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Amateur Radio

Licensing Update 3/04/08

The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) Headquarters is moving location to Bedford this month.

As a result, the RSGB will not be able to process Radio Amateur Examination (RAE) certificates between 19 April and 27 April 2008 and therefore Ofcom will be unable to issue licences to applicants who passed the examinations between those dates. However after 27 April, applications will be processed as usual including any submitted during that time.

We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause but know that the RSGB is working hard to avoid any delay.

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.

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 already hold a valid annual licence (i.e. you are an existing licensee) you will automatically receive a new lifetime licence by post free of charge. It is intended that you will receive your replacement lifetime licence a few weeks before your old (annual) licence is due to expire. You will not be required to pay for this new 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.)



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