HMRC CDS Code Lists and Validation Updates: August to December 2025

Executive Summary

Between August and December 2025, HMRC implemented a series of updates to the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) codelists and validation rules. These changes encompass currency code realignments, significant expansion of document codes, validation rule enhancements, UN/LOCODE maintenance, special procedure code rationalization, and the introduction of new UKIMS location identifiers. The updates reflect ongoing harmonization with international standards, refined compliance requirements, and streamlined administrative processes. Businesses and customs agents using CDS should review these changes carefully, as declarations referencing removed codes will now fail validation, while new document codes and validation rules expand the system’s capability to handle diverse trade scenarios.

Currency Code Amendments

HMRC has updated currency codes within the CurrencyTypes codelist to reflect international standard changes. These amendments ensure alignment with ISO currency standards and facilitate accurate financial reporting in customs declarations.

Updated Currency Codes:

• Sierra Leone: SLL → SLE

Venezuela Bolívar: VES → VED

Validation & Error Code Updates

The validation framework has been strengthened with amended descriptions and newly introduced validation codes. These changes enhance data integrity checks and introduce more granular controls for specific declaration scenarios.

Amended Validation Description

CDS12157 has been updated with revised wording that now explicitly states: “Invalid EORI – This Party must have a permanent business establishment in Northern Ireland or the European Union.” This clarification ensures declarants understand the geographical establishment requirements tied to EORI validity in cross-border scenarios.

Newly Added Validation Codes

Four new validation codes have been added to the ValidationResultTypes codelist, introducing enhanced relation checks and value limit validations:

CDS12171 | CDS12172 | CDS12500 | CDS12173

System Pointer Updates

Pointer counts within the System_Defined_Codes tab have been recalibrated for improved error referencing and system integrity. The following validation codes received updated pointer mappings:

CDS12154 | CDS12155 | CDS50018 | CDS40012 | CDS12066 | CDS12067 | CDS12069 | CDS12170 | CDS12068 | CDS12171 | CDS12172 | CDS12500

Document Code Updates

This update cycle introduces the most substantial changes to document codes, with significant additions across multiple codelists including DocumentTypes, ImportCertificates, ExportCertificates, StatusDocuments, NonStatusDocuments, ReasonDocuments, and DITRPALicensingDocumentTypes. The expansion reflects evolving trade policy requirements, licensing frameworks, and administrative documentation needs.

New Document Codes Added

The following document codes have been added and mapped across relevant child codelists:

General Additions

Y122 | Y146 | Y979 | Y199 | Y193 | 9U04

Major Y-Series Additions

Y136 | Y137 | Y172 | Y173 | Y174 | Y239 | Y240 | Y241 | Y242 | Y243 | Y244 | Y245 | Y246 | Y248 | Y249 | Y250 | Y251 | Y252 | Y253 | Y254 | Y255 | Y256 | Y257 | Y258 | Y688 | Y689 | Y690 | Y691 | Y692 | Y693 | Y694 | Y695 | Y696 | Y697 | Y757 | Y758 | Y759 | Y760 | Y761 | Y762 | Y768 | Y769 | Y886 | Y887

C / X / L / Numeric Code Additions

C105 | C809 | L100 | L128 | L129 | L139 | L142 | L143 | L144 | L146 | L157 | L838 | X802 | X805 | X806 | X807 | X808 | X809 | X817 | X819 | X823 | X824 | X828 | X830 | X831 | X832 | X834 | X835 | X836 | X837 | X838 | X839 | X840 | X841 | X842 | X867 | X868 | X990 | X992 | X993 | 9031 | 9015 | 9023 | 9E50 | 9L50 | 9EHC

Document Reclassification

C100 has been reclassified from StatusDocuments to NonStatusDocuments, reflecting a change in its functional categorization within the CDS hierarchy.

Document Codes Removed

The following document codes have been removed from both parent and associated child codelists. Declarations referencing these codes will now be rejected by CDS:

U073 | U500 | U003 | U031 | U052 | U058 | U072 | U077 | U095 | U096 | U097 | U100

DITRPA Licensing Document Type Updates

Substantial additions have been made to the DITRPALicensingDocumentTypes codelist, expanding the range of recognized licensing documents for Department for Business and Trade (DBT) licensing requirements:

9031 | X802 | L143 | X817 | X819 | X823 | X830 | X831 | X834 | X835 | X836 | X990 | X992 | X993 | X808 | L139 | L142 | X839 | X841 | L144 | L838 | X824 | X832 | X837 | X840 | X805 | X806 | X807 | L146 | X842 | C105 | X867 | X868

Special Mentions & AI Code Updates

Special mention codes and Additional Information (AI) codes provide supplementary declaration details. This update introduces new AI codes and removes obsolete special mention identifiers.

New AI Code

SDSDE has been added to both ImportSpecialMentions and ExportSpecialMentions codelists, providing a new mechanism for declaring specific data elements or conditions applicable to both import and export scenarios.

Removed from Import Special Mentions

The following codes have been removed from the ImportSpecialMentions codelist:

GBILB | VRN01

Special Procedures & Procedure Combination Updates

HMRC has undertaken a rationalization exercise, removing outdated procedure combinations and special procedure codes. This clean-up improves system integrity and eliminates legacy codes no longer aligned with current customs regimes.

Removed Procedure Combinations

2100B53 | 2144B53 | 000774A

Removed Special Procedure Codes

03C | 1AT | 1SE | 50U | 74O | 74A | 91L | 91O | 96F

Impact: Declarations attempting to reference these removed procedures will now fail validation. Businesses must update their declaration templates and internal processes to reflect the valid procedure codes currently supported by CDS.

UN/LOCODE (GLC) Updates

The UN/LOCODE (Goods Location Code) codelist has undergone significant maintenance, with numerous additions, removals, corrections, and reactivations. These changes ensure CDS remains aligned with the latest United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations (UN/LOCODE) standard, supporting accurate location identification for customs control and goods movement.

Newly Added GLCs

GBAUHOFBHXCCO | GBAUWALBHXCIX | GBAUBRFLBADBV | GBAUSLLLHRZAX | GBAUFELLHRZBX | GBAUSWLLHRZCS | GBAUNTNBHXDSW | GBAUESXBHXDST | GBCUSTEBRSCJC | GBAUBHMBHXZDX | GBAUFEMLHRXDL | GBAUFEMLHRZFX | GBAUNHPLTNXYX | GBAUDTELTNGFE | GBAUWIWMANYZX | GBAUNRWFXTUNN1 | AMFFXTCVE | GBAULDYBFSTLO | GBCUHDKLIVPCL | GBAUCTQLTNYMX | GBCUCDDMNCTBF | GBAUUXBLHRXAA | GBAUBESLHRMOD | GBAUBRISTNYOX | GBAUCBRLHRYQX | GBCUDFDLONCVF | GBAUELLLIVESO | GBAUDRDBHXYPX | GBAURS8CWLYVS | GBAUIPSFXTECG | GBAUGRBFXTLOE | GBAUBHMBHXIMP | GBAUMNCMANYWS | GBAUCYNGLACRY1 | GBAUSHOSHOSCN | GBAUNRWFXTZPW | GBAUYXLBHXYXX | GBCUSLOLHRDSV | GBAUFXTFXTKAE

Removed GLCs

A substantial number of GLCs have been retired from the codelist. Declarations referencing these removed location codes will be rejected:

GBAUPESLGWRLW1 | GBAUHMWLHRWPX | GBAUBLELTNKYX | GBAUBOOLIVMFE | GBAUEGHLHRYUX | GBAUMNCMANDHX | GBAUBIHBHXFXI1 | GBAUAPTMNCYTE | GBAUFXTFXTIRE | GBAUABDABDABDGVM | GBAUCYNAYRCYNGVM | GBAULRPAYRLRPGVM | GBAURMGRMGRMGGVM | GBAULWTTILTL | GBAUCBRLHRHSX | GBAULARBFSASA1 | GBAUFMEBRSKEX | GBAUPYELHRTZX | GBAUBKGLONCHW | GBAUCVTBHXNTE | GBAUKNMDOVAGO1 | GBAUHMWLHRET | GBAUHRIOLHREHX | GBAUSOUSTNDEP1 | GBAUGRBFXTCKE | GBAUBELBFSCIX | GBAURSDDONMUE | GBAUMANMANXBB | GBAUNURSTNYOU1 | GBAUGYSLONFPY1 | GBAUPFTLONFPY2 | GBAUPFTLONFPY3 | GBAUMALLLSARUX | GBAUHOULHRLVX | GBAUSFDMANCKXCUK | GBAUEMAEMAUZS | GBAUPFTLONYTL1 | GBAUDAGTILPXP1 | GBAUIVELHRITX | GBAUSLPLHRNJX | GBAULHRLHRAHL | GBAULHRLHRAPH | GBAUWAVBHXCAX | GBCUBSZBHXHMW | GBAUFDYBHXHEX | GBAUPYALHRCTE | GBAUCBRLHRXYZ | GBAUELLELLEPT | GBAUNCLNCLFXN1 | GBCUPBKWISFRS | GBCUPLMLONPHL | GBAUCBRLHRTOX | GBAUTWCLHRTEX | GBAUBELBELBTC1 | GBAUBBGBELEOS | GBAUBE LBELVLQ1 | GBAULGPLGPLGP | GBAUPLYPLYPLY | GBAUJSHLHRKMX | GBAUBHWMIDCOI | GBAUEWLFXTHHE

GLC Corrections & Reactivations

GBAUCYNGLACRY1 has been corrected and replaced with GBAUCYNGLWCRY1 to reflect the accurate location identifier.

AVOBRSDBE has been reactivated, with the release version updated from R352 to R490, restoring this location code to active status.

UKIMS Location Identifier Updates

New codelists have been introduced to support the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) location handling framework. These codelists establish the structure for UKIMS-specific location identifiers within CDS.

New Codelists Introduced:

• LocationIdentifierPrefixes: UKIM
• AllowedUKIMSLocationIdentifierPrefixes: UKIM

This infrastructure expansion supports enhanced tracking and compliance for goods movements under UKIMS arrangements, particularly for Northern Ireland trade scenarios.

Overall Impact

These updates collectively deliver:

• Major UN/LOCODE maintenance – ensuring location codes remain current and aligned with international standards
• Large-scale document code expansion – accommodating new licensing, certification, and administrative requirements
• Procedure code clean-up – removing obsolete codes and improving declaration validation integrity
• Enhanced validation rules – introducing more granular checks and clearer error messaging
• Currency alignment updates – reflecting international currency standard changes
• New UKIMS-specific identifiers – supporting Northern Ireland and Internal Market compliance frameworks

Businesses, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and software providers should review these changes carefully and update internal systems, templates, and training materials accordingly. Declarations referencing removed codes or outdated procedures will now fail validation, making proactive adaptation essential for maintaining smooth customs clearance operations.

For platform-specific guidance on implementing these updates within your customs filing workflow, Customs Declarations UK provides real-time validation aligned with the latest HMRC codelists, helping you avoid rejections and maintain compliance as regulations evolve.