How to Apply for a Personal Licence: Steps, Costs and Timescales

By National Compliance Training · Published 7 September 2026 · Last updated 14 August 2026

To get a personal licence in England and Wales in 2026 you need two things: an accredited qualification such as the BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH), then a successful application to the licensing authority (council) for the area where you live. The statutory application fee is £37, you will need a basic DBS criminal record check (£21.50 direct from GOV.UK), and most councils process straightforward applications within 2 to 4 weeks. Once granted, the licence no longer expires.

A personal licence lets you sell or authorise the sale of alcohol at premises with a premises licence, and every licensed premises needs a Designated Premises Supervisor who holds one. Here is the whole process, step by step, with the real costs and the pitfalls that get applications rejected.

Step 1: Pass an accredited personal licence qualification

You must hold a licensing qualification accredited by the Home Office before you apply. The standard route is the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH), a one-day course covering the Licensing Act 2003, the four licensing objectives, the roles of the personal licence holder and DPS, and the law on age verification and irresponsible promotions. It finishes with a short multiple-choice exam.

You must also be 18 or over to hold a personal licence. There is no requirement to have worked in hospitality first, and no experience prerequisite for the course.

National Compliance Training’s BIIAB Level 2 APLH course costs £110 including VAT, with 24/7 online exam access and a free retake if you need one. You will receive a certificate from the awarding body after passing, and you need that physical certificate (or certified copy) for your application.

Step 2: Get a basic DBS check

Your application must include a basic disclosure showing any unspent convictions. Order it directly from GOV.UK for £21.50; third-party providers charge more for the same certificate. Two timing points matter:

• Most councils require the certificate to be no more than one month old when you apply, so do the course first and order the DBS when you are ready to submit.
• Results typically arrive within a few days to two weeks, so build that into your timeline.

Step 3: Prepare the rest of your application pack

A complete application to your local licensing authority normally includes:

• The application form (from your council’s website or the GOV.UK forms collection)
• The disclosure of convictions and civil immigration penalties declaration
• Your original qualification certificate (APLH)
• Your basic DBS certificate, less than a month old
• Two passport-sized photographs, one endorsed on the back as a true likeness by a solicitor, notary, professional person or person of standing
• Proof of your right to work in the UK (for example passport, share code or immigration documents)
• The £37 application fee

Apply to the council for the area where you live, not where you work. If you live outside England and Wales, you can apply to any licensing authority, but only one.

How much does a personal licence cost in total?

• APLH course and exam: £110 (with National Compliance Training, inc VAT)
• Basic DBS check: £21.50
• Council application fee: £37
• Photographs and incidentals: typically £10 to £15

Realistic total: around £180. There are no ongoing fees, because personal licences granted in England and Wales no longer expire, so there is no renewal to budget for. You only pay again if you change your name or address (a small update fee) or lose the licence.

How long does it take?

From a standing start you can realistically hold a personal licence in 3 to 6 weeks:

• Course and exam: 1 day, with certificates usually issued within about a week
• DBS check: a few days to 2 weeks
• Council processing: commonly 2 to 4 weeks for clean applications, longer if the police are consulted

If you disclose a relevant or foreign offence, the council must give the police 14 days to object, and an objection means a hearing, which adds weeks. Plan ahead if you need the licence for a job start date or a premises licence application.

Why do applications get rejected or delayed?

The common failure points are avoidable:

• Stale DBS certificates older than the council’s one-month window
• Missing endorsement on the photograph, or photos that do not meet passport standards
• Applying to the wrong council (where you work instead of where you live)
• Incomplete right-to-work evidence, which councils cannot waive because holding a licence is conditional on your immigration status
• Undisclosed convictions that then appear on the DBS: always declare, because the council checks
• Relevant offences (such as drink-driving, violence or dishonesty) that are unspent, which trigger police consultation and possible refusal

A conviction does not automatically bar you. The police look at whether granting the licence would undermine the crime prevention objective, and spent convictions are generally disregarded.

What happens after the licence is granted?

You receive a paper licence in two parts. You can then sell or authorise the sale of alcohol at premises licensed for it anywhere in England and Wales, and you can be nominated as the Designated Premises Supervisor of a premises. Keep the licence details current: you must notify your issuing council of name or address changes, and a court can order forfeiture or suspension if you are later convicted of a relevant offence.

Frequently asked questions

Do personal licences still need renewing?

No. The 10-year renewal requirement was abolished in 2015, so licences issued in England and Wales now continue indefinitely. If your licence still shows an old expiry date, it remains valid, but check with your issuing council if you are unsure.

Do I need a personal licence to work behind a bar?

No. Bar staff can sell alcohol as long as a personal licence holder has authorised the sales. You need your own licence if you want to be a DPS, authorise sales yourself, or improve your prospects for management roles.

Is the APLH exam hard?

Most candidates pass first time after a single day of training. The exam is multiple choice with a pass mark set by the awarding body, and our APLH course includes a free retake if you fall short.

Can I apply if I have a criminal record?

Often, yes. Spent convictions are generally disregarded, and unspent convictions only cause difficulty if they are “relevant offences” and the police object on crime prevention grounds. Declare everything honestly and include your basic DBS certificate.

Does a personal licence cover Scotland?

No. Scotland has its own regime under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 with a different qualification (SCPLH). A licence issued in England and Wales is valid throughout England and Wales only.

This article was published in August 2026 by National Compliance Training. Regulations change, so always check the latest guidance from GOV.UK for the current position. This article does not constitute legal advice.