The carrier01
Whoever brings the goods into the Union lodges it: the shipping line, the airline, the rail operator or the haulier (art. 127.4 of the Union Customs Code, UCC; CAU in Spanish, Regulation (EU) 952/2013).
ICS2 and the entry
summary declaration (ENS)
ICS2 (Import Control System 2) is the European Union system that receives the entry summary declaration (ENS, declaración sumaria de entrada): the security data that the carrier, or whoever holds that data, lodges before the goods arrive or are loaded. Since 1 June 2026, all goods entering the EU need a valid ENS.
The ENS is not lodged with the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT): it goes to the European Commission's harmonised interface, shared by all Member States. It is lodged in Spain when the first entry into the EU is on Spanish territory, and it covers all the goods on the means of transport, wherever they go next. The previous system, ICS1, has been closed in all modes since 01-01-2026.
Since when, and with what deadline,
is the ENS lodged in each mode?
ICS2 came in by phases (releases). The AEAT declared release 3 complete on 01-09-2025, and road, RoRo and rail closed ICS1 on 01-01-2026. Deadlines count before arrival or loading.
| Mode | ICS2 release | In ICS2 | Filing deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime | Release 3 | Since 2024 | 24 h before loading for containers; 4 h before arrival for bulk; 2 h before arrival from the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the Black Sea, Morocco, Iceland, Greenland or the Faroe Islands, and on voyages of less than 24 h |
| Inland waterways | Release 3 | Since 2024 | 2 h before arrival |
| Air | Release 2 | In operation | As soon as possible and before loading (the ENS or the minimum pre-loading data); the full ENS at actual departure if the flight takes less than 4 h, otherwise 4 h before arrival |
| Road | Release 3 | Since 01‑04‑2025 | 1 h before arrival |
| Rail | Release 3 | Since 01‑04‑2025 | 1 h before arrival if the journey from the last station outside the EU takes less than 2 h; otherwise 2 h |
General information; not advice. The 2 h maritime deadline also applies from the French overseas departments, the Azores, Madeira or the Canary Islands on voyages of less than 24 h.
Who lodges the ENS?
Whoever issues the house02
If the carrier does not have all the data, the freight forwarder or the NVOCC (an operator that issues its own bill of lading without running ships) lodges its part: multiple filing, art. 127.6 UCC and arts. 112 and 113 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446.
The consignee or buyer03
Provides the buyer and seller data of the lowest house when nobody else has it (filings F16, F17 and F55). ICS2 joins all the parts with the carrier's EORI and the master document number.
A representative04
Anyone can lodge on behalf of another party (arts. 18 and 19 UCC), under direct or indirect representation. In Spain the shipping line usually acts through its ship's agent (consignatario de buques), which lodges the master for it.
Which filing applies
to each mode and each party?
Each submission is a “filing” with its code (F10, F15, F50…), which goes in the specific circumstance indicator. A full filing carries all the data; a partial one, only the data of whoever lodges it.
| Filing | Mode | Content | Lodged by |
|---|---|---|---|
| F10 | Maritime | Full, direct bill of lading | Shipping line |
| F11 | Maritime | Full, master with its houses | Shipping line |
| F12 | Maritime | Partial: master only; states who files the houses | Shipping line |
| F13 | Maritime | Partial: direct bill of lading without consignee data | Shipping line |
| F14 | Maritime | Partial: house only | Freight forwarder or NVOCC |
| F15 | Maritime | Partial: house with consignee data | Freight forwarder or NVOCC; operator of unaccompanied RoRo |
| F16 and F17 | Maritime | Partial: consignee data (from the lowest house or a direct bill of lading) | Consignee or buyer |
| F20, F27, F28, F29 | Air | Full, before loading or before arrival (F28 and F29, with a direct air waybill) | Airline |
| F21 | Air | Partial: the master before arrival | Airline |
| F22 and F26 | Air | Partial: the house before arrival (F22) or before loading (F26) | Forwarder that issues the house air waybill (HAWB) |
| F23 and F24 | Air | Partial: minimum data (“7+1”) before loading, without or with the master | Forwarder that issues the HAWB |
| F25 | Air | Partial: the master number for F23 filings already lodged | Whoever lodged the F23, or the airline |
| F30 to F34 | Express | Full or partial (F34: express by road) | Express operator |
| F40 to F45 | Postal | Partial, depending on the mode | Designated postal operator |
| F50 | Road | Full | Carrier; in accompanied RoRo, a single party |
| F51 and F52 | Rail | Full (F51) or master only (F52) | Rail operator |
| F53, F54 and F55 | Rail | Partial: the house, with or without consignee data, and the consignee data | Forwarder that issues the house; consignee (F55) |
| F56 to F59 | Road | Multiple filing by road | Planned; the Commission has not yet published their schemas |
In unaccompanied RoRo, the ferry lodges an F12 and the RoRo operator completes it with an F15 (or F14 + F16): this is the case for trailers from the United Kingdom and Morocco.
Channels How is it lodged:
How is it lodged:
portal or system-to-system?
There are two channels to the same Commission interface, and whoever lodges remains responsible before customs with either one.
Portal (U2S). You log in to the STI-STP with a certificate for the same Spanish tax ID (NIF) as the EORI, and fill in or upload the ENS XML. In Spain there is no need to register first in UUM&DS.
System-to-system (S2S). The software lodges through eDelivery AS4, sealed with a certificate, directly or through an IT service provider (ITSP) that the operator names in its STI-STP preferences.
One channel per ENS. What is lodged through the portal is amended, cancelled and answered through the portal; what is lodged by system, by system. Only queries cross channels.
Life cycle What happens after
What happens after
you lodge the ENS?
Lodge the filing
You send the filing's IE3Fxx message with its local reference number (LRN). If there is a validation error, ICS2 returns an IE3N99 and does not register it.
Registration and MRN
The IE3R01 confirms registration and gives the MRN (Movement Reference Number). It is used to amend the filing (IE3Axx, the whole filing) or cancel it (IE3Q04).
Complete ENS
If another filing of the multiple filing is missing, ICS2 reports that the ENS is incomplete (IE3N02) or pending (IE3N11) until the missing part arrives.
Risk analysis
Customs analyses the ENS and reports when it is done (IE3N03). In between, requests for information or screening, or a “Do Not Load”, can arrive.
Arrival and presentation
The maritime or air carrier gives the arrival notice (IE3N06), which in Spain only exists through ICS2. The goods are presented in the national system with the ENS MRN.
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What risk notices can ICS2
return and how are they answered?
During risk analysis, customs can ask for more data or a screening, or stop the loading. Each request has its own type of reply, and ICS2 does not confirm replies: it only returns an error if it rejects them.
| Message | What it is | What it asks for | How to reply |
|---|---|---|---|
| IE3Q01 · DNL | Do Not Load | Air, before loading: the consignment must not go on the aircraft | No reply message of its own: the consignment is not loaded |
| IE3Q02 · RFI | Request for Information | Additional information on a filing or a house | IE3R02, one reply per reference, with type R2 text |
| IE3Q03 · RFS | Request for Screening, air only | A screening of the consignment | IE3R03 with the result, at least two methods and who performed it (R4 text) |
| Referral AMD | Request for amendment | Correct the filing lodged | By amending the filing (IE3Axx) with the request reference, not with an IE3R02 |
| IE3N08 | Control on arrival | Place and goods that will be controlled on arrival | It is a notice: no reply through ICS2 |
| IE3N02 · IE3N11 | ENS incomplete or pending | Another filing of the multiple filing is missing | Lodged by whoever holds that data |
ICS2 also notifies the carrier of requests addressed to another party (IE3N04 and IE3N05).
Which goods do not
need an ENS?
No ENS is lodged for goods entering from Ceuta and Melilla or from Gibraltar, nor for goods that only cross the airspace or territorial waters without stopping, correspondence, diplomatic consignments or baggage without a transport contract (art. 104.1.m of Delegated Regulation 2015/2446).
The Canary Islands are part of the customs territory of the Union: there is no ENS between mainland Spain and the islands. Andorra is not on the list, so goods entering from Andorra by road need an F50. To leave the Union, what applies is the export declaration or the exit summary declaration.
The most common questions about ICS2 and the ENS
All about customs →What is the entry summary declaration (ENS)?
It is the declaration with the security data of goods entering the customs territory of the Union. It is lodged before arrival or loading so that customs can carry out risk analysis, and since 01-06-2026 all goods entering the EU need a valid ENS.
Who must lodge the ENS?
The carrier that brings the goods in (art. 127.4 of the Union Customs Code). If it does not have all the data, whoever has it lodges its part: the freight forwarder or NVOCC that issues the house, and the consignee with its data (multiple filing, art. 127.6). Anyone can do it as a representative, direct or indirect.
What if the forwarder does not want to give its houses to the shipping line?
That is what multiple filing is for. The shipping line lodges the master (F12) stating who will complete it, and the forwarder lodges the house (F14 or F15) with the carrier's EORI and the master document number. ICS2 links the parts with those two data items.
Is an ENS needed for goods arriving from Ceuta, Melilla, Gibraltar, the Canary Islands or Andorra?
Not from Ceuta, Melilla or Gibraltar: they are waived (art. 104.1.m of Delegated Regulation 2015/2446). The Canary Islands are part of the customs territory of the Union, so there is no ENS between mainland Spain and the islands. Andorra is not waived: goods entering from Andorra by road need an ENS (F50).
Can an NCTS transit act as an ENS?
Yes, in the countries that accept it: an NCTS phase 6 transit that carries the security data serves as an ENS. The Commission lists it, alongside direct filing in ICS2, as a valid route since 01-06-2026.
What do I need to lodge the ENS in Spain?
An EORI number and an electronic certificate issued for the same Spanish tax ID (NIF) as the EORI. In Spain there is no need to register first in UUM&DS. If someone else files for you, they need power of attorney for procedure DA115. Channel preferences are set in the STI-STP portal.
What is the ENS MRN and what is it used for?
It is the reference number ICS2 returns when it registers the filing (message IE3R01). It is used to amend or cancel the filing, and in Spain it is given when presenting the goods in the national system, by activating the DDT (temporary storage declaration) or with the G3, together with the master, the house or the container.
What does “Do Not Load” mean in air cargo?
It is message IE3Q01 (Do Not Load), specific to air transport before loading: customs tells you not to load the consignment on the aircraft. In air transport, the ENS, or at least the minimum pre-loading data, is lodged before loading.