Firearms Licensing League Table
The table shows the average number of days a police force takes to process different application types. The figures are colour coded to indicate relative performance.
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New application forms came into effect on 1 Nov 2021 and are available below for download. Only one photograph is required and there is a new medical questionnaire. Make sure you pay particular attention to what the question is asking you and please refer to the notes at the rear of the form before completing the forms.
Fees for certificates in England, Wales and Scotland
Visitors’ permit
| Certificate type | Grant or renewal of certificate | Total fee payable |
| Firearm certificate | Grant | £88 |
| Firearm certificate | Renewal | £62 |
| Shotgun certificate | Grant | £79.50 |
| Shotgun certificate | Renewal | £49 |
| Registered firearms dealer | Grant / renewal | £200 |
| Extension for registered firearms dealers – game fair/trade events | Valid for up to 3 years for the same event held at the same site | £13 |
| Visitors’ permit | Individual | £20 |
| Visitors’ permit | Group (six or more permits) | £100 |
| Co-terminous certificates | Grant of both shotgun and firearm certificates | £90* |
| Co-terminous certificates | Grant of a shotgun certificate /renewal of firearm certificate | £90* |
| Co-terminous certificates | Renewal of a shotgun certificate /grant of a firearm certificate | £90* |
| Co-terminous certificates | Renewal of both shotgun and firearm certificates | £65 |
| Replacement certificate | (Note: If lost a charge is made – replacement is free for a dilapidated certificate) | £4 |
| Variation (not one for one) – applicable only to firearm certificates | £20 | |
| Home Office approval for target shooting clubs/schools | Grant or renewal – valid for 6 years | £84 |
| Museums firearm licence | Free | |
| Prohibited weapons authority | (Note: this relates to trade or professionals only where they are registered as a firearms dealers) | Free |
* A coterminous certificate is merely a means of issuing both firearm and shotgun certificates where an applicant requires both (to expire at the same time) at a cheaper cost to the applicant and also at a reduced administration to the police force. If an applicant holds or requires both firearm and shotgun certificates he can request coterminous certificates by using Form 201 and enclosing the £90 fee. The £90 fee is standard regardless of whether you already hold a certificate or none at all.
Form ER4a is for individuals wishing to use black powder in their own firearms or shotguns, or for historic re-enactment events.
Form ER4 is for companies, clubs and societies, powder masters or users. It is not applicable for personally held firearms and shotguns, or historic re-enactment when using black powder only.
ER4b should be used when renewing an explosives certificate at the same time as a firearm or shotgun certificate.
Police and Fire Headquarters,
Firearms Licensing,
PO Box 3259,
Bristol,
BS2 2EJ.
Phone: 01278 647465
E: firearms.licensing@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: PCC for Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Firearms Licensing Department,
Cambridgeshire Constabulary,
Hinchingbrooke Park,
Huntingdon,
Cambridgeshire,
PE29 6NP.
Phone: 01480 422619
Firearms Licensing Department,
Cheshire Constabulary,
Clemonds Hey,
Oakmere Road,
Winsford,
Cheshire,
CW7 2UA.
Phone: 01606 362084
Cheque Payee: Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire
Firearms Licensing Department,
City of London Police,
Walbrook Wharf,
78-83 Upper Thames Street,
London,
EC3R 3TD.
Phone: 0207 601 2736
E: licensingoffice@cityoflondon.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: City of London Police
Firearms Licensing Unit,
Cleveland Police,
Shared Service Centre,
III Acres,
Princeton Drive,
Thornaby,
Stockton-on-Tees,
TS17 6AJ.
Phone: 01642 302005
E: firearms.licensing@cleveland.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Cleveland Police
Firearms Licensing Department,
Cumbria Constabulary,
Carleton Hall,
Penrith,
Cumbria,
CA10 2UA.
Phone: 0330 124 0941
E: firearmslicensing@cumbria.police.uk
Cheque Payee: The PCC for Cumbria
Firearms Licensing Department,
Derbyshire Constabulary,
Butterly Hall,
Ripley,
Derbyshire,
DE5 3RS.
Phone: 0300 122 8657
E: firearms.licensing@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire
Firearms Licensing Department,
Devon & Cornwall Police,
Middelmoor,
Exeter,
Devon,
EX2 7HQ.
Phone: 01392 225650
E: firearms.licensing@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee : PCC Devon & Cornwall OR PCC Police & Crime Commissioner Dorset
Durham Constabulary,
Firearms Licensing,
Unit 1,
White House Industrial Estate,
Traynor Way,
Peterlee,
Co. Durham,
SR8 2RT.
Phone: 0191 375 2240 or 0191 375 2542
E: firearmslicensing@durham.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Durham Constabulary
Firearms Licensing Department,
Dyfed-Powys Police HQ,
PO Box 99,
Llangunnor,
Carmarthen,
SA31 2PF.
Phone: 01267 226499
E: firearmslicensing2@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys Police
FSEL Section,
PO Box 2,
Springfield,
Chelmsford,
Essex,
CM2 6DA.
Phone: 01245 452768
E: firearms@essex.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex
Gloucestershire Constabulary,
Administration Department for Firearms & Explosives Licensing
No 1 Waterwells,
Waterwells Drive,
Quedgeley,
Gloucester,
GL2 2AN
Phone: 01452 754516
E: firearmslicensing@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: The PCC for Gloucestershire
Greater Manchester Police,
Box 06,
Nexus House,
Ashton-Under-Lyne,
OL7 0QP.
Phone: 0161 856 0820
E: firearmsandexplosivesunit@gmp.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: PCC for Greater Manchester
Firearms Licensing Department,
Gwent Police HQ,
Croesyceiliog,
Cwmbran,
NP44 2XJ.
Phone: 01495 768004 or 01495 745458 / 462 / 446
E: firearmslicensing@gwent.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent
Firearms Licensing,
Humberside Police,
Priory Police Station,
Hull,
HU5 5SF.
Phone: 01482 317072
E: firearms.licensing@humberside.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Humberside Police & Crime Commissioner
Firearms Licensing Department,
Kent Police HQ,
Sutton Road,
Maidstone,
Kent,
ME15 9BZ.
Phone: 01622 652510
E: firearms.licensing@kent.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Kent Police and Crime Commissioner
Firearms Licensing Department,
Lancashire Police HQ,
PO Box 77,
Hutton,
PR4 5SB.
Phone: 01772 413633 or 01772 412417
Firearms Licensing Department,
Leicestershire Police,
Mansfield House,
74 Belgrave Gate,
Leicester,
LE1 3GG.
Phone: 01162 484333
E: firearms.licensing@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: OPCC for Leicestershire
Police Headquarters
Firearms Licensing Department
PO Box 999
Lincoln
LN5 7PH
Phone: 01522 558533
E: group-firearmslicensingdept@lincs.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Kent Police and Crime Commissioner
Firearms Licensing Department,
PO Box 59,
Canning place,
Liverpool,
L69 1JD.
Phone: 0151 777 8478
E: firearms.licensing@merseyside.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside
Firearms Services Unit,
Norfolk Constabulary HQ,
Falconers Chase,
Wymondham,
NR18 0WW.
Phone: 01953 424141
E: firearmslicensing@norfolk.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Norfolk Constabulary
Firearms Licensing Department,
North Wales Police,
PO Box 100,
Prestatyn,
LL19 0BH.
Phone: 01745 539394
E: ajdfirearmsregistry@nthwales.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: PCC for North Wales
Firearms Licensing Department,
Crosby Road,
Northallerton
DL6 1BF
Phone: 01609 643589
E: firearmslicensing@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: PPC for North Yorkshire
Firearms Licensing Department,
Northamptonshire Police HQ,
Wootton Hall,
Northampton,
NN4 0JQ.
Phone: 01604 888117
E: firearms.licensing@northants.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: PCC Northants
Firearms Licensing Department,
Bedlington Police Station,
Schalksmuhle Road,
Bedlington,
Northumberland,
NE22 7LA.
Phone: 0191 4373315
E: firearmslicensing@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Northumbria Police
Firearms Licensing Department,
Nottinghamshire Police,
Sherwood Lodge,
Arnold,
Nottinghamshire,
NG5 8PP.
Phone: 01623 483918
E: hqcj.firearms@nottinghamshire.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Notts PCC
Metropolitan Firearms Enquiry Team,
Floor 3,
Marlowe House,
109 Station Road,
Sidcup,
DA15 7ES
Phone: 0207 161 4750
Cheque Payee: The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC)
Firearms Licensing Department,
South Wales Police HQ,
Cowbridge Road,
Bridgend,
CF31 3SU.
Phone: 01656 869244
E: firearms.licensing@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: The Police and CC for South Wales
Firearms Licensing Department,
South Yorkshire Police HQ,
Carbrook House,
5 Carbrook Hall Road,
Sheffield,
South Yorkshire,
S9 2EH.
Phone: 0114 296 4186
E: firearms.licensing@southyorks.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire
Collaborated Firearms Licensing Unit,
Staffordshire & West Midlands Police,
Staffordshire Police,
Weston Road Complex,
Stafford,
ST18 0YY.
Phone: 01785 232790
E: firearms.licensing@staffordshire.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee (Staffordshire applicants): OPCC Staffordshire
Cheque Payee (West Midlands applicants): West Midlands Police
Firearms Services Unit,
Suffolk Constabulary HQ,
Martlesham Heath,
Suffolk,
IP5 7QS.
Phone: 01473 613681
E: firearms.licensing@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Suffolk Constabulary
Firearms Licensing Department,
Sussex Police HQ,
Malling House,
Church Lane,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2DX.
Phone: 01273 404892 – 10am-2pm
E: SurreySussexFelu@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Police & Crime Commissioner for Sussex
Cheque Payee: Surrey Police
Firearms Licensing Department,
Thames Valley Police HQ,
Oxford Road,
Kidlington,
OX5 2NX.
Phone: 01865 541556
E: firearmslicensing@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Thames Valley Police
Firearms Licensing Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO BOX 4
Leek Wootton
Warwick
CV35 7QA
Phone: 01926 415526
E: Firearmslicensing@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: West Mercia PCC
Firearms & Explosives Licensing Unit,
West Mercia Police,
Malvern Police Station,
Victoria Road,
Malvern,
WR14 2TE.
Phone: 01905 727547
E: firearmslicensing.cjsd.hq@westmercia.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: West Mercia PCC
Firearms Licensing Department,
West Yorkshire Police,
PO Box 9,
Laburnum Road,
Wakefield,
West Yorkshire.
WF1 3QP.
Phone: 01924 292330 / 292310 / 292312
E: firelic@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: PCC for West Yorkshire
Firearms Licensing Department,
Wiltshire Police HQ,
London Road,
Devizes,
Wiltshire,
SN10 2DN.
Phone: 01380 861009
E: fal@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk
Cheque Payee: Wiltshire PCC
Since 2015, Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and anyone who acquires or keeps civil explosives has to keep a record of the explosives throughout the supply chain and life cycle. The records should allow tracking and identification of an explosive at any time, and should be kept for 10 years after the date when the explosive was used, transferred to another person or destroyed, even if the manufacturers, importers, distributors, and anyone who acquires or keeps the explosives, have ceased trading.
In relation to shooting sports; records are not required to be kept for civil explosives that are:
Click here to access online applications with the Police Service of Northern Ireland
| Firearm Certificate – Grant | £98 |
| Firearm Certificate – variation | £30 |
| Firearm Certificate variation to substitute one firearm for another of the same calibre or type (known as a one for one variation) | £15 |
| Replacement Firearm certificate/dealers certificate (e.g. where your certificate has been lost completely. Dilapidated certificates are replaced free) | £14 |
| Firearms Dealer | £300 |
| Visitors Permit (1 to 5 people) | £16 per person |
| Visitors Permit (6 to 20 people) | £80 for the group |
| Firearms Club authorisation (grant or renewal – valid for 5 years) | £71 |
| Museum firearms licence | £110 |
| Extension of a museum firearms licence to additional premises | £75 |
The table shows the average number of days a police force takes to process different application types. The figures are colour coded to indicate relative performance.
Visiting the UK to shoot Visitor’s firearm and shotgun permit procedure To visit Great Britain with a firearm you will need to apply for a visitor’s firearm or shotgun permit at least six weeks in advance. Anyone attempting to enter Great Britain without a visitor’s firearm or shotgun permit will
Taking Firearms Abroad The British Association for Shooting and Conservation takes no responsibility for the content of external websites. This page has been constructed to provide avenues to follow; BASC is not able to advise on foreign laws due to the complexity of keeping our library accurately up to date.