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Licensing Update 13/05/08

Ofcom is pleased to announce that the M6 + 3 Letters series of call signs has now been made available for issue to applicants for the Amateur Foundation licence. The M3 + 3 Letter series of call signs will still be available to applicants for the Amateur Foundation licence until the M3 + 3 Letter series is exhausted.

Amateur Radio Licensing from 1 December 2006

The online licensing system

Ofcom's new online radio licensing system is now live. You can apply for a user account for the licensing system by registering your details at the following address:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/olc/

Having registered, your username will be sent to you by post. It will then be possible to use the online radio licensing system in order to apply for a free, "lifetime" amateur radio Foundation, Intermediate or Full licence, or to amend, validate, or surrender your licence.

Please note that it will only be possible to apply for an amateur radio licence using this system if you are in possession of the relevant Radio Communications Foundation (RCF) Radio Amateur Examination (RAE) pass certificate which was issued from June 2003.

If you wish to apply for an amateur radio licence but do not have such an RCF RAE certificate, it will be necessary for you to use a paper application form. It will also be necessary to use the paper application form if you wish to change the name that appears on your licence. The paper application/amendment form can be downloaded at the following address:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/applications/

Please note Ofcom now encourage paper applicants to enclose photocopies on any supporting documentation (Examination certificates/birth/marriage certificates/HAREC certificates etc)

Applicants under the age of 75 will incur a £20 fee for each paper based "lifetime" licence application. There is currently no charge for amending, validating or surrendering a licence.

(If you prefer, you can still register your details as described above and edit your licence without making any changes, or if necessary, change your existing details. However, in both cases, your licence will be changed as a result and you will need to print the new version - you will not receive your new licence by post. Subsequent communications will then normally be by e-mail, particularly in relation to sending you your five year validation reminder request.)

The "lifetime" amateur radio licence

The new "lifetime" licence will remain valid for as long as the licence details remain correct or until such time as the licence is either revoked by Ofcom or surrendered by the licensee. There is no end date on the "lifetime" amateur radio licence but Ofcom will revoke the licence unless the licence is either amended or validated at least once every 5 years.

A sample of the new "lifetime" licence is available at the following address:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/Licences/

The UK Interface Requirement which details high level technical parameters for amateur radio equipment is available at the following address:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/technical/

If you have previously set up an automatic payment for your amateur radio licence (such as a Direct Debit or Standing Order for example) this fee will not be collected and we urge you to cancel any such arrangements.

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• Amateur radio licensing - Policy Statement
  Statement Foreword
• Amateur Radio FAQs
• Application form to use Amateur callsign data in call book
• Application Forms
• Terms and Conditions for Licence to reproduce Public Sector Information
• Contact Information
  Amateur and Maritime Team
• Fees Information
• General Information
• Licences
• Links to Industry Groups
• MORI report on amateur radio licensing
  Published 26|10|2005
• Notices
• Technical Information

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