Parcelforce Worldwide and The Windsor Framework

The requirements for 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, came into effect on 1 May 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.

Updated guidance

The requirements for the Windsor Framework came into effect on 1 May 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 below information is relevant for non-migrated customers that are temporarily using the Parcelforce shipping platforms. For the customers that have migrated over to Royal Mail’s shipping platform: you can find guidance on The Windsor Framework here.

Latest updates

We continue to work with the Government to ensure that goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will continue to flow smoothly and efficiently.

Please follow these links for the latest government updates:

HMRC guidance

Windsor Framework

Guidance for UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS)

Apply for authorisation for the UK Internal Market Scheme if you bring goods into Northern Ireland

Changes to our Products and Services

Please find below the following impacts for goods movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland:

ExpressLink, the latest version (WSDL14) must be adopted,
Initially, WDMO Batch Processing and Auto Import will not be available,
Initially, WDMO Exchange Shipments will not be available,
Initially, Convenient Collect for both WDMO and ExpressLink will not be available,
Purchases in person at a Parcelforce Worldwide Depot will not be available,
Purchases via telephone to Customer Experience will not be available.

All Prohibited and Restricted goods movements will need to comply with Parcelforce Worldwide’s lists, available within the following link, and you and the recipient will need to meet the relevant data requirements for this traffic type.

Our Terms and Conditions can be found here.

UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS)

All Parcelforce Worldwide business to business (B2B) services from Great Britain to Northern Ireland remain unchanged, and we will move goods categorised either as ‘not at risk’ or ‘at risk’. We recommend business customers familiarise themselves with the requirements around this. Movements categorised as ‘not at risk’ may include (but not be limited to):

movements made under a valid UKIMS registration,
goods value up to and including £135, and
goods which are 0% duty rated.

All Prohibited and Restricted goods movements will need to comply with our Prohibited and Restricted lists and you and the recipient will need to meet the relevant data requirements for this traffic type.

For B2B movements, 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.

UKIMS authorisation page

Different Types of Goods Movements

Business Customers Consumers

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, weight, value, quantity, country of origin, goods categorisation (optional) for each item, and purpose of shipment.
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, weight, value, quantity, country of origin, goods categorisation (optional) for each item, and purpose of shipment (e.g. returned goods where appropriate).
Business to Business (B2B, UKIMS)	Parcels sent by a business in Great Britain to a business in Northern Ireland.	Goods description, weight, value, quantity, country of origin, goods categorisation (optional) for each item, and purpose of shipment, exporter / sender details (inc. EORI), importer / receiver details (inc. EORI), UKIMS number.
Business to Business (B2B, Non-UKIMS)	Parcels sent by a business in Great Britain to a business in Northern Ireland.	As per B2B above, with a mandatory goods categorisation.

The above data is indicative and subject to change in line with government guidance.

For B2B movements categorised as ‘not at risk’, where UKIMS registration is not presented with the parcel data, the sending customer may be liable for delays, customs charges or the item returned to the sender.

All new data required for the Windsor Framework will be captured within the usual booking journey.

The new data required 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, weight, value, quantity, country of origin for each item, and purpose of shipment.
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, weight, value, quantity, country of origin, goods categorisation (optional) for each item, and purpose of shipment (e.g. returned goods where appropriate).

The above data is indicative and subject to change in line with government guidance.

Please note the following changes for goods movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland which came into effect on 1 May 2025:

Purchases in person at a Parcelforce Worldwide Depot will not be available,
Purchases via telephone to Customer Experience will not be available.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Windsor Framework affect all customers?

The Windsor Framework only affects customers sending goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The new regulations do not affect goods sent from NI to GB or from NI to NI, or items of correspondence.

Are all carriers subject to the Windsor Framework?

Yes. The regulations apply to all carriers and came into effect on 1 May 2025.

Are all parcels subject to the Windsor Framework?

Only parcels containing goods are covered by the Windsor Framework.

What are the different types of movement of parcels?

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.

What is the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS)?

The new UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) allows registered businesses to provide a reduced dataset when sending B2B parcels from GB to NI. UKIMS registration indicates the parcels being sent are categorised as ‘not at risk’ of entry into the EU.

Do all customers have to register with the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS)?

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.

What are the advantages of registering with the UKIMS scheme?

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.

What is a ‘not at risk’ goods movement?

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.

What is an ‘at risk’ goods movement?

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.

Does Parcelforce Worldwide offer both ‘not at risk’ and ‘at risk’ options?

Yes, Parcelforce Worldwide offers both ‘not at risk’ and ‘at risk’ options. Customers are encouraged to register for UKIMS to support the movement of goods categorised as ‘not at risk’.

Does Parcelforce Worldwide offer a Next Day service?

Yes, we offer both a Next Day and a 2-day service.

What is defined as ‘Correspondence’?

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.

For the purposes of the Windsor Framework, items classified as correspondence include but are not limited to the following items that are purchased/sold/gifted/sent free of charge or with a sample such as:

Periodicals (magazines or newspapers)
Bulk sets of blank forms (such as invoices and statements)
Printed items sent as part of a mailing campaign addressed to an individual without a personalised covering letter enclosed or without any personalised text visible through or on the wrapping of the item, this should include catalogues, brochures and newsletters
Driving licences
Passports
Credit/debit cards
Card readers
PIN reminders
Phone top up cards
Phone SIM cards
Gift vouchers
Tickets to events

What are defined as ‘Goods’?

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.

How do I find the value of my ‘Goods’?

Guidance can be found at the following link, which also covers items which are sent ‘free of charge’.

What is the 'country of origin'?

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.