Guides / Sevington inland border facility · Updated 19 October 2026

Sevington inland border facility: a guide for hauliers and drivers

The Sevington inland border facility near Ashford is where lorries crossing through Dover or Eurotunnel go when their goods are held for checks, when a transit movement must start or end, or when carnets, CITES permits or SPS goods need attention. Here is who is sent there, how drivers find out and what happens on site.

What the Sevington inland border facility is

Inland border facilities are UK government sites where customs and document checks take place away from the port. HMRC uses them as an office of departure for outbound transit journeys and an office of destination for inbound ones, and for carnet and CITES work. Sevington is the facility serving Kent traffic.

According to GOV.UK, the Sevington inland border facility is at Ashford, TN25 6GE, south-east of Ashford at junction 10a of the M20, about 50 miles south-east of London. Access is from the A2070 dual carriageway through a single signalised junction with separate entrance and exit lanes. Inside there is a one-way system and two sections: a lorry waiting area used for traffic management, and the inland border facility itself. HMRC says its inland border facility sites are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What happens at Sevington

GOV.UK lists these functions at the site:

• starting a transit movement (office of departure);
• ending a transit movement (office of destination);
• stamping ATA and TIR carnets;
• processing CITES permits;
• sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks, which take place at the Sevington border control post on the same site;
• traffic management.

The border control post is a Defra inspection post. It carries out SPS checks on certain goods entering through the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel, including animal products, high and medium risk plants and plant products, and high risk food and feed of non-animal origin. For most of these goods, the importer must notify the post in advance with a common health entry document. If you import food or plants, our guide to IPAFFS pre-notification covers that step.

Who gets directed to Sevington

HMRC is clear that you only need to attend an inland border facility if you are travelling through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel or Holyhead. For the Kent crossings, that means Sevington in these situations:

• Inbound goods held for checks. You are bringing goods into the country and have been told to report for an inspection. Hauliers with an existing commercial agreement can use the customs checking facility at the border instead.
• Transit movements. You need to start or end a Common Transit Convention movement, unless an authorised consignor or consignee handles it. Our guide to T1 transit explains how those movements work.
• Carnets and CITES. You need an ATA or TIR carnet stamped or a CITES permit processed.
• Border Force direction. Border Force stops the vehicle or load within the port and tells you to attend.

You do not need to attend with an empty vehicle, when travelling through other ports, when an authorised consignor or consignee handles your transit, or for import and export procedures other than transit. HMRC also warns that outbound traffic must be "border ready" before reaching the Kent ports or it will be turned back and could be fined; traffic that is not ready should get ready at Sevington first.

How drivers are told

For movements through GVMS, the driver enters the goods movement reference in HMRC's check if you need to report for an inspection service. The result is inspection needed, no inspection needed, or not ready yet. Coming into the UK, HMRC suggests checking around 10 minutes before reaching the arrival location; Defra's guidance for the border control post adds that drivers should recheck before the point of entry and watch ferry or train screens for instructions. Our guide to checking GMR status explains each result.

For SPS goods not moving through GVMS, IPAFFS gives an initial risk assessment when the import notification is submitted, and Defra sends a text and email about 2 hours before the estimated arrival if checks are required. Even where IPAFFS shows no check, drivers should keep watching for messages.

Held goods must be taken to the facility directly and must be in the same condition as at importation, so no unloading or reloading on the way.

What to bring

Goods without arrived import entries need temporary storage, possibly at another facility at your own expense; HMRC states that inland border facilities cannot be used for commercial storage.

On site, step by step

1. Follow the signs; traffic management marshals greet you and direct you to a vacant HGV space. Number plate cameras log entry and exit.
2. Security marshals make a quick visual check at the entry point. Once parked, switch the engine off and keep it off.
3. If your goods are held for a compliance check, tell front office staff when you arrive.
4. Take your documents to the front office and wait in your vehicle while they are processed. You receive either an approval and exit receipt, or a non-approval that follows a separate process.
5. For SPS checks, the border control post assigns an unloading bay; the driver waits in the welfare facility rather than with the goods. After inspection, goods may be released, held or failed.
6. Once checks are complete you get a card to put in your window, stop at the vehicle exit check point, and leave by the A2070 junction. HMRC says you should leave immediately.

HMRC estimates between 1 and 2 hours at a facility for customs clearance. Sevington provides toilets, hand washing and water for drivers parked on site, with first-aid trained staff; cookers and fires are not permitted.

For an operational view of documents and timings from the driver's side, see what happens at Sevington IBF.

Related guides

• BTOM border controls in practice: what a haulier and driver experience

• How to create a GMR on GOV.UK: a step-by-step guide

• GVMS, ENS and EXS for the France crossing: what each one does

Sources

• Sevington inland border facility (GOV.UK)
• What to do when attending an inland border facility (GOV.UK)
• Sevington border control post (GOV.UK)
• Attending an inland border facility (GOV.UK)
• Check if you need to report for an inspection (GOV.UK service)

General information, not legal, tax or customs advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements on gov.uk or with a registered agent before you ship.