Documents for drivers post-Brexit – what must a trucker travelling to the UK have? [2026]

A driver’s job on the UK route has changed radically. Previously, an ID card and CMR were sufficient. Today, the driver is effectively a "customs document courier." One missing code on the phone means no boarding the ferry.

Here is the mandatory list of documents (the "essentials") that every driver must have in the cabin when travelling to the UK in 2026.

1. Personal Documents

• Passport: ID cards no longer work (since October 2021). The driver must have a valid passport.
• Visa: EU citizens do not require a visa for up to 6 months (for business/tourism purposes), but paid work (cabotage) is subject to strict regulations.

2. Customs Documents (Most important!)

This is where errors happen most often. The driver does not need to understand customs law in detail, but they must have these references:

On exit from PL to the UK:

1. EAD document (with MRN code): Export declaration printout from Poland/EU. 2. GMR (Goods Movement Reference) number: This is the most important code (often in SMS or PDF on the phone). Without a GMR, the vehicle will not be allowed into the port terminal in France. The GMR combines all declarations. If you need to close it operationally before the crossing, use our GMR support page. 3. Transit documents (T1/T2): (Optional) If goods are in transit, the driver must have a Tad (Transit Accompanying Document).

On return from the UK to Poland:

1. UK export document (EAD UK): Export confirmation from the UK. 2. GMR number (Import): For boarding the ferry at Dover/Folkestone. 3. Import documents to the EU: E.g. MRN of import declaration in France/Poland.

3. Transport Documents

• CMR (International Consignment Note): Must be completed accurately. Consistency of weight in the CMR with the weight in the customs declaration is crucial.
• Transport licence and Permits: Standard carrier documents.
• Insurance (Green Card): Although not always required, it is advisable to have it for peace of mind.

4. Sanitary Documents (If transporting food/plants)

If you carry sensitive goods (SPS - sanitary and phytosanitary):

• Health Certificate: The original paper document often has to accompany the goods.
• The driver must be aware that they are required to stop for inspection at BCP (Border Control Post), if the system directs the vehicle there.

Penalties (Civil Penalties)

UK Border Force imposes severe penalties for carrying "stowaways" (illegal immigrants). The driver must have:

• Vehicle Security Checklist.
• Lock/Seal on the trailer.
• Completed vehicle inspection record (checking tarpaulin at stops).

The penalty for one found immigrant can be up to £10,000 for the driver and the company.

App "Check if an HGV is ready to cross the border"

This is a government service that used to issue the so-called Kent Access Permit (KAP). KAP is no longer valid, but the principle remains: Do not go to the border if you do not have a "green light" in GMR.

Summary for the freight forwarder

Do not send the driver out from base without: 1. Passport. 2. GMR number (on phone/paper). 3. EAD/CMR printout. 4. Clear instructions: "At Dover, watch the screens – if instructed to exit at IBF Sevington, do so!".

The driver is the last link. If they do not show the documents, the work of the entire customs agency is wasted.

What the current official guidance means in practice

For operational work, the current procedural rules, declaration fields and relief conditions should be checked directly against the official guidance. For this topic, the core reference points are European Commission, GOV.UK / HMRC.

Official sources

• EU Taxation & Customs Union (EUR.1/EUR-MED) — European Commission, 2026-03-04
• UK GOV (Proof of origin) — GOV.UK / HMRC, 2026-03-04
• European Commission: proof of origin — European Commission, 2026-03-04
• European Commission: preferential rules of origin — European Commission, 2026-03-04