Certificate of good conduct for a taxi licence: who needs one and what if you cannot get it

The Disclosure and Barring Service cannot access criminal records held overseas. It can only disclose foreign convictions held on the Police National Computer. So a DBS check may not give a complete picture if you have lived or worked abroad.

The Department for Transport's statutory standards say that where an applicant has spent 3 or more continuous months outside the UK, councils should ask for overseas criminal records information or a certificate of good character where possible. Time abroad before the age of 18 may be less relevant, because councils are interested in your character as an adult. Our DBS check guide covers the UK check.

Source: Statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards (opens in a new tab) (Department for Transport, 4.10 Overseas convictions)[1]

Wolverhampton's FAQ adds that a British citizen who was abroad on an extended holiday of more than three months, aged over 18 when they came back, also needs one. A 'Police Character Certificate' or 'Police Conduct Certificate' is accepted instead. If you sent one last year and have not since spent more than three months in a row abroad, you do not need a new one.

Sources: Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy (12.06.2026), including licence conditions, Guidelines on Fitness and Propriety, fees and Taxi CCTV Policy (opens in a new tab) (City of Wolverhampton Council, Licensing Policy, 5. Certificates of Good Character/Conduct (pages 3 and 4))[2]; Taxi licence FAQs (opens in a new tab) (City of Wolverhampton Council, Certificate of Good Conduct/Character)[3]; Guide to driver licensing (DG1.1) (opens in a new tab) (Birmingham City Council, What do I need to do if I have been resident outside the UK as an adult? (page 11))[4]

The Home Office says the process varies from country to country. You apply in the country itself, or to that country's embassy in the UK. Its guidance on GOV.UK has a page for each country, split into three lists (A to F, G to P and Q to Z).

Birmingham suggests contacting the embassy or consulate before you pay for your licence application, or asking family still living there to arrange it with the local police. Wolverhampton's FAQ says the certificate must be in your current name; if your former country records your name in a different order, you need proof that you legally changed it.

Sources: Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (opens in a new tab) (Home Office (GOV.UK), Details; Documents)[5]; Guide to driver licensing (DG1.1) (opens in a new tab) (Birmingham City Council, Resident outside the UK as an adult (page 11))[4]; Taxi licence FAQs (opens in a new tab) (City of Wolverhampton Council, Certificate of Good Conduct/Character)[3]

Councils accept that this is not always possible. Wolverhampton's policy gives examples: some countries only issue a certificate after six months' residence, some will not issue one for taxi licensing or at all, you may have been abroad three months but not in one country, or you have asylum or refugee status from that country. In these cases you must explain why and provide references from people or organisations who can confirm your conduct while you were there. Its FAQ says the council must be satisfied that you have tried every possible route.

Birmingham asks applicants from countries whose government has failed or that are at war to provide a statutory declaration of good character, made with a lawyer's help, and a written reference from a respected member of the community willing to confirm it in person to the licensing sub-committee. People granted asylum in the UK are not expected to contact their country of origin, and should provide a statutory declaration.

Sources: Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy (12.06.2026), including licence conditions, Guidelines on Fitness and Propriety, fees and Taxi CCTV Policy (opens in a new tab) (City of Wolverhampton Council, Licensing Policy, 5. Certificates of Good Character/Conduct (pages 3 and 4))[2]; Taxi licence FAQs (opens in a new tab) (City of Wolverhampton Council, Certificate of Good Conduct/Character)[3]; Guide to driver licensing (DG1.1) (opens in a new tab) (Birmingham City Council, Resident outside the UK as an adult (page 11))[4]

If you know you committed an offence abroad that may be similar to those in the government's list of offences, the statutory standards say you should be advised to get independent expert or legal advice, so the information you give is true and accurate. See our guide to criminal convictions and taxi licences for how councils weigh offences.

Source: Statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards (opens in a new tab) (Department for Transport, 4.10 Overseas convictions)[1]