Licences and permits
The permissions a business needs before it can trade, each one tied to the law that creates it and to the body that issues it. We point at GOV.UK for fees and forms, and never copy them.
25 of 426 licences for Transport and logistics, including aviation
Choose from all 48 activities
A
Aerial application certificate for dropping material from an aircraft or drone (agriculture, horticulture, forestry)
You need an aerial application certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to drop articles from an aircraft for agriculture, horticulture or forestry: apply …
CAA · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Aerial application of plant protection products: permission to spray from an aircraft or drone
You must get an aerial spraying permit from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) before you apply a plant protection product from an aircraft, …
HSE · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Aircraft maintenance engineering licence - BCAR Section L
Get a BCAR Section L licence for working on UK registered non-Part 21 aircraft.
DfT · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Aircraft maintenance engineering licence - UK Part 66
Get a UK Part 66 aircraft maintenance engineer licence for working on Part 21 aircraft.
DfT · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
B
C
CAA Operating Licence
You need an operating licence from the Civil Aviation Authority to carry passengers, mail or cargo by air for commercial purposes
DfT · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
CAA Route Licence
You must receive a route licence from the Civil Aviation Authority to operate UK-registered aircraft on commercial passenger or cargo flights outside the European …
DfT · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Carriage of dangerous goods test and certificate (Northern Ireland)
You need a test and certificate for vehicles which will be carrying dangerous goods
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
CBT motorcycle instructor (England, Scotland and Wales)
You must become a certified motorcycle instructor or DVSA assessed CBT motorcycle instructor if you want to provide the CBT course for learner riders.
DVSA · England, Wales and Scotland
D
Drone operational authorisation (Specific category)
You must get an operational authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) before flying a drone in the Specific category, which covers flying that …
CAA · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Drone operator registration (Operator ID)
Before you fly a drone outdoors in the UK that weighs 250g or more, or 100g or more with a camera, the person or …
CAA · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Drone remote pilot competency (Flyer ID, A2 CofC, GVC)
To fly a drone of 100g or more outdoors in the UK you must pass the CAA's free theory test and get a Flyer …
CAA · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
G
General Aviation Report notification (Northern Ireland)
You may need to notify the police if you are operating a flight arriving or departing at an undesignated port in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland
Goods vehicle operator licences
You need a goods vehicle operator’s licence if your business uses a goods vehicle with either a gross plated weight (the maximum weight that …
Traffic Commissioners · England, Wales and Scotland
H
Hackney carriage licence (England, Scotland and Wales)
You need a licence to drive a hackney carriage - taxicabs, England, excluding London, Scotland and Wales
DfT · England, Wales and Scotland
Horse-drawn hackney carriage licence (England and Wales)
You'll need a hackney vehicle licence if you want to use a horse and carriage for paying customers
Your council · England and Wales
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L
M
P
Private hire vehicle or minicab licence (Scotland)
To drive a private hire car (PHC) in Scotland, a private hire car drivers' licence or a taxi drivers' licence must be obtained from …
Your council · Scotland
PSV (Public Service Vehicle) operator’s licence
You need a public service vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence to operate a vehicle for hire or reward (payment or payment in kind) that can …
Traffic Commissioners · England, Wales and Scotland
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V
W
Weighbridge operator certificate
Contact your council for a certificate of competence to operate a chargeable weighbridge
Your council · England, Wales and Scotland
Weighbridge operator's certificate (Northern Ireland)
You need a certificate of competence to operate a public weighbridge for which a charge is made in Northern Ireland
Your council · Northern Ireland
We have not yet mapped an enabling instrument for 6 licences on this list. That is a gap in our graph, not a statement about the law, and those pages say so rather than guessing.
Checking approvals more broadly?
A licence is one of several things you may need before your first day of trading. The pre-trading quick check walks the registrations, insurances and approvals alongside it.
Not sure which of these apply to you?
Our guides on finding a licence and dealing with your local council walk through the questions that decide it.