Are Foreign Forklift Licences Valid in the UK?

Many countries have a system of licensing for forklift drivers, which is a completely legal and normal practice, but are they legal in the UK? The answer is quite simply no. This is not because the UK doesn’t believe in the validity of the licences from abroad, but because we don’t have licences for forklift driving at all in the UK – instead, to legally drive a forklift you need documented training.

It’s a confusing system for anyone coming over to the UK looking for work, but even if they produce their licence or a translated version of their paperwork they will be refused the work. Essentially the licence is worthless because such a system doesn’t exist here.

Why don’t foreign forklift licences count?

You might think that this is harsh and penalises foreign workers, but there are several very good reasons for this rule being in place.

Machinery

One of those reasons is in relation to the machinery itself. While many countries will have similar forklifts to those here in the UK, there are some countries where it will differ. Different machinery means different operations and different ways of driving; this is not a risk which companies should take as a foreign worker may not be able to properly operate a forklift in the UK.

Standard of training

Although no-one is pointing any fingers at other countries, another factor in refusing a foreign licence is the standards of training given. In the UK we have high standards for driving and operating forklifts, and these are in place to protect both the operator and those in the immediate vicinity. In other countries these standards may not exist. Other cultures can have subtle differences in priorities and it is therefore unsafe to permit a foreign, licenced driver to operate in the UK.

Environment

In the last point, the environment of operation was mentioned and this is another factor which other countries may differ on to us. While we mainly use forklifts in factories and warehouses, other countries could see forklifts put to other uses, with training and licence tests reflecting this. Clearly using a forklift in a heavily-populated warehouse is not the same as using one elsewhere.

What are your options?

So what can you do if you hold a foreign licence? The important thing is that training is always available, and while an employer may not take you on immediately if you present them with a foreign licence, with a little training you could potentially be a better candidate than those without it.

If you’re an employer and you’re presented with a foreign forklift licence then it might make sense to view it as a holding document. The candidate will certainly be familiar with forklifts and should perform well with adequate training.

There are a variety of courses available to bring candidates up to speed, so if you’re looking for forklift training for a foreign worker, or if you hold a forklift licence from overseas, contactEuro 1 Trainingtoday and we’ll point you to the right training for your needs.