Taxi and Minicab Right to Work Checks Oct 2026

Licensing authorities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland must check that individual taxi and private hire driver and operator applicants have the right to work in the UK before they grant, renew or extend a licence. The updated Home Office guidance applies to checks carried out from 1 October 2026. For most passengers, nothing about your booking changes. The rules affect who can hold a licence, and how long it can last.

What is changing?

The guidance sets out how licensing authorities must avoid giving a licence to someone who is barred from work because of their immigration status. The check has to be completed before the authority makes its decision.

The rules apply to individual applicants and licence holders. They do not cover companies or partnerships, which can hold some licences but are not checked as individuals.

Who does it affect?

• New applicants for a taxi or private hire driver or operator licence, who must prove they can hold a licence.
• Existing licence holders whose immigration permission ends, is cut short or is cancelled. Their licence lapses automatically and must be returned.
• Licensing authorities, which must carry out and record the checks.
• Businesses that employ drivers. The guidance notes that some taxi and private hire businesses also have right to work duties under the separate Right to Work Scheme changes. Those duties are different from the licensing authority rules, so check the Home Office guidance if you run a fleet.

How the check works

Licensing authorities use one of three methods:

1. A manual document check of the applicant’s documents.
2. The Home Office online service, using a share code the applicant generates.
3. A registered digital verification provider, which checks identity and right to work digitally.

Expired physical Biometric Residence Permits are no longer accepted as proof. Applicants with those permits need to use their UKVI account to access their eVisa instead.

How long a licence can last

A licence cannot run beyond the end of the applicant’s time-limited immigration permission, or beyond the statutory maximum licence period, whichever comes first. If the check relies on a Home Office response on an outstanding application, the licence is capped at six months. A fresh check is needed before the licence is renewed or extended.

Some visa holders face limits:

• Skilled Worker visa holders normally cannot hold a taxi or private hire licence, because the work usually falls outside what their visa allows.
• Student visa holders face limits on work and generally cannot be self-employed, so they are unlikely to qualify for an operator or self-employed driver licence.
• Refugees have no work restrictions and may be licensed.

Authorities must look at each applicant’s conditions, not just whether they have a right to work in general.

What happens when a licence ends on immigration grounds

If a licence lapses, expires, is suspended or is revoked on immigration grounds, the holder must return the licence, badge and other identification within seven working days. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse may be a criminal offence, with a maximum penalty of a level 3 fine.

What about London?

Transport for London (TfL) is the licensing authority for taxi and private hire drivers, vehicles and operators in London. The Home Office guidance does not mention TfL by name, but it does cite London’s own licensing laws, and it applies to licensing authorities across the UK. TfL’s licensing pages are the place to check how the rules are applied in London, and I could not confirm the London-specific detail from a primary source.

What about the wider reform?

The government has also said it will bring forward a draft Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 . The Bill would create a single licensing framework across England and a national database of licensed drivers, vehicles and operators, and would tackle cross-border hiring. A Department for Transport written answer on 7 September 2026 confirmed the plan but gave no publication date. It is still a draft, so the details may change.

Practical steps

If you are a passenger:

1. Book with a licensed operator and ask for the name of the firm and the driver.
2. Check the licence details with the licensing authority that issued them. In London, that is TfL.
3. Before a pre-booked journey, confirm which firm and which vehicle will collect you, and keep the booking confirmation.

If you run or drive for a licensed business:

1. Check the Home Office guidance and keep a record of every right to work check, including the date.
2. Watch the expiry dates on any time-limited permission, because the licence cannot outlast it.
3. If a licence has lapsed or been revoked on immigration grounds, return the licence and badge within seven working days.
4. Get specific advice from your licensing authority or a solicitor who specialises in licensing if your situation is unclear.

Frequently asked questions

Does the check apply to licences that already exist? The Home Office guidance applies to checks carried out from 1 October 2026. Existing licence holders may be checked again at renewal or when their permission changes.

Is nationality a reason to refuse a licence? The check is about whether a person is allowed to work and hold a licence, not where they come from. The guidance says authorities must apply checks consistently and fairly, and avoid discrimination based on race, nationality, accent or similar factors.

What if my immigration permission is time-limited? The licence cannot run beyond the end of that permission. Keep track of the expiry date and apply for a renewal or extension in good time.

Does this change how much a taxi or minicab costs? Not directly. The rules concern who can hold a licence, not the fares that licensed drivers charge.

Where can I get personal advice? For an individual immigration question, speak to a qualified immigration adviser or the Home Office. For a licence application or a licensing dispute, speak to your licensing authority or a solicitor who works in this area.

Key points

• From 1 October 2026, licensing authorities must check right to work before issuing or renewing taxi and private hire licences.
• Licences can last no longer than the applicant’s immigration permission, and some visa types are restricted.
• Licence holders must return their licence and badge within seven working days if it ends on immigration grounds.
• In London, TfL is the licensing authority, so check the detail there.

Next step

If you need a licensed pre-booked car, Victoria Taxis operates from Victoria in central London and takes bookings by phone on 020 7946 0663 and online. Ask for the driver and vehicle details when you book.

Rules as of October 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice.