as part of the standard booking process. This keeps things simple for personal shipments while still meeting the framework’s requirements.

For further details and official guidance, you can refer to the UK government’s Windsor Framework information page. It provides the most up-to-date requirements for moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Get in touch:

If you have questions about how the Windsor Framework might affect your shipping options, we're here to help. Our team is available to provide guidance and support whenever you need it.