International road haulage removal permits for specialist removal companies
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-09)

How specialist removals companies can apply for an international removal permit for European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) member countries.

You can apply for a permit for laden or empty journeys if you’re a specialist removal company and you move household goods and business possessions between or across European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) countries.

There are no limits on the number of available permits.

Eligibility

You must:
- have a standard international operator licence for Great Britain (https://www.gov.uk/being-a-goods-vehicle-operator/types-of-licence) or standard international operator licence for Northern Ireland (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/goods-vehicle-operator-licensing)
- use specialised equipment and staff for removal operations
What you need ECMT permits for

You need an ECMT permit to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through the EU (except Cyprus), Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to these 13 countries:

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Cyprus is not part of the ECMT scheme. You cannot use an ECMT permit to transport goods through Cyprus to ECMT countries.

Apply for permits

Apply for a permit at least 5 working days before you start your removal journey from the UK.

To apply, you need:
- your username and password to manage your vehicle operator licence
- a debit or credit card to pay the application fee
When you sign in, select the Permits tab to apply.

Start now (https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/)

Fees

Each permit costs £18 and lasts for one year.

You can only use a permit for one vehicle at a time.

Rules for using the permits

You must only use the permit for moving and removing household goods and business possessions.

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

You cannot use the permit for cabotage (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-authorisations-and-permits-for-road-haulage#cabotage) (journeys entirely within one other EU member state)

What to do when you make journeys

You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey. This includes an unladen journey before or after a laden one.

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

Check what other vehicle documents (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vehicle-documents-required-for-international-road-haulage) and driver documents (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driver-documents-required-for-international-road-haulage) 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 xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return your permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence (https://www.gov.uk/manage-vehicle-operator-licence).

Get help with specialist removal permits

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

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)