Following the end of the Brexit transition period on 1st January 2021, the Port of Holyhead is unable to process ATA carnets on site.
As at other significant UK ports, to help in avoiding delays, Holyhead Port is not able to directly deal with ATA carnets. For outbound and inbound journeys, in order to have your carnet processed, you should go to:
Roadking Truckstop
Parc Cybi
Kingsland
Holyhead
LL65 2YQ
They are open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm, Monday to Sunday, although you need to arrive no later than 9:45 pm. The Roadking Truckstop is close to junction 2 of the A55, about 1.5 miles short of the port itself.
If you are travelling from the North, or Midlands, a further option is to have your carnet processed on route at either:
Birmingham Inland Border Facility
Birmingham International Airport
BHX Car Park 6
B26 3QY
OR
Warrington Inland Border Facility
Barley Castle Lane
Appleton Thorn
Warrington
WA4 4SR
Both offer 24 hour opening, 7 days a week.
Making Arrangements
Once your crossing has been confirmed, let Border Force know the time and date you expect to arrive at Roadking Truckstop.
24 hours notice is required and you need to notify them on loads needing priority, such as carrying live animals. Their email address is BFHolyhead@HomeOffice.gov.uk and generally responds well during opening hours.
You also need to notify Irish Customs in advance, via nchfrontdesk@revenue.ie. Your vehicle registration, carnet number and date/time of departure should be included.
If driving a company vehicle, you need a pre-boarding notification (PBN) number, for inbound and outbound journeys. Email CustomsPBN@revenue.ie with scans of your carnet front cover and general list, along with the sailing date, time, ferry, ports of exit and entry.
You should receive the PBN number reasonably quickly by email. Hauliers can apply for their PBN numbers online.
At The Ports
Diversions looked likely after Brexit, although a 50% fall in traffic using Holyhead set this aside. Traffic has however picked up since then, not least with more Irish hauliers reverting to using the UK as a route to the EU.
There could now be times when pressure at the port is relieved by sending HGVs to Roadking but you still need to go there to have your ATA carnet processed. The Welsh government offer online traffic information with a location search.
Letting staff at the port, or at Roadking Truckstop know that you are travelling on an ATA carnet may help. They are asking everyone who can to leave as soon as possible after their carnet has been dealt with.
On arrival at Dublin, go to the goods to declare area. If returning to the UK on foot, go to the Border Force freight shed. Cars and vans should go to section T7 (after the tunnel) or New Custom House in Promenade Road (08.00 to 22.00). Freight vehicles to Terminal 11 (Bond Drive Extension) which is open 24/7.
Transporting Live Animals
When an ATA Carnet is being used to transport live animals, you should notify Border Force about your travel plans. The principle is that processing will be prioritised, to minimise delays.
UK traders also need to lodge a travel plan with Defra before the start of a journey. Defra’s guide to animal welfare and live transport provides more information.
If we can help with this type of journey, or any use of an ATA carnet, please contact our support team at any time.