How to apply for a right to licence check.
To apply or to renew a taxi driver, private hire driver or private hire operator licence, you must have a right to licence check.
This is to show that you have the right to remain and work in the UK. It's in addition to the checks in our Fit and Proper Person policy in the pdf Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy (1.16 MB) .
For more information on right to licence checks see the Immigration Act 2016.
If you don't have the right to work in the UK
If you do not have the right to work in the UK a licence will not be issued.
If your right to remain in the UK is time limited
If your right to remain in the UK is time limited, a licence will not be issued for beyond the date of your leave to remain.
The right to licence check
You'll need to phone us on 0117 357 4900 to book an appointment to verify your right to licence. Your appointment to verify your right to licence will be at:
Citizen Service Point, 100 Temple Street, Bristol BS1 6AG.
You'll need to bring three forms of ID with you. Most people bring:
- a valid British passport
- a current driving licence
- a bank statement or utility bill showing your name and address less than 3 months from the date of issue, or a council tax statement less than 12 months from the date of issue.
Find a list of all acceptable ID documents on GOV.UK
If you're renewing your driver or operator licence, to avoid any delays you should come for a right to licence at least 8 weeks before your licence runs out, so your documents can be processed.
We will not issue your licence until you complete a right to licence check.
Documents for right to licence check
You must provide the original documents. We cannot accept photocopies.
Find a list of all acceptable ID documents on GOV.UK
Where the holder of a licence breaches immigration laws, this will be grounds to review, suspend or revoke a licence.
If your immigration status changes and you no longer have the right to work in the UK, your hackney carriage driver, private hire driver or private hire operator licence will lapse.
If immigration permission is cut short, the holder of the licence will be committing an offence if they do not return the hackney carriage driver, private hire driver or operator licence to the licensing authority, for which they may be fined.
If there are no restrictions on your right to work in the UK
Once you have undertaken the necessary check once, you will not have to repeat the check when you subsequently apply to renew or extend your licence.
If there are restrictions on your right to work in the UK
A licence may be issued (subject to statutory limitations) up to the expiry date of the permission to work.
A further check of your immigration status will be required each time you apply to renew or extend your licence.