Guidance

Get ECMT internationalpermits roadto haulagetransport permitsgoods internationally

PermitsApply tofor travelpermits to ortransport goods to, through or from European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) member countries, and the rules you havemust to follow.

From:
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
Published
26 November 2018
Last updated
42 DecemberJanuary 20252026 — See all updates

You must have an ECMT permitspermit allow(also youknown as an ECMT licence) to transportuse mosta typesvehicle ofweighing goods3.5 (ortonnes driveor anmore emptyto:

  • transport vehicle)goods to, through or from ECMT member countries.

    countries
  • carry out some types of cross-trade jobs in the EU

YouCross-trade needis toloading followgoods rulesin aboutone usingcountry yourand ECMTunloading permits,them includingin youranother driverscountry, carryingwith thea rightvehicle documents.

Checkregistered ifin youa needthird, ECMTdifferent permits

country.

You can only use ECMT internationalpermits roadto haulagetravel permitsthrough forcountries journeysthat betweenare 43part ECMTof memberthe countries:scheme.

Albania,There Armenia,are Austria,2 Azerbaijan,types Belarus,of Belgium,permits Bosniayou andcan Herzegovina,apply Bulgaria,for:

  • short-term Croatia,permits Czechfor Republic,30 Denmark,days
  • annual Estonia,permits Finland,valid France,until Georgia,31 Germany,December Greece,2026

You Hungary,can Ireland,make Italy,an Latvia,unlimited Liechtenstein,number Lithuania,of Luxembourg,journeys Northwithin Macedonia,the Malta,time Moldova,your Montenegro,permit Netherlands,is Norway,valid Poland,for.

ECMT Portugal,countries

There Romania,are Russia,43 Serbia,ECMT Slovakia,member Slovenia,countries:

  • all Spain,EU Sweden,countries Switzerland,except Turkey,Cyprus
  • Albania
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Belarus
  • Bosnia Ukraine and theHerzegovina
  • Croatia
  • Georgia
  • Liechtenstein
  • North UK.

    Macedonia
  • Moldova
  • Norway
  • Russia
  • Serbia
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

You cannot currently use ECMT permits to travel to Russia because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A

Check limitedif numberyou ofneed ECMT permits

There areis available.a However,limited younumber can usually make journeys to 42 of these 43 countries without an ECMT permit.

EUpermits, countries,so Liechtensteinyou andmay Switzerland

Yoube onlyable needto youruse UKother Licencepermits for the Community if your journey isinstead.

When betweenyou themust UKuse and an EUECMT country, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.

permit

You domust notuse need an ECMT permit.permit to:

Cross-trade
  • transport jobsgoods into, thethrough EU

Youor canfrom use your UK Licence for the Community to Armenia

  • carry out 1 or 2 cross-trade jobs (moving goods between 2any countries) in the EU.

    You need an ECMT permitcountries ifthat youare wantnot toin carrythe out a third cross-trade job. The ECMTEU permit will let you

  • carry out 3 cross-trade jobs between any ECMT country.

    Cross-trade jobs between EU and non-EU countries

    You need an ECMT permit if you want to

  • carry out a cross-trade job between the EU and a non-EU country.country Thethat non-EUis countrya mustmember beof an ECMT
  • carry memberout country.

    Cross-tradea jobscross-trade job in the EU followingafter an unladen journey from the UK

    • Example

    YouA needjourney anthat ECMTincludes permit3 ifcross-trade youjobs:

    • UK want to carryFrance out– aoutward cross-tradejourney
    • France jobto withinBelgium the– EUfirst aftercross-trade an unladen journey
    • Belgium fromto theNetherlands UK.

      Albania,– Bosniasecond andcross-trade Herzegovina,journey

    • Netherlands Moldova,to Montenegro,Germany North– Macedonia,third Serbia,cross-trade Turkeyjourney
    • Germany andto Ukraine

      YouUK do– notreturn usuallyjourney

    Returning needto anythe permitsUK todoes transportnot goodscount to,as throughone orof fromthe Albania,3 Bosniacross-trade andjobs.

    When Herzegovina,you Moldova,can Montenegro,use Northa Macedonia,UK Serbia,Licence Turkeyfor andthe Ukraine.

    Community instead

    However,You youshould needapply tofor get a bilateralUK roadLicence haulagefor permitthe Community ifinstead you’reof travelling:an ECMT permit if:

    • throughyou Turkeyonly want to anothercarry countryout 1 or 2 cross-trade jobs in EU countries, Liechtenstein or Switzerland
    • inyour Ukrainejourney usingonly agoes Eurothrough IIIEU orcountries, EuroLiechtenstein IVor vehicleSwitzerland

    Azerbaijan,When Belarus,you Georgia,can Kazakhstan,use Morocco,bilateral Norway,haulage Russiapermits or Tunisiainstead

    You cannot currently get bilateral permits for Belarus or Russia because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    You canshould getapply for a bilateral road haulage permitspermit instead of an ECMT permitspermit if your journey only involves Azerbaijan,any Belarus,of Georgia,these Kazakhstan,countries:

    • Azerbaijan
    • Belarus
    • Georgia
    • Kazakhstan
    • Morocco
    • Norway
    • Russia
    • Tunisia

    You Morocco,should Norway,also Russiause ora Tunisia.bilateral road haulage permit if you are travelling:

    Unlike

    • through ECMTTurkey permits,to manyanother morecountry
    • in ofUkraine theseusing permitsa arevehicle available.

      that meets Euro 3 or Euro 4 emissions standards

    Armenia

    When you do not need a permit

    You mustdo havenot anusually ECMTneed a permit to transport goods to, through or from Armenia.from:

    If

    • Albania
    • Bosnia yourand journeyHerzegovina
    • Moldova
    • Montenegro
    • North alsoMacedonia
    • Serbia
    • Turkey includes– anyunless other ECMT countries, you should:

      • useare yourtravelling ECMTthrough permitTurkey forto theanother journeycountry
      • notUkraine apply– forunless separateyou bilateralare permitsusing -a youvehicle cannotthat usemeet aEuro bilateral3 roador haulageEuro permit4 atemissions thestandards

      When sameyou timecan asuse an ECMT permit

      • permits

    What

    You youcan cannotonly use an ECMT permitspermit for

    in one vehicle at a time. When a vehicle returns to the UK, you can then use the permit in another vehicle. You must return to the UK after every third journey.

    You cannot use ECMT permits:permits for:

    • tounaccompanied traveltrailers throughor ECMTsemi-trailers
    • vehicles countrieswith toa countrieslower thatEuro areemissions notclass inthan the schemepermit allows
    • for cabotage (loading- loading and unloading goods forwithin hireone orcountry, rewardwith betweena 2vehicle pointsregistered in aanother country

    Use byan ECMT permit with a hire or lease vehicle

    You that’scan notuse registeredECMT inpermits thatfor country) vehicles you hire or lease.

    CyprusYour ishire notor partlease contract must state that only your company can use the vehicles for the duration of the ECMTcontract.

    Only scheme.your Youstaff cannotfrom useyour ancompany ECMTare permitallowed to transportdrive goodshire throughor Cypruslease tovehicles when using an ECMT countries.permit.

    EligibilityCheck if you’re eligible

    To apply for an ECMT permit,permits, you must:

    Restricted or standard vehiclesnational (dependingoperator onlicence holders

    If you have a restricted or standard national operator licence, before you apply for an ECMT permit you need to apply for a standard international operator licence or:

    • employ or contract a transport manager
    • give financial evidence to show you have the typehigher amount of permitmoney you’reneeded applyingfor for)a standard international licence

    HowWhat much it costs

    HowYou’ll muchpay youa havefee to payapply dependsfor on:permits, as well as a fee for each permit.

    • the

      Application typefees

      There is a fee of permit£10 you’reper applyingpermit for

    • when you apply
    apply.

    Short-term permitspermit fees

    ShortShort-term term permits cost £10.

    They arelast valid for 30 days.

    Annualdays permits

    Annualfrom permitsthe aredate validof untilyour 31first December 2025.journey.

    Annual permit fees

    The fee for annual permits depends on the time of year you apply for them.an annual permit.

    When you apply Cost
    January to March £123
    April to June £93
    July to September £62
    October to December £31

    Application fees

    You will also have to pay a non-refundable £10 application fee for each permit you apply for.

    Apply for permits

    You can apply for:

    • short-term permits for 30 days
    • annual permits valid until 31 December 20252026

    Email the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) International Road Haulage Permits Office to apply.

    DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
    irhp@dvsa.gov.uk

    You need to include:

    • your operator licence number
    • the date of your first journey
    • the type of journey (third cross-trade, cross-trade from an EU country to a non-EU country, or travel to a non-EU ECMT country)
    • the journey destination, including your loading and unloading points
    • which countries you’ll go through to reach your destination
    • how many permits you need
    • the type of permits you’d prefer (annual or short-term)
    • which type of vehicle you’ll use (Euro V or Euro VI)

    What happens next

    1. YouPay mightthe befees. askedDVSA towill sendemail proofyou thatwithin you’ll5 beworking travellingdays towith yourdetails destinationon (forhow example, a contract to import and export, or evidence of recent or regular journey to the country).pay.

      You’ll then need to pay a £10 application fee and pay for your permits.

      1. PayEmail theirhp@dvsa.gov.uk non-refundableto £10confirm applicationyou’ve feepaid forthe each permit when DVSA requests it.fees.

      2. Email DVSA towill confirmassign you’veyou paiddigital thepermits applicationwithin fee.5 working days.

      3. PayApply thefor permitECMT feecertificates whento DVSAshow requestsyour it.vehicle meets safety standards.

      4. EmailAdd DVSAvehicle toand confirmjourney youinformation haveto paid the online permit fee.system.

      5. DVSAAccess ECMT willpermits postand yourshare permitsthem towith you.your drivers.

      RulesApply for usingECMT the permitscertificates

      YouOnce mustDVSA carryhas granted your UKpermits, Licenceyou must apply for thecertificates Communityto duringshow anythat journeysyour tovehicles orand throughtrailers EUmeet countriessafety whenand you’reemissions usingstandards. anYou do not need to apply again if you already have these certificates.

      ECMT permit.

      certificate of compliance

      YouContact canyour usevehicle anor ECMTtrailer permitmanufacturer to makerequest an unlimitedECMT numbercertificate of journeyscompliance. within:

      • aThis calendarconfirms year, if youthe havevehicle anmeets annualthe permit
      • 30correct daysEuro ofemissions thestandard.

        The startmanufacturer datemay oncharge thefor permit,this ifcertificate.

        ECMT youcertificate haveof a short-term permit

      roadworthiness

      You havecan toapply returnonline tofor thean UKECMT aftercertificate everyof thirdroadworthiness journey.for your vehicle or trailer.

      YouThere canis onlyno usefee yourfor originalthis permit.certificate.

      You’ll You cannot:need:

      • makethe copiesvehicle ofregistration it(number plate)
      • transferthe ittrailer toregistration othernumber vehicleif operatorsyou’re applying for a trailer
      • the vehicle or businessestrailer type and make
      • usethe itcertificate inof morecompliance thannumber, oneif you have one
      • vehicle atidentification anumber time(VIN)
      • engine type and number

      DoApply notfor laminatean theECMT permit,certificate asof itroadworthiness mayon bethe stampedmanage atyour checkpoints.vehicle operator licence service.

      Example If

      Add youvehicle haveand 10journey ECMTinformation permits,to youthe canpermit havesystem

      Before ayou maximumstart ofyour 10journey, vehiclesyou makingmust journeysadd information to orthe throughpermit ECMTsystem countrieson atthe once.International Transport Forum website.

      When aDVSA vehicleassigns returnsECMT permits to theyou, UK,they’ll email you canwith useeither:

      • information theon samehow permit to makesign anotherin journeyto during the periodInternational itTransport isForum validwebsite for,to oraccess youyour can move the permit
      • confirmation tothat anotheryou vehiclecan onaccess your operatorpermit licences.on Thatthe vehicleInternational canTransport thenForum makewebsite, journeysif toyou oralready throughhave ECMTan countries.

        account

      If

      You youmust haveadd morethe thanfollowing onedetails vehiclefor operatoreach licence

      Youof canyour usevehicles anand ECMTtrailers:

      • vehicle permitor fortrailer aregistration (number plate)
      • vehicle assignedidentification tonumber any(VIN)
      • Euro ofemissions yourcategory operator– licences.for It’svehicles notonly
      • certificate allocatedof tocompliance
      • certificate aof specific operator licence.

        roadworthiness

      You’reYou notthen allowedneed to transferuse athe permitonline tologbook anotheron businessthe entity,permit forsystem example,to aadd sisterdetails company.

      Rulesabout foryour thejourney vehiclesto andyour trailers

      ECMT permits.

      You cannotmust useadd ECMTthe permitsfollowing you’redetails allocated:to the logbook:

      • fordate unaccompaniedyou trailersdepart orfrom semi-trailersthe UK
      • withdate vehiclesyou ofdepart afrom any lowerplaces Euroyou emissionsare classtransiting tothrough
      • date thatyou shownarrive onback in the permitUK
      • places (for example, you cannotare useloading, atransiting Eurothrough VIor permitunloading inat
      • vehicle aand Eurotrailer Vregistration vehicle,(number butplate)
      • gross youweight canof useyour avehicle Euroand Vtrailer
      • odometer permitreading in akm Euroat VI vehicle)departure

      Get

      You ancan ECMTupdate ‘certificatethe oflogbook compliance’later forif vehiclesthere andare trailers

      Youany mustchanges carryto an ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ in your vehiclejourney.

      During andthe trailer.journey, Theyyou must confirmupdate the vehiclelogbook meetswith:

      Get

      At anthe ECMTend ‘certificate of roadworthiness’the forjourney, vehiclesyou and trailers

      You must carryupdate anthe ECMTlogbook ‘certificatewith:

      • gross weight of roadworthiness’ for your vehicle and trailer.

        Iftrailer

      • odometer yourreading permitin applicationkm isat successfularrival

      How andto youuse doECMT notpermits

      ECMT alreadypermits haveare adigital. certificate,You applycan onlineaccess tothem geton one.

      Applythe forInternational anTransport ECMTForum certificate of roadworthinesswebsite.

      Before you start

      ToThere applyare fordifferent anways ECMTto certificateshare ofthe roadworthiness,permits youwith need:your drivers:

      • yourcreate usernameaccounts andfor passwordyour ifdrivers you’veon used the servicepermit tosystem manageso yourthey vehiclecan operatorsign licencein beforeand (youview canthe registerpermits
      • print inout thea servicecopy ifof you’vethe notpermit usedand itgive before)
      • this to the vehicledriver registration– numberthis (numbermust plate)be on white paper
      • thesave trailera registrationPDF numberof orthe IDpermit numberand fromsend DVLAthis (ifto you’rethe applyingdriver

      The fordriver acan trailer)

    2. thethen vehicleshow ora trailerpaper typecopy andof make
    3. the certificatepermit ofor compliancea numberdigital (leavecopy thison blanktheir ifphone youduring dotheir notjourney.

      The havepermit the number)

      4. includes:

      • vehicledates identificationthe numberpermit (VIN)is valid for
      • enginewho typeissued andthe numberpermit

      Meet
    4. QR thecodes ECMTthat Qualityofficials Charter

      5. Youcan mustscan meetto thecheck ECMTyour Qualitypermit Charteris requirements.

      valid

      If you have amore standardthan internationalone vehicle operator licence

      You alreadycan meetuse thean requirementsECMT ofpermit thefor chartera ifvehicle youassigned haveto aany standardof internationalyour operator licence

      Iflicences. youThe haveECMT apermit restrictedis ornot standardallocated nationalto a specific operator licence

      licence.

      IfYou youcannot havetransfer a restrictedpermit orto standardanother nationalbusiness operatorentity, licencefor youexample, needa to:sister company.

      • have

        If ayour transportvehicle manager

      • givebreaks proofdown youor haveis theinvolved higherin levelsan ofincident

        If financiala standingvehicle neededbreaks fordown aor standardis internationalinvolved licence

      Youin canan alsoincident applyand foryou areplace standardit internationalwith licencea todifferent showvehicle youfor meetthe rest of the ECMTjourney, Qualityyou Charter.

      Fillmust inupdate the ECMTonline loglogbook. bookYou beforemust ainclude journey

      the:

      Each

      • reason ECMTfor permitthe comesreplacement
      • location withwhere athe logvehicle book.

        was replaced
      • licence numbers for both vehicles

      BeforeYou youwill startalso aneed journey,to fillupload inproof to the permit’spermit logsystem, booksuch (inas pen,a notpolice pencil)report withof the incident or a fulldocument recordshowing the failure of allthe vehicle.

      Documents the journey’sdriver details.

      must carry

      IfDuring youthe makejourney, athe mistake,driver crossmust ithave out.a Makecopy sureof the mistakepermit. isThey stillcan readable,print as it mayout needor toshow beit checked.

      Whaton driverstheir needphone toor carry during journeys

      tablet.

      The driver willmust needalso to carry thesea documentscopy for all of thethese outward and return journey:documents:

      • the ECMT permitcertificate of compliance
      • the ECMT permitcertificate logof book (plus the issued translation sheets)roadworthiness
      • thea ECMTUK certificateLicence of compliance for the vehicleCommunity andduring trailerjourneys (plusto, thethrough issuedor translationfrom sheets)EU countries
      • a ECMT certificateJourney ofInformation roadworthiness for the vehicle and trailer (plus the issued translation sheets)Document

      TheYou driver must shownot theseal documentsthese atcertificates checkpointsin whenfoil asked.

      Findor outcoat howthem differentwith countriesa carryprotective out checks.film.

      Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

      It’s illegal to not have the right documents for the journey. Your driver can be fined for not carrying them.

      Send ECMT journeyJourney recordsInformation to DVSA Document

      IfThe youpermit havesystem angenerates annualthe ECMT permit,Journey youInformation mustDocument. sendIt has information about the originalECMT (toppermit, sheet)including forthe eachlast completed10 pagejourneys ofmade with the ECMTpermit.

      The logdriver bookcan toshow DVSAa withinpaper 2copy weeks of yourthis returndocument toor thea UK.

      digital copy on their phone during their journey. You must sendprint thepaper completecopies ECMTon logwhite bookpaper.

      Documents to DVSAcarry withinwhen 2using weeksa ofhire theor permit’slease expiry date.

      vehicle

      InternationalIf Roadyou Haulageare Permitsusing Office
      DVSA
      Quarrya House
      Quarryvehicle Hill
      Leeds
      LS2that 7UE

      Lost,you damagedhave hired or stolenleased, permits

      Contactthe DVSAdriver straightmust awayalso ifcarry youthe losecontract of hire or damagelease, or a permit,certified orextract iffrom onethe iscontract. stolen.

      YouThis shouldmust alsoinclude tellthe:

    If youthe givedriver upis yournot operatorthe licence

    Sendperson yourwho ECMThired permitsthe andvehicle, logthey booksmust tocarry DVSAtheir ifemployment youcontract applyor toa givecertified upextract (‘surrender’)from yourthe vehiclecontract operatorthat licence.includes the:

    Get
    • name helpof withtheir ECMTemployer
    • name permits

    Contactof the DVSAdriver

  • date Internationaland Roadduration Haulageof Permitsthe Officecontract, toor geta helprecent with ECMT permits.

    payslip

    • DVSAFind Internationalout Roadhow Haulageto Permitscertify Office
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    Telephone: 020if 4591you 1123
    Mondaywant to Friday,use 9aman toextract 4pm
    Findfrom outa about call chargescontract.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 November 2018
    Last updated 42 DecemberJanuary 20252026 + show all updates

    1. ECMT permits are now digital. The way you access and use the permits has changed.

    2. The phone number for the DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office has changed.

    3. Updated the address for the International Road Haulage Permits Office.

    4. You can now get bilateral road haulage permits for Azerbaijan and Norway. You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a cross-trade job within the EU after an unladen journey from the UK.

    5. Updated the information about permit fees to reflect that the fee for annual permits depends on the time of year you apply for them.

    6. You cannot currently use ECMT permits to travel to Russia or get a bilateral road haulage permit to Belarus or Russia.

    7. Updated where you need permits, as you no longer need ECMT permits to transport goods to, through or from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Added information about applying for short-term and annual ECMT permits for 2022.

    8. Updated the information about applying for short-term permits, as you can now apply for these for the rest of 2021.

    9. Updated the 'Check if you need ECMT permits' section to make it clearer when you need ECMT permits, and what other options there are for other types of permits.

    10. Updated why you need ECMT permits in 2021, and how to buy short-term (30-day) permits to use in January and February 2021 if you want to make a third cross-trade movement.

    11. Updated to confirm that emails have been sent to tell applicants if they’ve been allocated an ECMT permit for 2021.

    12. Removed the link to apply for ECMT permits for 2021 as the application period has ended. Updated the section on what happens next if you applied.

    13. Added a link to the service to apply for ECMT permits for 2021. The deadline to apply is 11:59pm on 20 November 2020.

    14. Added information about preparing to apply for ECMT permits for 2021 between 2 November and 20 November 2020.

    15. Changed the date that you can complete most international journeys without an ECMT permit from 31 December 2019 to 31 July 2020. This is because the European Commission has extended a temporary set of measures.

    16. Added a link to the service to buy ECMT permits for November and December 2019.

    17. Updated information about buying permits for journeys until 31 December 2019. You'll be able to buy these permits from 30 August 2019 - you only need to buy them if you’ll be travelling to non-EU or EEA countries through the EU or EEA.

    18. Added information about how to prepare for Brexit, which includes a link to a new guide about how to carry out international road haulage after Brexit.

    19. Updated to confirm you can continue to use your EU Community Licence until 31 December 2019 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, and that you would need an ECMT permit to transport goods through EU or EEA countries to non-EU or EEA countries who are ECMT members. Added information about how to apply for short-term ECMT permits for April 2019.

    20. Updated the guidance on applying, as applications for 2019 permits closed at 11:59pm on Saturday 16 March 2019.

    21. Added information about how to apply for a further allocation of ECMT permits the UK has secured, if you have not already applied for a 2019 permit.

    22. Added information about the UK government working to put arrangements in place with individual EU member states, updated information about what happens next if you applied for an ECMT permit for 2019, and added information about how to get an ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for vehicles and trailers.

    23. Updated the guidance on applying, as you can no longer apply for ECMT permits for 2019. Applications closed on Friday 18 January 2019.

    24. Extended the deadline to apply for 2019 permits from 11:59pm on 21 December 2018 to 11:59pm on 18 January 2019, and added information about short-term permits.

    25. Added guidance on meeting the ECMT Quality Charter.

    26. First published.

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