JaEtUKFor many small exporters, the question of an export licence only comes up when a buyer asks about it, or when a freight forwarder queries a product description. It is better to check early. This checklist follows the guidance on business.gov.uk about export licensing. It is general information, and anything involving controlled goods should be confirmed with the Export Control Joint Unit or a qualified adviser before you ship.
What an export licence is for
The guidance explains that a licence lets you trade in strategically controlled goods that would otherwise be prohibited from export. Whether goods are controlled depends on their nature, their possible uses, or their destination. The page lists likely controlled categories: military items, dual-use items, goods that could be used for torture, radioactive material, and commercial items covered by trade sanctions on a country.
It also notes that you may need a licence to sell into the EU if your product is on the controlled list, even if one was not needed before. Do not assume that a market you have always served freely is still open to a controlled product.
Step 1: Check the control list
The guidance points exporters to the UK Strategic Export Controls List. Match your product description, technical specification and intended use against it. If your goods are technology, software or components, check those too, since the controls can apply to them.
Step 2: Check the destination and situation
Because control can depend on the destination and the possible uses of the goods, write down where the goods are going, who will receive them and what they will be used for. If you are exporting to Jamaica, Ethiopia or any other market, apply the same discipline: the question is about the goods and the situation, not about the country alone. If you do not know the end use, find out before you quote.
Step 3: See which licence might apply
The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) administers the UK's export controls and licensing system. The guidance describes three licence types:
- Open General Export Licence (OGEL): covers pre-determined military and dual-use items exported to a range of permitted destinations. The page calls it the most flexible and commonly used licence, allowing unlimited exports once you have registered.
- Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL): required if your goods, technology, software, destination or situation is controlled and not covered by an OGEL.
- Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL): designed for long-term contracts, projects and repeat business.
Step 4: Use the OGEL Checker
The guidance mentions an OGEL Checker tool, which tells you whether an Open General Export Licence covers the export you plan to make. If one applies, you register to use it. If none applies, you would look at applying for an individual licence instead.
Step 5: Keep records and build a routine
The guidance warns that breaching licence terms can lead to de-registration, fines or prison, so it is worth building simple compliance procedures. A sensible habit, which is our own suggestion rather than wording from the guidance, is to keep one file per shipment with the product description, the control-list check, the destination, the end user and any licence reference.
A quick pre-shipment checklist
- Product, technology and software compared with the control list.
- Destination, buyer and end use written down.
- Licence type identified, or a note of why none is needed.
- Licence terms read and understood by whoever packs and ships.
- Records stored with the shipment file.
JaEtUK provides general information only and does not give legal or regulatory advice. Export control rules and guidance change; verify the current position with the Export Control Joint Unit, GOV.UK and business.gov.uk before you rely on it.