Personal Licences issued in England and Wales do not currently expire. Since 2015 there has been no requirement to renew them.
A Personal Licence issued under the Licensing Act 2003 in England and Wales remains in force indefinitely, unless it is surrendered, suspended, revoked or declared forfeit.
No. There is no longer a fixed expiry date, so you do not lose your licence simply because a number of years has passed.
Don't have a licence yet? Read What is a personal licence?
No. Renewal of Personal Licences is no longer required, and there is no mandatory retraining every 10 years.
You can ignore it.
Many licences issued before 2015 still show a 10-year expiry date. That date no longer applies and you do not need to renew.
If you would like a copy without the date, your licensing authority can reissue it, usually for around £10.50.
Yes, in certain circumstances.
A holder can surrender their licence at any time. A court can order a licence to be forfeited or suspended, and licensing authorities can suspend or revoke a licence where the holder is convicted of a relevant offence.
Complying with your legal duties is the best way to keep your licence safe.
Tell the licensing authority.
You must notify the licensing authority that issued your licence about changes to your name or address, so your licence details stay up to date.
A small fee is payable, currently £10.50.
Yes. Your Personal Licence belongs to you, not to your employer or a particular premises, so it stays valid when you move jobs.
If you were the DPS, the premises licence will need to be changed to name the new DPS. What is a DPS?
Yes. A Personal Licence can be used at appropriately licensed premises throughout England and Wales.
Scotland has a separate system. For Scotland, see the BIIAB SCPLH online exam.
Need a Personal Licence? Our step-by-step guide explains how to apply, or we can handle the application for you.
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