Royal Mail and
The Windsor Framework
The Windsor Framework, the agreement between the UK and the EU amending the Northern Ireland Protocol and the legal instruments which sit beneath it, including but not limited to statutory guidance, comes into effect from 31 March 2025. We would encourage customers to familiarise themselves with the requirements. The Windsor Framework does not affect goods movements from Northern Ireland to Great Britain or from Northern Ireland to Northern Ireland.
While we will provide further information on the detailed timeline for the coming into effect of the new arrangements in due course, businesses should be fully prepared for them by 31 March 2025.
The Windsor Framework will come into effect from 31 March 2025. The regulations for sending goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will change. Customers sending goods must provide additional data depending on whether the parcel is a Business to Consumer (B2C), Consumer to Consumer (C2C), Consumer to Business (C2B) or Business to Business (B2B).
The Government recently confirmed the Windsor Framework will come into effect from 31 March 2025. You can continue to send goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with Royal Mail as you do today until the arrangements come into force.
We continue to work with the Government to ensure that goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will continue to flow smoothly and efficiently throughout the transition. We will work with you to ensure we are well placed to manage the impact of any required changes.
We will share further information with you as soon as we can.
Please follow these links for the latest government updates:
Windsor Framework
- Future arrangements for moving parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework
- Sending parcels to and from Northern Ireland
Guidance for UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS)
For business to business (B2B) movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, Royal Mail will initially only move goods classified as ‘not at risk’. B2B goods movements classified as ‘not at risk’ with a total goods value up to and including £135 do not require a UKIMS registration. We recommend business customers familiarise themselves with the requirements around the UKIMS scheme.
All Prohibited and Restricted goods movements will need to comply with Royal Mail’s lists, available on our website, and you and the recipient will need to meet the relevant data requirements for this traffic type.
If you have B2B goods to send from Great Britain to Northern Ireland which are classified as ‘at risk’ we may be able to carry these goods on a Parcelforce Worldwide service. For account enquiries, please contact 03448 429102.
Our latest Terms and Conditions
(1) Goods ‘not at risk’ relates to B2B movements only. Goods categorised as ‘not at risk’ of entry to the EU, will require a reduced dataset compared to those goods categorised as ‘at risk’. Government guidance can be found here.
For business to business (B2B) movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, business customers are encouraged to apply for authorisation to the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS). This authorisation can, alongside other criteria, enable you to declare goods ‘not at risk’ of onward transport to the EU.
B2B goods movements classified as ‘not at risk’ with a value up to and including £135 do not require UKIMS registration.
The Windsor Framework requires that additional data is provided to send goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland; the data required depends on the type of parcel movement. Our shipping solutions will mandate these data fields when you are sending goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
| Movement Type | Definition | Additional data to be provided by the customer |
|---|---|---|
| Business to Consumer (B2C) |
Parcels sent by a business in Great Britain to a private individual residing in Northern Ireland for personal use. | Goods description, confirmation of goods categorisation by item (optional), weight (by item), value (by item), country of origin. |
| Consumer to Business (C2B) |
Parcels sent by a private individual in Great Britain to a business in Northern Ireland (for example, a customer returning an item to a shop). | Goods description, confirmation of goods categorisation by item (optional), weight (by item), value (by item), country of origin, returned goods indicator. |
| Business to Business (B2B - value of goods above £135) |
Parcels sent by a business in Great Britain to a business in Northern Ireland. | Exporter / sender details (inc. EORI), importer / receiver details (inc. EORI), value (total, not by item), country of origin, gross mass, goods description, confirmation of goods categorisation by item (optional), UKIMS number. |
| Business to Business (B2B - value of goods £135 or less) |
Parcels sent by a business in Great Britain to a business in Northern Ireland where total goods value up to and including £135. | Exporter / sender details (inc. EORI), importer / receiver details (inc. EORI), value (total, not by item), country of origin, gross mass, goods description, confirmation of goods categorisation by item (mandatory), UKIMS number. |
The above data is indicative and subject to change in line with government guidance.
For B2B movements, where UKIMS registration is not presented with the parcel data, the sending customer may be liable to delays, customs charges or the parcel returned to the sender.
All new data required as a result of the Windsor Framework will be captured within the usual booking journey.
The new data required for online purchases is shown below.
| Movement Type | Definition | Additional data to be provided by the customer |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer to Consumer (C2C) |
Parcels sent by a private individual in Great Britain to a private individual residing in Northern Ireland for personal use. | Goods description, confirmation of goods categorisation by item (optional), weight (by item), value (by item). |
| Consumer to Business (C2B) |
Parcels sent by a private individual in Great Britain to a business in Northern Ireland (for example, a customer returning an item to a shop). | Goods description, confirmation of goods categorisation by item (optional), weight (by item), value (by item), country of origin, returned goods indicator. |
The above data is indicative and subject to change in line with government guidance.
Returns
There are no changes to our Returns services.
Frequently asked questions
The Windsor Framework only affects customers sending goods from Great Britain (Great Britain) to Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland). The new regulations do not affect goods sent from Northern Ireland to Great Britain or from Northern Ireland to Northern Ireland, or items of correspondence.
Yes. The regulations apply to all carriers and will take effect from 31 March 2025.
Only parcels containing goods are covered by the Windsor Framework.
- Business to consumer (B2C): Parcels sent by a business in Great Britain to a private individual residing in Northern Ireland for personal use.
- Consumer to business (C2B): Parcels sent by a private individual in Great Britain to a business in Northern Ireland (for example, a customer returning an item to a shop).
- Consumer to consumer (C2C): Parcels sent by a private individual in Great Britain to a private individual residing in Northern Ireland for personal use.
- Business to business (B2B): Parcels sent by a business in Great Britain to a business in Northern Ireland.
The new UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) allows registered businesses to provide a reduced dataset when sending B2B parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. UKIMS registration indicates the parcels being sent are categorised as ‘not at risk’ of entry into the EU.
UKIMS only applies to B2B movements. UKIMS-registered businesses will be required to provide a reduced dataset compared to businesses not UKIMS-registered. B2B goods movements categorised as ‘not at risk’ must be accompanied by a valid UKIMS registration.
Together with the reduced dataset requirements (compared to non-UKIMS B2B movements), a UKIMS registration will reduce the likelihood of goods movements being delayed or held for inspection, with potential custom charges applied.
Goods ‘not at risk’ relates to B2B movements only. Goods categorised as ‘not at risk’ of entry to the EU, will require a reduced dataset compared to those goods categorised as ‘at risk’. Government guidance
Goods ‘at risk’ relates to B2B movements only. Goods categorised as ‘at risk’ of entry to the EU, will need to meet greater data requirements.
There are no changes to our consumer offering. For business shipments Royal Mail will only process goods categorised as ‘not at risk’. For any ‘at risk’ goods, we may be able to carry these goods on a Parcelforce Worldwide service. For account enquiries contact 03448 429102.
Next Day services will be available for C2C, C2B, B2C and B2B. For B2B shipments Royal Mail will only process goods classified as ‘not at risk’. For goods classified as ‘at risk’ we may be able to carry these goods on a Parcelforce Worldwide service. For account enquiries contact 03448 429102.
Items containing only correspondence (including, but not limited to, personal and non-personal correspondence e.g. postcards, letters, braille letters, invoices and statements) and such other items, goods or articles which are classed as correspondence.
Click here for further details.
Items which are not categorised as correspondence, and which have an intrinsic or resale value, such as an item sent to fulfil a customer order, replacement parts, collectibles. This can include (but is not limited to) items sent without charge as gifts or samples.
Guidance can be found at the following link, which also covers items which are sent ‘free of charge’.
This is the country where the goods were manufactured. Where 2 or more countries are involved in the manufacture of goods, the country of origin is where the last substantial manufacturing or processing has been performed. In this instance, 'substantial' is deemed as giving a commodity its essential character.