Apply for a personal licence
You should apply to us if you currently live in our area. Complete the personal licence application form (GOV.UK) and disclosure of convictions and declaration form (GOV.UK). Enclose two passport photos of yourself. One should be endorsed as a true likeness by a:
- solicitor or a notary
- a person of standing in the community or
- any individual with a professional qualification
You must also include:
- the original of an accredited personal licence qualification certificate
- proof of your right to work in the UK – see the right to work checklist on GOV.UK for documents you can use
Along with your application, you must apply for a basic disclosure certificate on GOV.UK. This should be dated within one month of us receiving your application and you’ll need to send the original with your application.
Send the application form, all relevant documents and the fee of £37 to the relevant licensing team using the contact details at the end of this guide.
Personal licence holders have a duty to notify us of any change in your name or address. To change a current personal licence, complete a change of name and/or address of personal licence holder form. Send the form to the licensing team using the contact details at the end of this guide, with the fee of £10.50 and both the paper and card part of the original personal licence.
If your personal licence is damaged, lost or stolen apply to the original issuing council to replace it. This includes paying the relevant fee.
We must notify the police if an applicant is found to have an unspent conviction for a relevant or foreign offence. The police may object to the application on crime prevention grounds.
Similarly, we must notify the Secretary of State through Home Office Immigration Enforcement when an applicant declares they've been issued with an immigration penalty or convicted of an immigration offence. The Home Office may object on grounds that granting the licence would be prejudicial to the prevention of illegal working in licensed premises.
In either case, when an objection is received, the applicant is entitled to a hearing to determine the application. If there are no objections and the applicant otherwise meets the requirements, the application will be granted. If the application is denied, you can appeal to the Magistrates Court.