The Immigration Act 2016 prevents illegal working in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire sectors.

All applicants for a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver Licence must prove their Right to Work in the United Kingdom.

Original documents must be provided.

If a licence applicant/holder does not have a ‘Right to Work’, a licence may be refused, revoked, or suspended.

What must I provide?

All applicants must provide their:

  • Proof of Right to Work.
  • DVLA Driving Licence.
  • Original DBS certificate.

If you cannot produce these documents, we will not be able to issue a licence. We allow six months to provide all required documents before an application lapses.

Acceptable documents

Acceptable documents can be found here:

Right to Work Assessment Form

What if I do not have acceptable documents?

If you do not correct documents when applying, we can check with the Home Office on your behalf. If the response is satisfactory, we will be able to issue your licence. If you have a time-limited right to work status, you may receive a short-term licence. You may need to repeat this check to have your licence extended or renewed, until the Home Office reach a decision on your status. You must provide original documents - we will not accept any copies.

The cost for this is as follows:

New Drivers: £125
Existing Drivers or Renewal applicants: £25

What can I provide?

You can provide proof of application from the Home Office. To be eligible for a Home Office check, applications must be made to the Home Office before your former right to work status expired.

Your status will be verified via the “Status Verification, Enquiries and Checking Unit”. This is not an instant process.

We recommend that existing licence holders submit a Home Office check at least one month before their licence expires.

Examples of some documents include:

  • A Certificate of Application issued by the Home Office.
  • Proof of your Home Office application, such as the submitted application form or the confirmation of payment.
    • This must detail your name as the lead applicant. If it does not, you will be asked to submit evidence that you have also applied for a ‘Right to Work in the United Kingdom’.
  • A document verification via the Home Office, by producing original ‘Right to Work’ evidence in line with:
    • Appendix EU to the Jersey Immigration Rules
    • Appendix EU to the Immigration (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Rules 2008
    • Appendix EU to the Isle of Man Immigration Rules

If you need any further information please email us.

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