HGV Driver Temporary Concession

A new immigration route has opened allowing non-UK HGV drivers to come to Britain to work on a temporary basis.

The HGV driver temporary concession applies to fuel tanker drivers from non-visa national countries coming to the UK between 1 October 2021 and 15 October 2021.

Eligible individuals can request to enter the UK border and if immigration officials are satisfied that the concession conditions are met, permission will be granted for the individual to work and remain in the UK as a fuel lorry driver until 31 March 2022.

The concession does not allow any other type of work other than employment as a fuel tanker driver for a specified employer.

Fuel tanker concession requirements

The following requirements apply for those looking to enter the UK under the HGV concession:

You are a non-visa national. This means under the UK’s Immigration Rules you do not need ordinarily need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa before you travel.
You hold an EU, EEA or Swiss licence to drive HGV fuel tankers, ie an HGV category C or C+E plus current accreditation for the transport of fuel further to the international convention about dangerous goods transport.
You have been issued with an HGV fuel driver’s endorsement letter by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
You arrive in the UK for the purpose of undertaking employment, as an HGV fuel tanker driver between 1 October 2021 and 15 October 2021.
You must show a valid national passport and your HGV fuel driver’s endorsement letter to a Border Force officer.

HGV fuel driver’s endorsement letter

To be eligible for consideration under this concession you must have been issued an HGV fuel driver’s endorsement letter by BEIS confirming their endorsement and that you are approved to work under this scheme.

BEIS will carry out checks with your employer and will require information to be provided about you, including your intended employment, your qualifications, date of birth and your date and port of arrival before providing you with an HGV fuel driver’s endorsement letter.

Relevant information will be provided to Border Force before your arrival to facilitate consideration of your request for permission to enter the UK.

What happens at the UK border?

If you are seeking permission to enter under this concession you must present to a Border Force officer and you must not use an e-gate. If you accidently use the e-gate, before leaving the secure area of the port (i.e. do not pass through the customs channels) you must bring this to the attention of a Border Force officer who will assist you further.

You must present a valid national passport and the HGV fuel driver’s endorsement letter issued by BEIS to a Border Force officer.

You may also be required to present your driving licence if Border Force ask to see it and to demonstrate you have funds to support yourself while in the UK and intend to leave at the end of the period of permission.

The Border Force officer will consider:

whether you are eligible to be considered under this concession – you must be a non-visa national; and you must hold a relevant valid national passport, an EEA licence and accreditation to drive HGV fuel tankers and an HGV fuel driver’s endorsement letter from BEIS.
whether they are satisfied that you are genuinely seeking entry for the purpose of undertaking employment as an HGV fuel tanker driver.
whether you will be able to maintain and accommodate yourself without recourse to public funds.
whether you intend to leave the UK at the end of your period of permission.

Where the Border Force officer has considered your case and is satisfied that you are eligible for the concession, you will be granted permission to enter and to work in the UK as a fuel tanker driver for the specified employer until 31 March 2022.

Dependents will not be permitted unless they otherwise meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules.

What if you are refused entry under the concession?

If the Border Force officer is not satisfied that you should be granted permission to enter under this concession you may be refused entry.

You may also be refused entry if any of the grounds for refusal under part 9 of the Immigration Rules would apply.

These grounds include, but are not limited to criminal convictions, or where it has been deemed non-conducive to the public good.

Refusal of permission to enter under this concession would not attract a right of appeal.

Leaving the Common Travel Area

If having entered the UK under this concession, you leave the Common Travel Area your permission will expire.

The CTA refers to the arrangement between the UK, the Crown Dependencies (Bailiwick of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man) and Ireland.

Where you wish to re-enter, for example having returned home for a short visit, you must present your passport and HGV fuel driver’s endorsement letter again, and you will be granted permission to enter until 31 March 2022.