01
LRN is created
Your mover or customs agent creates a unique Local Reference Number for the shipment.
GUIDE
LRN Explained: Export Setup for UK to Germany Moves
Understand what the Local Reference Number does, why it comes before the MRN, and how it fits into the customs chain for UK to Germany household moves.
Start planning
Use the planner to structure export setup before the move starts.
What is an LRN?
Direct answer
The Local Reference Number is the first identifier used to create and track a declaration before customs issues the official MRN.
The LRN is created by the declarant and used to identify the shipment before customs acceptance.
In a UK to Germany move, it sits at the start of the customs chain and is one of the references used during export and transit preparation.
Where the LRN fits in the customs chain
System connection
CDS → LRN → MRN → T1 → German clearance
The LRN exists before the MRN. Customs uses it to access the declaration before formal acceptance.
Once the declaration is accepted, the system creates the MRN and the movement can continue into the next customs stage.
How the LRN works in practice
Core process
02
Declaration is submitted
The LRN is included in the customs declaration sent to the relevant customs system.
03
Customs accesses the declaration
The LRN is used to retrieve and validate the declaration before acceptance.
04
MRN is issued
After acceptance, customs generates the MRN, which becomes the official movement reference.
The LRN is not the final customs reference. It is the early-stage identifier that allows the file to move forward.
What can go wrong with an LRN
Common issues
- Duplicate reference used for another declaration
- Incorrect or incomplete data at submission stage
- Driver or haulier missing the correct reference at departure
- Mismatch between declaration data and shipment details
LRN in simple terms
Summary
The LRN is the first customs identifier for the shipment.
It allows customs to locate the declaration before acceptance and before the official MRN exists.
In practical terms, it is part of the export setup layer that has to be correct before the move can progress smoothly.
LRN questions
Is the LRN the same as the MRN?
No. The LRN comes first; the MRN is generated after customs accepts the declaration.
Who creates the LRN?
Usually the declarant, such as your mover or customs agent.
Why does the LRN matter?
Because the shipment cannot move into the next customs stage without a correctly created declaration reference.
What happens if the LRN is wrong?
The declaration can be rejected or delayed before departure.
Set up your export reference before anything moves
The LRN is the first step in the customs chain. Get this wrong and everything after breaks.