Import Entry Number for non-UK seller importing to UK FBA
I am US seller. I have EORI and VAT. Until recently I happily sent boxes by DHL directly to Amazon UK FBA. With last shipment Amazon asks new thing: Import Entry Number. It gives me 2 choices to select:
- This shipment has import entry number(s)
- This shipment does not have import entry number(s)
Import Entry Number is issued when goods are at UK Customs. Obviously when my box is not sent yet, I don’t have IEN yet. And I doubt that DHL will provide me IEN ever.
I also cannot select option 2, because Amazon shows this:
"By confirming that this shipment does not have import entry numbers, you confirm that no import entry numbers were issued for this shipment OR the goods delivered from within the EU. "
How do you import to UK if you are not UK based and don’t have IEN?
I asked support, but got this response. It doesn’t make matter any better or clear.
From your email I understand that you are concerned about the IEN numbers which is restricted you to create the Shipment ID: , , , Let me assist you in this regard with information.
I understand that you have shipping the units by the carrier DHL from United States to UK. I would like to inform you that if you are registered with UK business then you don’t need to enter the IEN number and you can choose the option “The shipment does not have import entry number(s)”.
If you are not registered with UK business then you must enter the IEN number. Since you are not the EU based seller, you are required to update the Import Entry Number.
I would also like to inform you that if the units were directly delivering to the FBA warehouse means, the IEN number is not required. If it is goes to customs clearance, you have to enter the IEN number in the shipment.
The IEN is issued to the customs declarant which may be your logistics agent or freight forwarder. If you are using a freight forwarder, they may be able to communicate the IEN to you. There may be cases in which shipments are not allocated IENs, or you may not have access to them. Please check with your logistics provider/carrier or the Customs Authority at the time of importation.
Have a nice day!
8 replies
Seller_x1xMSBwZsJrTE
If that’s still the case then surely you don’t need an IEN…
Seller_tRQGc8daFr4wu
Option 2 is if IEN was not issued at all. Option 2 is not my case. Most likely IEN is issued for my shipments as I am charged appropriate import tariff duty and VAT by customs and HMRC. DHL just doesn’t relay IEN to me. Even if they relay IEN to me, it will be after my shipment is delivered. The whole delivery usually takes 2-3 days from US to UK FBA.
The Amazon IEN process for FBA shipments assumes that all sellers first import goods to UK seller address and then re-ship from UK seller to UK FBA. Sloppy programmers or their managers didn’t think that someone will ship from outside of Europe directly to UK FBA. Ooops… 
Seller_tRQGc8daFr4wu
After long discussion I finally got meaningful response from Customer Service:
At this time you do not need to complete the Import Entry Number as the shipment has not yet been shipped.
The Import Entry Number would be provided by the Customs office when the shipment clears customs and only then does this portion of the shipment need to be completed.
If the shipment is not allocated a Import Entry Number when clearing customs or you do not have access to the number at that time you can then select the option stating the shipment does not have a import entry number.
Seller_tRQGc8daFr4wu
After shipment was delivered to FBA, I went to DHL UK website and asked customer support online. They sent me EIN for my Waybill number to my email address within 1 hour. That was easy.
