On 1 July 2026, the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) published final licensing rules and guidance in relation to its licensing regime for football clubs in the top five tiers of English football.
Under the regime, all 116 clubs competing in the top five divisions, plus clubs in National League North or South who are promoted into the National League, must apply for and be granted a provisional licence ahead of the 2027/28 season. The final licensing framework sets out guidance on how clubs can apply for a provisional licence and how they should comply with their ongoing licensing obligations once licensed. The documents published include:
- Provisional licence application guidance.
- Licensing guidance.
- Licensing rules.
- IFR’s football club corporate governance code.
- A strategic business plan forecasting template.
Prior to the publication of these documents, clubs, leagues, fan groups and other stakeholders provided input through two licensing consultations, which helped refine their content. Previous consultations and the IFR’s responses can be found on the IFR’s engagement tool.