For trucks which left the UK via Dover and Folkestone and travelled through the Kent region, it was necessary from the 1st January 2021 to generate a Kent Access Permit, otherwise known as a KAP.
It was a mandatory requirement for a driver to have a valid KAP if they were driving in the Kent area. Drivers without a valid KAP were subject to fines of up to 300 GBP. KAPs were generated via the system known as “Check an HGV is ready to cross the border”.
This system was introduced to ensure that drivers were arriving at the exit ports of Dover and Folkestone “border ready”.
KAP – no longer required
Due to the low number of turnback’s and drivers being generally in possession of the necessary customs declarations, it has been decided by the UK authorities that a KAP is no longer required.
This is effective as of the 20th April 2021 at 00:01 UK time.
The following information is available at the link where users would have gained access to the system to create a KAP.
Check an HGV is ready to cross the border (Kent Access Permit) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The following services closed on 20 April 2021:
- Apply for a Kent Access Permit (KAP)
- Check an HGV is ready to cross the border
Before drivers cross the border, the advice from the authorities is to;
- check you have the paperwork you need to cross the border between Great Britain and the EU
- check if you need a coronavirus (COVID-19) test and when you should get one – this depends on which countries you’re travelling to
SGS and your local client centre will continue to ensure that our clients are in possession of valid customs declarations for leaving the UK.
To find out more, please contact your local client centre or use the contact form to get in touch.
