• Home Page >
• Working >
• Business Support >
• Licensing Service >
• Licensing Act 2003 >
• Personal Licences

Personal Licences

A Personal Licence permits the holder to authorise the sale of alcohol from a premise that is licensed for the sale of alcohol by retail such as a pub, off-licence or supermarket.

To obtain a Personal Licence the applicant must apply to the Licensing Authority for the area in which they live. Personal Licences are valid for 10 years and must be renewed by the originating Licensing Authority. The licence is portable throughout England and Wales.

Personal Licence holders must inform the issuing Licensing Authority of any changes in their circumstances. It is an offence not to do so.

To apply for a Personal Licence you must:

• Be over 18 years of age
• Not have any relevant convictions as spelled out in the Act
• Possess an accredited licensing qualification
• Pay the required fee

Your application for a Personal Licence must include:

• Correct application form (PDF - 60KB)
• Disclosure of Convictions and Declaration form (PDF - 35KB)
• Personal Licence Qualification Certificate
• Criminal conviction certificate, CRB certificate or PNC check
• 2 passport type photographs, one of which must be correctly endorsed
• Prescribed fee of £37

Guidance (PDF - 20KB) on applying for a Personal Licence and for a list of Personal Licence Qualification Certifcate providers.