Brexit negotiations have been frozen over the party conference season as neither side were sure what would happen Theresa May.

Time is running short for the EU and UK make a deal; here’s a timeline of the next steps as Britain heads towards the exit door.

17-18 October 2018 – Last chance summit

Theresa May arrives for a meeting with European Council (Reuters)

The EU has described this meeting of EU leaders at the European Council in Brussels as the “moment of truth” for Brexit and says a deal should be basically completed by this point. The 27 other national leaders will put out a statement and decide what to do next.

18 November 2018 – Very last chance summit?

Workers prepare the EU headquarters for yet another summit (Reuters)

The EU nations have said that if a deal looks possible in October but hasn’t been finalised then they will arrange a special summit in November to finalise it.

13 December 2018 – Very, very Last chance summit?

Theresa May shakes hands with European Council President Donald Tusk (Reuters)

Another meeting of the European Council is scheduled for December that could be the very, very last chance to sign a deal if the timeline slips. But the EU in particular wouldn’t be happy.

December? Or January? Or February? – House of Commons vote on deal

Protesters outside the Palace of Westminster (AFP/Getty)

We don’t know when the House of Commons will get to vote on the final deal, but if one is struck, then it will – probably sometime in December, January, or February. This vote could be difficult for the Prime Minister as she could face rebellions by the DUP and Tory MPs.

21 January 2019 – No-deal legal cut-off date

The Prime Minister Theresa May at Downing Street (Getty)

This is the very last cut-off date for a deal to be presented to Parliament under UK law. If no withdrawal agreement is presented to MPs by 21 January, they will get a vote on what should happen next. A second referendum? A bid for an extension? This all happens here.

December? Or January? Or February? Or March? – European Parliament vote on the deal

The European Parliament's base in Strasbourg (EPA)

The European Parliament will get a vote on the Brexit deal, too. The last date they can physically do so is during its sitting from 11-14 March, though it could happen before if an agreement is finalised earlier.

21-22 March 2019 – Britain's goodbye meeting

EU leaders attend a round table meeting (AP)

The last European Council meeting that Britain will attend. Since it will be literally a week before the UK leaves it will probably be mostly a goodbye, as there won’t be much time to do anything.

29 March 2019 – Brexit Day

Big Ben will bong Britain into Brexit

Barring an extension, Britain will officially leave the European Union two years after Theresa May triggered Article 50 of the EU’s treaty and set the country rolling towards the exit door.

31 December 2020 – End of the transition period

Barring a change of policy there will be new checks on vehicles once Britain leaves the customs union and single market (Reuters)