Here's the definitive answer, from LASORS 2007 - NB, distinguish carefully between LICENSE and RATING.
I have extracted the relevant sections for you (and others).
Bottom Line:
- You will need to do the skills test again, you will NOT have to retake any exams, but an ORAL theoretical exam will be conducted as part of the skills test.
- You have until 5 years after your RATING EXPIRED to renew the rating. The only effect of not doing so is that you have to pay the CAA extra to endorse your license, rather than get the examiner to sign your license (Certificate of Revalidation page).
- You will obviously have to renew your expired license for another 5 years. You can do this even without a current RATING, provided that you have a valid medical cert and the RATING expired less than 5 years ago. Otherwise you first have to renew the rating, then reapply for the license.
C5.1 LICENCE RE-ISSUE
For a licence to be valid, a pilot must hold a current
medical certificate appropriate to the licence held, and
have a valid aircraft rating.
A UK National or JAR-FCL Pilot’s Licence will be
re-issued for a further period (5 or 10 year validity as
appropriate to the licence held) subject to meeting the
following:-
1. Hold a medical certificate appropriate to the
licence being re-issued valid for the first day of
issue of the new licence.
2. Have held a valid Certificate of Test, Certificate of
Experience or Certificate of Revalidation for any
type/class rating that has not expired by more than
5 years*.
*Applicants who are currently flying under the privileges
of a non-UK ICAO licence and are currently flying an
aircraft type endorsed within their UK or JAR-FCL
licence, may have their licence re-issued by holding a
valid medical certificate appropriate to the licence being
re-issued. A QSP in current flying practice on any
military aircraft type (aeroplane for re-issue of
aeroplane licence and helicopter for re-issue of
helicopter licence) may have their licence re-issued by
holding a valid medical certificate appropriate to the
licence being re-issued.
Applicants who are not flying an aircraft endorsed
within their UK or JAR-FCL licence may not have their
licence renewed until such time as an appropriate valid
medical certificate and Certificate of Revalidation are
obtained. Applicants may either renew an existing
rating within their UK or JAR-FCL licence or may wish
to transfer a type/class rating that he/she is currently
flying under the privileges of their non-UK ICAO
licence. Renewal of appropriate ratings or the transfer
of type/class ratings is specified in Section F.
EXPIRED LICENCES
If the holder of an expired UK National or JAR-FCL
pilot’s licence has held a valid Certificate of Test,
Certificate of Experience or Certificate of Revalidation
for any type/class rating that has not expired by more
than 5 years, then only the appropriate valid medical
certificate must be obtained to re-issue the licence.
If the holder of a UK National or JAR-FCL pilot’s licence
has not held a valid Certificate of Test, Certificate of
Experience or Certificate of Revalidation for any type/
class rating that has expired by more than 5 years**
they may not have their licence re-issued until such
time as an appropriate valid medical certificate and
Certificate of Revalidation are obtained. Applicants
may either renew an existing rating within their UK or
JAR-FCL licence or may wish to transfer a type/class
rating that he/she is currently flying under the privileges
of their non-UK ICAO licence. Renewal of appropriate
ratings or the transfer of type/class ratings is specified
in Section F.
**Where an applicant can show that he/she is currently
flying under the privileges of a non-UK ICAO licence
and are flying an aircraft endorsed within their UK or
JAR-FCL licence, they may have their licence re-issued
by holding a valid UK or JAR-FCL medical certificate as
appropriate to the licence being re-issued. A QSP in
current flying practice on any military aircraft type
(aeroplane for re-issue of aeroplane licence and
helicopter for re-issue of helicopter licence) may have
their licence re-issued by holding a valid medical
certificate appropriate to the licence being re-issued.
SECTION F
Validity Periods of Ratings:
Under JAR-FCL, type and class ratings are valid for
one year (2 years for single-pilot, single engine class
ratings) from the date of issue, or the date of expiry if
re-validated within the validity period. Therefore, a
rating issued on, say, 15th August 2006 will remain
valid until 14th August 2007. For AOC holders, this is at
variance to the provisions of JAR-OPS, which in the
above example would allow the rating to remain valid
until 31st August 2007 (i.e. until the end of the calendar
month in which the rating falls due). To resolve this
anomaly, the CAA’s Flight Operations Department has
granted certain AOC operators exemptions that extend
the validity of ratings to the end of the month, in line with JAR-OPS. Where a licence holder is affected by such
an exemption, the date of the next re-validation will run
from the end of the month in which the previous rating
was due to expire. Ratings are revalidated/renewed
exclusively, with no cross-over unless otherwise stated.
Re-validation
Re-validation is the administrative action taken within
the validity period of a rating that allows the holder to
continue to exercise the privileges of a rating for a
further specified period (provided certain, specified
requirements are met).
Renewal
Renewal is the administrative action taken after a rating
has lapsed which renews the privileges of the rating for
a further specified period (provided certain, specified
requirements are met).
F1.5 RENEWAL OF SINGLE-ENGINE PISTON – SEP (LAND), TMG CLASS RATINGS
Where licence holders have been unable to renew a
SEP (Land) or TMG Class Rating for a period not
exceeding 5 years from the date of expiry, they will be
required to complete the following requirements:
i. The CAA will require no mandatory additional
training. Applicants should complete training at
their own discretion sufficient to pass the Skill
Test.
ii. Complete the Skill Test in accordance with
Appendices 1 & 3 to JAR-FCL 1.240 with a JAR
Authorised Examiner. For renewal of an
instrument rating if held, please refer to Section
E1.5.
iii. Pass an oral theoretical knowledge examination
conducted by the Examiner as part of the skill
test.
iv. A UK Authorised Examiner can sign the
Certificate of Revalidation page (FCL150CJAR)
within a UK national pilot’s licence. An Examiner
qualified in accordance with JAR-FCL (in any
fully compliant JAA Member State) can sign a
Certificate of Revalidation page within a
JAR-FCL licence. The LST/LPC form, completed
as a renewal, should be sent to CAA PLD.
v. The CAA will charge no fee provided that the
Examiner signs the Certificate of Revalidation.
Where licence holders have been unable to renew a
SEP (Land) or TMG Class Rating for a period
exceeding 5 years from the date of expiry*, they will be
required to complete the following requirements:
i. Complete the Skill Test in accordance with
Appendices 1 & 3 to JAR-FCL 1.240 with a JAR
Authorised Examiner.
ii. Pass an oral theoretical knowledge examination
conducted by the Examiner as part of the Skill
Test.
iii. The LST/LPC form, completed as a renewal,
should be sent to CAA PLD for endorsement,together with the appropriate fee as per the Scheme of Charges.
iv. The Examiner should make no licence entry.
Enjoy!
FbW