What is a Personal Licence?
A personal licence authorises an individual to sell or supply alcohol from licensed premises. It is not premises-specific, which means that the holder can work in any licensed premises within the UK. The Personal Licence is typically for bar staff, event managers, and those who work in the hospitality industry.
The Personal Licence also referred to as APLH, is issued by the local council and ensures that personal licence holders have the necessary skills and qualifications to operate lawfully while also maintaining a safe working environment for customers, employees, and coworkers.
Eligibility
To apply for a personal licence, you must:
- be 18 years old or over
- Hold a valid APLH qualification (this can be either the Level 2 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing or the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders). Click here to book your course.
- have not been refused a personal licence or had one revoked in the last five years
- Have the right to work in the UK
- not have any unspent convictions for offences involving violence, drugs, fraud, or sexual offence
The Application Process - How to apply for a Personal Licence
If you meet the above criteria, you can apply for a personal licence by completing an application form and sending it to your local council, along with the following:
- Your original APLH certificate or a certified copy - will be returned to you
- Complete a DBS Check - The Disclosure and Barring Service or DBS (formerly CRB) check must be less than one month old and costs £25 for a basic check.
- Two passport-size photographs of yourself, one of which must be endorsed ‘Certified to be a true likeness of …’ by a solicitor, Notary Public, person of standing in the community (such as a bank or building society official, a police officer, a civil servant or a minister of religion) or an individual with a professional qualification.
- The correct fee - varies depending on the council
Your application will be processed within eight weeks. If the council needs more information from you, they’ll contact you.
If your application is successful, you’ll be issued a personal licence. However, if your application is refused, you can appeal to the local magistrates’ court.
How much does the Personal Licence Application Cost?
The fee for a personal licence application varies depending on the local council but is usually around £37. This does not include the cost of your DBS check, which costs £25 for a basic check.
Recent Changes - Renewing Your Personal Licence
Your personal licence will need to be renewed every ten years. You’ll need to complete a renewal application form and send it to your local council, along with the following:
- your original personal licence or a certified copy - this will be returned to you
- the correct fee - this varies depending on the council
You’ll also need to provide evidence that you still hold a valid APLH qualification if it has expired since you were issued with your personal licence.
Lost or stolen personal licences
If your personal licence is lost or stolen, you must notify the police and your local council within seven days. You’ll then need to apply for a replacement licence, which will cost you £10.50.
If you change your name or address
You must notify your local council and the Licensing Register of any changes to your name or address within 21 days. There is no fee for this.
Personal Licence Course
If you need to obtain your APLH qualification in order to apply for a personal licence, we offer the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) course. This can be completed online at a time and place convenient to you. Some of the topics covered in this course include:
- Introduction to licensing law
- The premises licence
- The application process
- Notification of the police and other responsible authorities
- Operating schedule
- Licensable activities
- Conditions attached to licences
- The rights of responsible authorities
- Enforcement of licensing law
- Unauthorised licensable activities
- Review and revocation of premises licences
At the end of the course, there is a multiple-choice examination. Once you have passed the exam, you will receive your APLH certificate, which is valid for three years and you can use to apply for your APLH Personal Licence.
If you would like us to apply for your personal licence on your behalf, we offer a personal licence application service. We will complete the application form and submit it to the council on your behalf, along with all the required documentation. The cost of this service is £140.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Premises License is the license granted by a Licensing Authority to permit licensable activities, such as the sale of alcohol, to take place on-premises. Premises include stationary structures such as restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, hubs, bars, convenience stores, nightclubs, sports clubs, social clubs, premises for entertainment activities and casinos. Premises are also granted for movable structures such as beer tents and burger vans.
The application for a Premises Licence is made to the Local Authority in the area where the venue will operate.
When applying for the licence, you will need to provide your local council with personal details, and information about your Designated Premises Supervisor.
Please contact your local council for more information as application processes may vary in different areas.
Yes! When applying for a personal license, you will need to submit a Basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Check certificate. A Basic DBS Check is a criminal record check that will reveal any unspent convictions you may have.
The application form for a Personal Licence costs around £37. You may also need to pay £25 for a DBS Check if you haven't got one recently. Please contact your local council for more information as these charges may vary in different areas.
Licence information
Personal Licence Application
£140
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