What is a UBAK Permit? How to Obtain a UBAK Permit?

The ECMT bilateral permit, which helps international transit transportation operations to be carried out more easily and smoothly, is valid in many countries, especially Turkey.

This document, which helps to avoid waste of time at customs crossings, helps the products or goods in question reach the other party in a shorter time. In Turkey, it is issued by the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications.

Any company that requests it can have this permit, provided that certain terms and conditions are met. Now let's take a closer look at the details you need to know about the ECMT permit!

What is the ECMT Permit?

The ECMT permit helps companies operating in different countries to carry out transport and other commercial activities smoothly. It can be issued to almost all member countries based on a certain quota.

In 1973, conference members aiming for cooperation across all transport modes to meet increasing transport traffic along European country borders decided to use and implement the ECMT certificate. In line with this, 385 ECMT certificates were put into execution for trial purposes in 1974.

Companies carrying out transport operations through the ECMT permit quickly pass customs control by showing their permits. Thus, they can continue their journeys without losing time.

Shortening translation times and performing faster transfers is a significant advantage for companies. It also increases the profitability rates of companies.

What is the UBAK CEMT ECMT Agreement?

CEMT, which stands for Conference Européenne des Ministres des Transports in French, and ECMT in English, is the name given to the organization established under the European Conference of Ministers of Transport to regulate free transport and circulation on the European continent.

What are the Types of ECMT Permits?

The terms of the permits issued to the transport company according to the type of cargo and the route they transport are determined by the "Directive on the Principles for the Distribution of Transport Permits" published annually by the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications.

Distribution is made by the relevant chambers of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges. The types of permits are as follows:

• Bilateral permit: The type of permit that must be presented in the destination country for transport made between two countries.

• Transit permit: The type of permit that must be presented for each country crossed on the route to the destination country.

• Third-country permit: The type of permit that must be presented for both countries if the vehicle loads cargo from a country other than its country of registration and transports it to another country other than its country of registration.

• Return Load permit: The type of permit that must be presented for cargo loaded from any country other than the destination country.

In Which Transportation Types Can the ECMT Permit Be Used?

The ECMT permit can be used in international road freight transport. This permit is required for freight transport carried out from Turkey to other countries or from other countries to Turkey.

The ECMT permit legally allows transport companies and transportation vehicles to carry cargo. In other words, it is of great importance for customs procedures.

How to Apply for an ECMT Permit?

ECMT permit applications are carried out annually by company representatives via the e-state (e-devlet) platform between September 1-30. Applications made outside the specified dates are unfortunately deemed invalid.

Vehicle norm entry transactions for owned vehicles can also be performed via e-state. However, entry transactions made after October 31st will not be valid.

Following the application process, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure publishes a list regarding the pre-evaluation of companies. The Ministry shares this list on its website within 15 days at the latest.

If the information reflected on the list is incomplete or incorrect, companies can make corrections. However, corrections must be reported to the relevant institution by October 31st.

Who Can Get an ECMT Permit?

In Turkey, all firms or companies that meet the conditions set by the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications can obtain an ECMT permit. This permit can be given to these firms every year.

This permit can be used in transport operations to be carried out between member countries that have logbooks prepared in accordance with the criteria.

What Are the Requirements for Obtaining an ECMT Permit?

Requirements for obtaining an ECMT permit are as follows:

• To possess at least one of the authorization certificates of type M3, C2, and L2,

• To have 2 special (owned) green vehicles for the following years, primarily for the year of activity,

• To have a minimum of 6 owned green vehicles with EURO II, EURO III, EURO IV, and/or EURO V specifications,

• To have carried out international transport activities within the scope of the activity year.

Where to Get an ECMT Permit?

The ECMT permit is issued in Turkey by the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications. Certain quotas and criteria are applied to member countries in order for this permit to be issued.

The ECMT permit, which can be issued on an annual basis, is valid between the dates on the permit. The permit must be returned to the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications when it expires.

It must be kept in the vehicles throughout the entire transport process. Additionally, the ECMT permit cannot be used in another vehicle before transportation and unloading operations are completed. 

How to Get an ECMT Permit?

• Apply: To get an ECMT permit, company representatives must apply via e-state between September 1-30 every year.

• Gather the required documents: The documents requested in the application form must be prepared and uploaded to the system (company representative identity documents, commercial registry documents, vehicle documents, etc.).

• Pay the fee: The fee determined for the ECMT permit is paid.

• Get support from the pre-evaluation list: After the application, a pre-evaluation list is published on the website of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. Companies can correct deficiencies and errors in their information through this list.

• Make corrections: Incomplete or incorrect information must be corrected and reported to the ministry by October 31st.

• Receive the permit: The ECMT permit can be obtained after the entire application process is completed and the permit fee is paid.

You should check the official website of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure for detailed information and the documents required according to the type of permit. This way, you can reach the most up-to-date and accurate information.

In Which Countries Is the ECMT Permit Valid?

The countries where the ECMT permit, which is given to member countries under certain conditions, is valid can be listed as follows:

• Malta

• Italy

• Lithuania

• United Kingdom

• Hungary

• Albania

• Luxembourg

• Belarus

• Finland

• Croatia

• Switzerland

• Denmark

• Georgia

• Turkey

• Austria

• Azerbaijan

• Ireland

• Norway

• Czech Republic

• Serbia-Montenegro

• Latvia

• Bulgaria

• France

• Macedonia

• Spain

• Sweden

• Romania

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Estonia

• Liechtenstein

• Netherlands

• Germany

• Slovenia

• Armenia

• Ukraine

• Slovakia

• Moldova

• Belgium

• Greece

• Russian Federation

• Poland

• Portugal

What Are the Advantages of the ECMT Permit?

The biggest advantage that the ECMT permit provides to firms, companies, or drivers is that it allows for time savings during customs passages. This way, without the need to inspect products at customs, passages can be easily made by just presenting the ECMT permit. This also contributes to the faster delivery of transported goods/products to buyers.  

Another important advantage of the ECMT permit is that it helps strengthen trust bonds among member countries. Thus, transport operations are carried out more frequently and smoothly. Additionally, credibility is gained in the international arena.

What is the ECMT Penalty Point?

There are procedures that must be followed in the use of the ECMT permit, and penalty points are applied to companies that do not comply with these rules under certain circumstances. Penalty points vary from country to country.

For instance, companies that do not make at least 6 trips with the permit during the first 6 months face 15 penalty points, whereas the penalty score given to companies that do not use the permit at all is 25.

When evaluated by country, the permit of companies that carry out bilateral transport with an Italy-ECMT permit less than twice a month is canceled in the following year due to inefficient use.

Similarly, the permit of companies making bilateral transport less than once a month with a valid permit in Russia is also canceled the following year due to inefficient use. Therefore, companies need to pay attention to the permit usage rules and obligations of the country they operate in.