DocumentsUpdated 8 Sept 2026Approx. reading time 2 min

Export accompanying document (EAD)

By Richard Coster

A laden container ship with tugboats leaving a container port, seen from above

Quick answer

An EAD is a printout of the export declaration carrying its MRN. Since AES was introduced on 1 October 2024, the document is no longer mandatory. What matters is that the MRN accompanies the consignment, in any format.

EAD stands for Export Accompanying Document, a document based on the export declaration.

The document is no longer mandatory

Since the new Automated Export System, AES, was introduced on 1 October 2024, there has been no requirement for an export accompanying document. Swedish Customs instead requires the export declaration’s MRN to be passed along the logistics chain and made available as a readable barcode.

You can still print an EAD, and many carriers want one. But it is the MRN, not the paper, that allows the exit process to work.

What the different terms mean

The terms are often confused, and the distinction matters when someone asks you for a number.

EX1 and EXA: Common names for the export declaration itself.
MRN: The reference number assigned to the declaration by the customs office of export and returned in message IE528. It is not the name of the document.
LRN: The declarant’s own reference number. The equivalent of the old Swedish customs ID (tull-id).
Tull-id: Belonged to the old Swedish national systems. Not used in AES.

What we do for you

We manage the entire process, from applying for an EAD to ensuring the document is correctly issued and ready to present at the customs office of exit. We provide personal advice and support throughout the process.

Customs expertise to ensure your export meets all requirements.
Efficient document handling, correctly issued and ready for presentation.
Less risk of delays and complications at the export border.

Read on

The EAD is a printout of the export declaration. Read more about the export declaration.

How the AES export system works is described on our page about the Automated Export System.

All the documents are collected under customs documents.

Does the driver need an EAD?

No, it is not mandatory in AES. What matters is that the MRN accompanies the consignment so the operator at the place of exit can use it to present the goods.

Is MRN another name for EAD?

No. The MRN is the reference number assigned to the declaration by the customs office of export and returned in message IE528. An EAD is a printout containing that number, among other details.

What happened to tull-id?

It belonged to the old Swedish national systems. Today’s equivalent is the LRN, the declarant’s own reference number.

Sources

The information on this page was checked against the following sources on 8 September 2026. Rules can change and the page may become outdated. Please let us know if you spot anything incorrect.