prerequisites for passing through the border
To ensure the smooth flow of freight traffic and offer the best possible service to our customers, customs procedures must be carried out BEFORE the vehicle or trailer arrives at the port of Calais (and Dover) with the French and British authorities.
FOR THE MOST PART, THESE FORMALITIES ARE CARRIED OUT BY THE SHIPPER OR THEIR CUSTOMS REPRESENTATIVE (RDE).
ROAD HAULIERS:
Make sure that the customs formalities relating to the goods you're transporting have been completed BEFORE sending the vehicle or trailer to the port, and that your driver is in possession of the MRN bar codes or the TAD (French customs references for the goods being transported) and GMR number (UK customs references).
Vehicles will not be able to board if they don’t have the correct customs references.
These requirements apply to accompanied and unaccompanied mode.
As of September 1, 2025: ELO mandatory
Starting September 1, 2025, ELO (L’Enveloppe Logistique Obligatoire, or Mandatory Logistics Envelope) will be required when crossing the smart border between France and the United Kingdom.
The ELO tool deployed by Customs makes pairing at the Brexit smart border more reliable by grouping all customs declarations under a single barcode.
Truck drivers (loaded or empty) must present this unique ELO reference to cross the smart border, for both imports and exports.
More info: https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/enveloppe-logistique-obligatoire-elo-un-passage-cle-pour-les-echanges-roro-avec-le-royaume
