---
title: "Standard international licence"
canonical_url: https://haulierscope.co.uk/glossary/standard-international
markdown_url: https://haulierscope.co.uk/glossary/standard-international.md
publisher: HaulierScope
licence: Open Government Licence v3.0 (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/)
---

# 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…

Glossary

Last updated 2 October 2026

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](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/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](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-service-vehicle-operator-licensing-guide)). The Act describes a standard licence that covers "both national and international transport operations" ([s.3(5)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/23/section/3)).

## 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 October 2026, 9,738 goods licences and 1,688 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](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transport-goods-in-and-out-of-the-uk-using-vans-or-car-and-trailers)).

## 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)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/23/section/3)).

## 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](https://haulierscope.co.uk/) to see both. Operators moving up from standard national should read our guide to [operator licence types](https://haulierscope.co.uk/guides/operator-licence-types) and the entry on the [UK Licence for the Community](https://haulierscope.co.uk/glossary#uk-licence-for-the-community), which comes with this licence.

## Related terms

- [Standard national licence](https://haulierscope.co.uk/glossary#standard-national)
- [UK Licence for the Community](https://haulierscope.co.uk/glossary#uk-licence-for-the-community)
- [Licence type](https://haulierscope.co.uk/glossary#licence-type)
- [Haulier](https://haulierscope.co.uk/glossary/haulier)

## Sources

- [Goods vehicle operator licensing guide (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/goods-vehicle-operator-licensing-guide) (source last updated 2 October 2025)
- [Public service vehicle operator licensing guide (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-service-vehicle-operator-licensing-guide) (source last updated 2 October 2025)
- [Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995, s.3 (legislation.gov.uk)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/23/section/3)
- [Transport goods in Europe in vans or car and trailers (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transport-goods-in-and-out-of-the-uk-using-vans-or-car-and-trailers) (source last updated 21 May 2025)

Checked against GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk on 2 October 2026. Register figures: DVSA operator licence data, file dated 7 October 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full guide: [The 3 types of operator licence explained](https://haulierscope.co.uk/guides/operator-licence-types). Back to the [glossary](https://haulierscope.co.uk/glossary#standard-international) or read our [editorial standards](https://haulierscope.co.uk/editorial-standards).

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Canonical page: https://haulierscope.co.uk/glossary/standard-international

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

HaulierScope is an independent service, not affiliated with DVSA or the Traffic Commissioners. It is updated when DVSA publishes a new file, usually weekly.