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ECMT permits allow you to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through ECMT member countries.

You need to follow rules about using your ECMT permits, including your drivers carrying the right documents.

Check if you need ECMT permits

You can use ECMT international road haulage permits for journeys between 43 ECMT member countries:

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the UK.

A limited number of ECMT permits are available. However, you can usually make journeys to 41 of these 43 countries without an ECMT permit.

EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

You only need your UK Licence for the Community if your journey is between the UK and an EU country, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

You do not need an ECMT permit.

Cross-trade jobs in the EU

You can use your UK Licence for the Community to carry out 2 cross-trade jobs (moving goods between 2 countries) in the EU.

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a third cross-trade job. The ECMT 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. The non-EU country must be an ECMT member country.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine

You do not usually need any permits to transport goods to, through or from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

However, you need to get a bilateral road haulage permit if youre travelling:

• through Turkey to another country
• in Ukraine using a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle

Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia

You can get bilateral road haulage permits instead of ECMT permits if your journey involves Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia.

Unlike ECMT permits, many more of these permits are available.

Armenia or Azerbaijan

You must have an ECMT permit to transport goods to, through or from Armenia or Azerbaijan.

If your journey also includes any other ECMT countries, you should:

• use your ECMT permit for the journey
• not apply for separate bilateral permits - you cannot use a bilateral road haulage permit at the same time as an ECMT permit

What you cannot use ECMT permits for

You cannot use ECMT permits:

• to travel through ECMT countries to countries that are not in the scheme
• for cabotage (loading and unloading goods for hire or reward between 2 points in a country by a vehicle thats not registered in that country)

Eligibility

To apply for an ECMT permit, you must:

• have a vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or a vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland
• have Euro VI or Euro V emissions standard vehicles (depending on the type of permit youre applying for)

How much it costs

How much you have to pay depends on:

• the type of permit youre applying for
• when you apply

Short-term permits

Short term permits cost 10.

They are valid for 30 days.

Annual permits

Annual permits are valid until 31 December 2023.

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

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 2023

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

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 youll go through to reach your destination
• how many permits you need
• the type of permits youd prefer (annual or short-term)
• which type of vehicle youll use (Euro V or Euro VI)

What happens next

You might be asked to send proof that youll be travelling to your destination in 2023 (for example, a contract to import and export, or evidence of recent or regular journey to the country).

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