The DVA cannot make a decision on an application until the PV15 has been received and all the information requested from Access NI, the GP or the Occupational Health Service (OHS) has been received. The DVA aims to issue 95% of licences within 10 working days of receiving the last piece of information. To help make sure your application is valid, please see the information below or the Important Notes on the PV15.

All Applicants To apply for a taxi driver’s licence you must: • have held a full Category B (car) driving licence continuously for at least three years immediately before you apply • meet the necessary good repute requirements • meet the necessary medical requirements • have the right to work in Northern Ireland First time applicants and those renewing their licence more than two years after expiry of last licence must have passed a taxi driver practical test. Renewal taxi driver licence applicants must have completed the necessary mandatory periodic training. A taxi driver’s licence will only be issued if you meet all of the above requirements. Car driving licence Before you apply for a taxi driver’s licence you must have held a full Category B (car) driving licence continuously for at least three years. If you do not hold a Northern Ireland driving licence you must send in both parts of your EEA Community Licence with your application. Taxi driver theory test and practical test First time applicants or those renewing their taxi driver licence more than two years after expiry will have to pass both the taxi driver theory and practical tests before an application from you will be accepted for consideration.

Read more about the tests in section five of • • Criminal record check Before you send in your application you will have to apply online for an enhanced disclosure certificate (EDC) using the PIN number provided on your taxi licensing application form. This is required to check if you have any conviction or other relevant information which may stop you getting a taxi driver’s licence. For more information about the Access NI process and to apply online go to When you submit your PV15 application we will validate your online Access NI application to verify that the personal details match the identity document you have provided. If you have resided outside the UK within the last five years we may request a Certificate of Good Conduct. You can monitor the process of your online Access NI application through the personal log in details that you created. The documents needed for your Access NI check may differ to those which support your right to work in the UK. Please make sure the documents you give with your PV15 application cover both.

When the Access NI check is complete, Access NI will send the EDC directly to you. Access NI will tell us if your EDC is clear, however if your EDC has any criminal record information you must send it to Taxi Licensing before we can continue with your application. Any information received will be treated confidentially, in line with Taxi Licensing policies and Data Protection principles and and this will be shredded unless you provide a stamped addressed envelope for return. Good repute The law requires that all taxi drivers are ‘fit and proper’ people to hold licences. Having a criminal record won't necessarily stop you from holding a taxi driver’s licence, however, if you have been convicted of a serious offence you may not be eligible to hold a licence until at least three years have passed since the date of conviction or, in cases where there a custodial sentence, release from prison.

Each conviction is considered on its own merit taking account of the penalty imposed and any mitigating factors. Some examples of serious convictions relate to offences for drugs, firearms or explosives, burglary, fraud, sexual offences or any offence involving violence such as wounding or assault, common assault, threats to kill or harassment. Health When you are applying you must give details of any health condition likely to affect your fitness as a driver of a taxi. All first time applicants and those over 45 years of age are required to have a TLM1 medical form completed by their GP.

We will send a TLM1 medical form out to you when we receive your application. You will need to arrange for your doctor to complete the form. Depending on the information it contains you may be required to undergo further medical checks or your GP provide additional information which may delay a decision on your licence. Medical standards for taxi drivers are higher than those required for car drivers. Taxi drivers are required to meet the same medical standards as those applied to buses and lorries (Group 2). Further information on the conditions and disabilities which are investigated for Group 2 licence holders is available from the link below: • Your GP will be able to advise you on the medical standards required. More detailed information on the above conditions and driving can be found on the gov.uk website: • Right to work All applicants for a taxi driver licence must have a right to work within the UK and be available to attend an interview at Passenger Transport Licensing Division (PTLD).The original documents required to support your right to work may be different to those used for identity purposes. Learn German With Mnemonics Free Download.

Further information is available at: • Periodic training Drivers renewing a taxi driver’s licence from 1 September 2016 must show that they have completed the required amount of taxi driver periodic training. The training must have been delivered by a training provider authorised by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) for this purpose and at least 3.5 hours must have been Disability Awareness training. Required amount of periodic training.

Date of taxi driver's licence expiry Training required 1 September 2016 - 31 August 2017 7 hours 1 September 2017 - 31 August 2018 14 hours 1 September 2018 - 31 August 2019 21 hours 1 September 2019 - 31 August 2020 28 hours On or after 1 September 2020 35 hours How to find training courses Only approved courses taken at approved training centres will count towards periodic training. It will be up to you to decide which courses to attend. Further details on courses and how to apply can be found on the Taxi driver photograph You will need a recent passport sized facial photograph with your name and address on the back. How much will it cost? The fee for a first time application is £140 and £105 for a renewal application. Cheques should be made payable to DVA.

Please do not send cash, bank notes or blank postal orders with your application. Completed applications You can apply for your taxi driver’s licence by completing the PV15 (NI) application form which is downloadable from the link below. Please read the guidance notes before you complete the form.

Car driving licence. Before you apply for a taxi driver’s licence you must have held a full Category B (car) driving licence continuously for at least three years. If you do not hold a Northern Ireland driving licence you must send in both parts of your EEA Community Licence with your application. Sep 26, 2016 Taxi drivers in Northern Ireland say a test for new drivers is so difficult that it is putting people off joining the profession. The practical and theory.

• You will need to enclose original documentation confirming your identity and proof of residency, a passport style colour photograph and the fee. Send your completed application and the payment to: Taxi Licensing Section Driver & Vehicle Agency (PTLD) County Hall Castlerock Road Waterside Coleraine BT51 3HS Telephone: 028 9025 4100 Apply for a duplicate licence If you require a duplicate licence, please complete the PV16 (NI) form: • Taxi operator licence If you are a sole trader operating on your own, you will also need a taxi operator licence. • Fair Processing Notice The DVA is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud. Further information is available from: More useful links •.

Image caption Chris Hazzard has asked officials to establish a taxi advisory group The infrastructure minister has announced a full review of taxi legislation. A taxi advisory group will be set up and the review will take into account the views of operators, drivers and members of the public. Chris Hazzard said the issues of licensing classifications and metering will have to be looked. He said his job was to 'provide clarity'.

'Metering is going to be central to how we go forward here,' he added. Serial Terminal Server Windows 2012. 'My job is to provide clarity and to suggest that metering is going to be part of this.'

Under current rules, taxis and similar vehicles fall under a number of categories. Mr Hazzard said he was aware of concerns around licensing classifications for taxis and stated that class C was 'intended for use by, for example wedding, funeral and novelty vehicles and not as a general taxi class'. 'I am going to look to close the loopholes with class C so if that has questions or issues for people they have to consider that,' he said. Image copyright Getty Images Analysis by John Campbell, Business & Economics Editor The review could raise doubts about the future of the Uber operation in Belfast.

A recently enacted law means that taxis need a certified meter and receipt printer but Uber will not install these as it uses its own metering technology. However, as it stands there is no explicit prohibition on taxis using class C licences. Uber said it was 'surprised' by Minister Hazzard's comments. It said that in discussions with his department earlier this year 'it was agreed that Uber's model fitted under the class C licence'. New proposals are expected to be brought forward for public consultation next spring, said the Department for Infrastructure.