Guidance

International road haulage permits for some non-EU countries

Apply for permits to travel to or through Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Norway, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.

From:
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
Published
26 November 2018
Last updated
16 September 2024 — See all updates

About the permits

You can apply for permits for 10 non-EU countries that the UK has agreements with to transport goods to or through those countries. These countries are:

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Norway, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.

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

Each country has single-journey permits. Whether or not you need a permit depends on:

  • the size of the vehicle
  • the nature of the goods being carried

You need a permit in some of the 10 countries if your vehicle is carrying goods in connection with your own business, and not for hire or reward (sometimes called ‘own account traffic’).

Special permits for Morocco

There are also extra types of permits for Morocco for:

  • entering Morocco with an empty vehicle
  • taking in filming equipment and material for film or TV products, or equipment for exhibitions (including racing)
  • multiple journeys, which authorise 15 return trips during the validity of the permit

Types of permits for Azerbaijan

Depending on the type of journey you are carrying out, you will need to use one of 2 different types of permit for Azerbaijan.

Bilateral or transit journey permits

These permits let you complete either a:

  • bilateral journey between the UK and Azerbaijan
  • transit journey across Azerbaijan to a third country - additional permits may be required for travel to the third country

Azerbaijan or third country permits

These permits let you complete a journey between a third country and Azerbaijan. Additional permits may be required for travel to the third country

Eligibility

You must have the right type of vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland for the goods you’re transporting to apply for a permit.

Where you can use the permits

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

You can use the permits to travel to or through:

  • Azerbaijan
  • Belarus
  • Georgia
  • Kazakhstan
  • Morocco
  • Norway
  • Russia
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey (you only need a permit when you’re continuing on to another third-country)
  • Ukraine (you only need a permit if you have a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle)

Countries where you need permits for ‘own account’ journeys

You must have a permit for ‘own account’ journeys to:

  • Belarus
  • Morocco
  • Russia
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey

Single-journey permits are valid for one complete journey. The outward and return trips count as one complete journey.

Multiple-journey permits are available for Morocco which authorises 15 return trips during the validity of the permit.

Apply for permits

Download and fill in the application form.

Send it to DVSA at least 5 working days before you start your journey from the UK.

If you want to pay by cheque or postal order, you’ll need to include it to pay the fee.

International Road Haulage Permits Office
DVSA
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE

Apply for road haulage permits for some non-EU countries

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Fees

Country Permit type Cost
Azerbaijan Bilateral or transit journey permit £8
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan or third-country permit £8
Belarus Single-journey permit £8
Georgia Single-journey permit £8
Kazakhstan Single-journey permit Free
Morocco Single-journey permit £8
Morocco Multiple-journey permit (15 return journeys) £50
Morocco Empty entry £8
Morocco Hors contingent (film and TV equipment, or exhibition equipment) £8
Norway Single-journey permit £8
Russia Single-journey permit £8
Tunisia Single-journey permit £8
Turkey Single-journey permit £8
Ukraine Single-journey permit £8

Rules for using the permits

You can only use the permit in one vehicle at a time.

You must return all special entry permits for Morocco within 15 days of them expiring - whether you’ve used them or not.

What to do when you make journeys

You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey.

You need to show the permit at the border, and you’ll be allowed to pass into or through that country.

You must show the permit to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Depending on the terms of the bilateral agreement, you may still have to pay certain local taxes.

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

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8158 0250
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Find out about call charges

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return unused permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

Get help with bilateral international road haulage permits

Contact the DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office to get help with bilateral permits.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8158 0250
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Find out about call charges

Updates to this page

Published 26 November 2018
Last updated 16 September 2024 + show all updates

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

  2. You now need a bilateral road haulage permit to travel to or through Norway, instead of the UK Licence for the Community. Updated opening times for DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office.

  3. You now need a bilateral road haulage permit to travel to or through Azerbaijan, instead of a European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) international road haulage permit.

  4. Updated the bilateral permit application form to the latest version.

  5. Updated the bilateral permit application form with the 2023 version.

  6. Added new application form for: * single-journey permits to some non-EU countries * multiple-journey permits for Morocco * special permits for Morocco Removed old forms.

  7. Removed Serbia from the list of countries you can get permits for. Updated the application forms with the 2021 versions.

  8. Updated the permit application forms with the 2020 versions.

  9. Updated the permit application forms with the 2019 versions.

  10. First published.

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Contents

Part of Transport goods out of the UK by road: step by step

  1. Step 1 Apply for operator licences and permits

    1. Check if you need a vehicle operator licence
    2. Apply for a vehicle operator licence

    You'll need other licences and permits, depending on the countries you're driving to or through.

    1. Check which licences and permits you need

  2. Step 2 Register and get approval for your vehicle

    You may need to register your trailer to drive through or to the EU if it weighs over 750kg.

    1. Register your trailer to take it abroad

    You’ll need to get specialist vehicle approvals to transport any of the following:

  3. Step 3 Make sure your driver is eligible to drive abroad

    1. Check your driver has the documents they need to drive abroad

    The driver must carry these documents with them.

  4. Step 4 Check the rules for the goods you're carrying

    1. Find out what you need to do if you're exporting your own goods

    There are rules for transporting certain goods. Your driver may need to follow set routes or stop at specific check points. Check the rules for:

    1. Find out what you need to apply for if you’re moving goods temporarily out of the UK

    If you're transporting goods outside the EU they must have been cleared by customs (given ‘permission to progress’). The exporter can tell you if this has happened.

  5. Step 5 Make sure your driver has the right export documents

    Your driver will need copies of:

    • any export licences
    • the road consignment note (‘CMR note’)
    • the Movement Reference Number (MRN) from the export declaration - if you're moving goods out of the EU
    • the MRN and the Local Reference Number (LRN) - if you're moving goods under the Common Transit convention (CTC)
    • the ATA Carnet document - if you're moving goods out of the EU temporarily
    • the TiR Carnet document - if you’re moving goods in a sealed load compartment with a seal number

    The exporter should be able to give all of these to you.

    You'll also need to have a customs seal approval certificate for the vehicle if you’re moving goods in a sealed load compartment. You'll get this when your vehicle passes the TiR test.

    You may need to use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) to move goods through some ports.

    1. Check how to move goods through ports that use the GVMS

  6. Step 6 Find out what vehicle documents your driver needs to carry

    1. Check what HGV and trailer documents your driver must carry
    2. Check what driving documents your driver must carry

  7. Step 7 Check you are ready for the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel or Holyhead

    You may need to attend an inland border facility if you're leaving from the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel or Holyhead.

    1. Check whether you need to attend an inland border facility

  8. Step 8 Check local road rules

    1. Check the road rules for European countries on the AA website
    2. Check travel advice for countries outside Europe

    When you have your documents, insurance and any extra equipment you need, you can transport goods abroad.