How to apply, renew, change or surrender operator accreditation

Information before applying for operator accreditation

We recommend that you read about:

• Operator accreditation categories, fees, refunds and exemptions
• Eligibility and suitability for operator accreditation
• Responsibilities of operator accreditation holders
• Vehicle requirements for operator accreditation holders
• Decision to amend, suspend, cancel or refuse operator accreditation

We also recommend contacting your local Passenger Transport Office to discuss your intention to apply.

Who can be issued operator accreditation

Operator accreditation can be issued to an individual, a partnership or an organisation. If an operator assigns the operation of their services to a second party, the second party must also hold operator accreditation.

Period of issue

Operator accreditation can be issued for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years. For more information refer to the Operator accreditation categories, fees, refunds and exemptions webpage.

Process for applying

Fill out the application form

To apply for operator accreditation, you will need:

• an Operator accreditation application form (F2982)
• each person listed on the application to provide evidence of identity
• evidence of identity for an organisation.

Ensure you include the required supporting information

• evidence of identity for each applicant
• supporting information requested on the application form.

Submit your application and supporting information

You can submit your application and supporting documents:

• at a transport and motoring service centre and pay the application fees including a criminal history check fee. The criminal history check fee does not apply to individuals holding driver authorisation.

If you are unable to apply in person due to being a non-Queensland resident, contact your local Passenger transport office to discuss other options.

Complete the mandatory training

You must nominate at least one person listed on the application form to complete mandatory training as detailed in the Operator accreditation training notice found on the Eligibility and suitability for operator accreditation webpage. Your application will not be assessed until training has been completed by the nominated person.

Incomplete applications cannot be assessed

If we ask you for further information to assess your application, you must provide this information within 90 days of the date your application was lodged. If you do not provide this information your application will lapse, and you will need to lodge a new application and pay the application fee again.

Your application is considered incomplete if you have not completed the mandatory training requirements.

Under certain circumstances we may issue you with provisional accreditation, at our discretion. Provisional operator accreditation may include conditions requiring compliance with all accreditation requirements within the stated period.

Assessment of your application

Once the mandatory training is complete your suitability to hold operator accreditation will be assessed and processed by the relevant passenger transport office.

Most complete applications are finalised within 2 to 4 weeks.

Suitability will be assessed against all prescribed requirements, including any current or previous non-compliance with safety duties or standards. For more information refer to the Eligibility and suitability for operator accreditation webpage.

If your application is successful

If we approve your application, we will send evidence that you hold operator accreditation which includes your operator accreditation number to display on your vehicles. You will be authorised to start providing public passenger services for the operator accreditation category or categories you are accredited for.

If your application is refused

We’ll notify you if we refuse your application. If we refuse your application, you can request a review of our decision. For more information refer to the Review of decisions affecting operator accreditation webpage.

Process for renewing your operator accreditation

You will receive a reminder to renew

Renewal forms are sent approximately 6 weeks before your operator accreditation expires. It is your responsibility to renew your operator accreditation.

If your operator accreditation expires

If you allow your operator accreditation to expire, you will not be authorised to provide passenger transport services. You have 90 days from your expiry date to renew, otherwise you will need to apply as a new applicant.

Training requirements on renewal

For safety and compliance reasons, we may, at our discretion, require renewing applicants to complete mandatory training on a case-by-case basis. If you are asked to complete this training as part of your renewal process, your application will not be considered complete until the mandatory training is successfully completed. In such cases, provisional operator accreditation may be issued until the training is finalised.

For more details, refer to the Operator accreditation training notice found on the Eligibility and suitability for operator accreditation webpage.

Fill out the application to renew form

To renew your operator accreditation, you will need to fill out:

• an Operator accreditation renewal form
• an Operator accreditation fee schedule and vehicle declaration (F3858).

Submit your application to renew form

You can submit your application:

at a transport and motoring service centre and pay the application fees. by emailing your forms to your local passenger transport office. You will then be sent a link to pay the renewal fee online.

Assessment of your application

Your suitability to hold operator accreditation will be assessed by the relevant passenger transport office.

Most complete applications are finalised within a few days. Some applications may take longer if:

• we have asked you to complete mandatory operator accreditation training for safety and compliance reasons
• we have identified any current or previous non-compliance with a safety duties or standards.

For more information refer the Eligibility and suitability for operator accreditation webpage.

If your application is successful

If your application is successful, we will send you your new operator accreditation certificate.

If your application is refused

We’ll notify you if we refuse your application. If we refuse your application, you can request a review of our decision. For more information refer to the Eligibility and suitability for operator accreditation webpage.

Changing or surrendering your operator accreditation

You must submit a new application for operator accreditation if your company or association number has changed and you are a new legal entity.

You can change or update your existing accreditation if any of the following change:

• your business address
• your business/trading name
• operator accreditation categories (add or remove)
• director/office holder
• your company or association name

If you no longer wish to provide passenger transport services, you can surrender your operator accreditation.

Fill out and submit the application to change or surrender

To change or surrender your operator accreditation, you will need to fill out the Operator accreditation change/amend/surrender form.

Ensure you include the required supporting information

If submitting a request to change operator accreditation, you may need to submit where applicable:

• evidence of a change of company or association name
• evidence of a change of business or trading name

Submit your change or surrender form and supporting information

If you are adding a category, this may result in a change to the fees payable required on application. You can submit the application to change or surrender:

• at a transport and motoring service centre
• by emailing your form to your local passenger transport office. If any additional fees are required, these will be required to be paid prior to commencing that service.

References

Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994

• Section 14: Requirement about operator accreditation.
• Section 15: Operator must hold operator accreditation.
• Section 17: Grounds for granting, renewing or refusing operator accreditation.
• Section 18: Provisional operator accreditation.

Read the full Passenger Transport Act on the  Queensland Legislation website.

Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Regulation 2018

• Section 6(1): Application for grant or renewal of operator accreditation.
• Section 6(3): Joint applications for operator accreditation.
• Section 7: Decision-making process for applications.
• Section 8(1): Provisional operator accreditation.
• Section 8(2): Conditions for provisional operator accreditation.
• Section 9: Refusal of operator accreditation.
• Section 18B: Training requirements for applicants.

Read the full Passenger Transport Regulation on the  Queensland Legislation website.