Glossary
Standard international licence
A standard licence type that lets the holder carry its own goods and other people's goods for hire or reward, both in the UK and on international journeys. Goods holders also receive a UK Licence for the Community.
Also called: SI, SI licence, standard international operator licence.
Official wording
For goods vehicles, GOV.UK says a standard international licence "allows you to carry your own goods, and goods for other people for hire or reward, both in the United Kingdom and on international journeys" (goods vehicle operator licensing guide). For buses and coaches it "allows you to operate any number of vehicles within your authorisation, both in the United Kingdom and on international journeys" (PSV operator licensing guide). The Act describes a standard licence that covers "both national and international transport operations" (s.3(5)).
How it shows up on a licence record
The licence type field reads Standard International. Applications and Decisions prints SI next to the licence number. In the DVSA operator licence data, file dated 7 September 2026, 9,726 goods licences and 1,691 PSV licences were standard international.
Vans count too. GOV.UK says "You need a standard international goods vehicle operator licence to transport goods for hire or reward in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland" when the van is over 2,500kg (vans guidance).
A common misunderstanding
The licence type shows what the holder may do. It does not show where the holder actually runs. The opposite mistake is more serious: a holder of a standard national licence who carries goods for hire or reward on international journeys commits an offence (s.3(7)).
What a buyer or operator should do
For EU work, check that the licence type reads Standard International and the status is valid. Run a free operator licence check to see both. Operators moving up from standard national should read our guide to operator licence types and the entry on the UK Licence for the Community, which comes with this licence.
Sources
- Goods vehicle operator licensing guide (GOV.UK) (source last updated )
- Public service vehicle operator licensing guide (GOV.UK) (source last updated )
- Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995, s.3 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Transport goods in Europe in vans or car and trailers (GOV.UK) (source last updated )
Checked against GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk on 2 October 2026. Register figures: DVSA operator licence data, file dated 7 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full guide: The 3 types of operator licence explained. Back to the glossary or read our editorial standards.