TV Licensing
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Armed Forces
A TV Licence isn’t covered by your monthly food and accommodation charges.
In Ministry of Defence Single Living Accommodation (SLA) or Service Family Accommodation (SFA), on or off base, you may need a TV Licence.
Your TV Licence lets you enjoy a huge range of TV. It covers you for:
- All TV channels, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Dave and international channels
- Pay TV services, like Sky, Virgin Media and BT
- Live TV on streaming services, like YouTube and Amazon Prime Video
- Everything on BBC iPlayer.
This includes recording and downloading. On any device.
A TV Licence costs £169.50.The Ministry of Defence fully supports us in applying the law regarding TV Licensing. It’s your responsibility to check if you need a TV Licence and to buy one if you do.
You could be prosecuted if we find that you have been watching TV channels on any TV service, watching live TV on streaming services, or using BBC iPlayer, without being covered by a licence. This includes recording and downloading, on any device you use.
The maximum penalty is a £1,000* fine plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay.
*Up to £2,000 in Guernsey.
If you’re sure you don’t need a licence, please let us know.
Still have questions?
- We share a room. Do we all need a separate TV Licence?
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You'll only need one licence per room no matter how many people share. You can also share the costs if you want to.
- I’m a contractor living on base.
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You must be covered by a separate TV Licence. One licence is required for each room where TV receiving equipment is being used.
- I’m a member of visiting forces and only watch TV programmes broadcast from outside the UK.
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If you are a member of visiting forces, you will still need a TV Licence if you watch or record TV broadcast from outside the UK. However, this is only needed for the period you are in the UK. You will be able to apply for a refund for any unused months.
- Am I covered by my home TV Licence on base?
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The base or mess TV Licence doesn’t cover your living accommodation, neither in SLA nor SFA. It is possible you may be covered by your home licence. However, most Armed Forces personnel are not.
You'll only be covered by your home TV Licence:
- If you watch any BBC programme on BBC iPlayer that you’ve previously downloaded at home
- If you only ever use a device at the base that is not plugged into the mains and which is powered solely by its own internal batteries
- I’m being posted elsewhere in the UK. Am I still covered?
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You’re only covered at the address on your TV Licence. You can update the address to the new one when you move. Update your details to stay covered.
- I’m being posted overseas. Can I get a refund on my licence?
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If you’re leaving the country you can cancel your TV Licence and apply for a refund if you have a month or more left on your licence
- What if I’m living aboard an HM Ship?
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When living aboard an HM Ship, you will be covered by the ship’s TV Licence.
Message to Administrators:
One TV Licence covers the whole ship. It is a requirement if anyone living aboard watches or records live TV on any channel or device, or downloads or watches BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer. This applies whenever an HM Ship is in UK territories, including ports and internal waters.
If you still have questions take a look at TV Licensing FAQs where you can find all the answers in one place.
For administrators
We have created a leaflet and poster to help communicate the TV Licensing message. You can preview these resources online here:
A4 Poster (PDF 654Kb opens in a new window)
Leaflet (PDF 1.1 MB opens in a new window)
And order copies by calling 0300 790 6165.