Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the EU’s 90/180 day rule on UK-based haulier operations since the introduction of the Entry Exit Scheme.

The Government continues to listen to concerns raised by sectors affected by the 90/180 rules and will advocate for British citizens abroad. The UK Government is also making every effort to engage with the EU as it rolls out its implementation of Exit and Entry System (EES).

However, the 90/180 limit is a fundamental part of the EU’s conditions of entry for third country nationals to its territory, including for visa-free travel for

short-term visits. As such, it is not UK Government policy. Any amendments and exemptions to these rules are the responsibility of the EU and Member States.

The Department for Transport is undertaking research to improve understanding of the effects of the 90/180 limit on the international operations of GB-based HGV and coach businesses that hold standard international operator licences. The data is currently being processed, and the study’s findings will be published in due course.

Background Note – Further factual information (this may be put into the public domain)

Schengen immigration rules are the EU’s condition for entry. Amendments and exemptions to these rules are the responsibility of the EU and Member States.

We continue to encourage road haulage and coach operators to take the necessary steps to ensure their UK national drivers who work internationally remain within the limit.

When the EU began its phased implementation of EES from 12 October 2025, it introduced new digital checks which automatically calculate the number of days a non-EU national has spent within the Schengen area.

Since 10 April the EU’s EES should now be fully implemented across all member states, however there are flexibilities available that allow for the suspension of biometric checks.

DfT officials have raised the 90/180 limit as an issue at previous meetings of the UK-EU Specialised Committee for Road Transport, noting that it further restricts the market access arrangements we agreed with the EU in the Trade and Co-operation Agreement.

In its recent Visa Strategy the EU has acknowledged the difficulties the 90/180 limit poses for some third country professionals, including hauliers, and proposes to work with Member states to identify pragmatic solutions. The EU Visa Strategy can be found here: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/f873d151-f079-424b-9575-bece4113447c_en?filename=EU%20Visa%20Policy%20Strategy.pdf