For visitor’s firearm & shotgun permits click here.
- Firearms licensing medical process
- Certificate Renewals
- Firearms & shotgun forms
- Explosives forms
- Firearms dealer forms
- Home Office forms
- Northern Ireland
Firearms licensing medical process from 1st April 2016
The Home Office has announced changes to the application process for firearm and shotgun certificates so that information sharing between GPs and police is improved. The move is in response to recommendations for change to the current system submitted by Coroners, the IPCC and the medical profession. It is focussed around the detection of foreseeable or avoidable harm.
Application forms advise that the police will not only contact the applicant’s GP, asking whether he knows of any relevant medical condition or has any concerns about the issue of a firearm or shotgun certificate. The police will also ask GPs to place an encoded reminder onto the applicant’s patient record. During the validity of the firearm or shotgun certificate, the presence of the encoded reminder will enable the GP to consider notifying the police if a person’s medical health gives rise to concern regarding their possession of firearms. Upon cancellation of the certificate, for whatever reason, the police will send notification to the GP and the encoded reminder will be inactivated.
The scheme is the result of 3 years hard work by a Home Office working group made up of representatives of the police, the medical profession, the Information Commissioner’s Office and shooting organisations, BASC being at the forefront. Initially, consideration was given to the introduction of compulsory scheme whereby every applicant had to complete a self-declaration medical form and submit it to their GP together with a relevant fee. The GP in turn was expected to amend or corroborate the information, place an encoded reminder on the patient record, and forward the form to the police. BASC fiercely resisted this proposal as being wholly disproportionate.
BASC has been instrumental in developing the new process. We have worked hard in supporting Essex Police who ran a pilot of the scheme. This produced meaningful data to the working group. It showed that GPs needed to be consulted in fewer than 2% of applications proving without doubt that there was no case for a move towards mandatory medical testing of all applicants.
The introduction of the encoded reminder onto medical records adds a dynamic component to existing police monitoring systems and supports BASC’s case for the introduction of 10 year certificates.
For full details see the following Home Office fact sheet and BASC Frequently asked questions guide;
Click here for the British Medical Association advice to GP’s
Certificate Renewals
There is greater number of delays within firearms licensing today. BASC’s firearms team explains what to do if your renewal is delayed.
Early submission of renewal requests next year will give police licensing teams a better chance to turn them around before certificates expire. Respond as soon as possible to a renewal reminder pack or, even better, prepare and submit your request early. Always post by recorded delivery. These can usually be tracked online.
To help the police to renew your certificates in time we recommend that you get your renewal applications to them at least 12 weeks before the expiry of your certificate. Do not wait for police reminder letters. However; if you receive a police reminder letter prior to 12 weeks before expiry, do adhere to its content to avoid delay and to ensure that you are eligible for a temporary permit should one become necessary.
When sending renewal forms back do not return your expiring certificates. You need them to both buy ammunition and to prove lawful possession of your guns. The law allows police to seize your firearms if you are unable to produce a certificate on demand. It is always advisable to carry original certificates with you. Although the evidence of a copy should be acceptable in many instances, the legal right to seize and detain your guns remains unless you produce the original.
However, it may help the licensing department to process renewals or variations if you provide photocopies of existing certificates. Add a note with your application saying that you are retaining the originals until the new ones are issued.
The law (The Firearms Amendment Rules) does not require you to return the expiring certificates with your application. In the case of shotguns the rules state that renewal applications should be accompanied by the expiring certificate “if it is available”. The need to buy ammunition and to show lawful possession means that the expiring certificate is not available. If you need advice on this or any other issue, please call BASC’s firearms team on 01244 573010 with your membership number to hand.
It is an offence for anyone to be in possession of a firearm without the appropriate authority. Any advice that it is acceptable to continue keeping your guns without a valid certificate should be ignored, even if your renewal has been submitted.
If your certificate should expire before a valid replacement is in your possession, you should ask for a temporary permit, issued under Section 7 of the Firearms Act 1968. It should be granted in the event of an administrative delay where the applicant has submitted their application in good time e.g. having adhered to advice in a police reminder letter. (See below)
The Home Office guidance to the police: “Guide to Firearms Licensing Law” directs that a permit should be issued where an applicant has submitted an application in good time. Issuing a Section 7 is a simple remedy to prevent someone falling on the wrong side of the law.
Section 7 Permits – Are you entitled to one? – The legalities
Temporary permits are intended to cover temporary situations such as delays, or to allow short-term possession of firearms after the death of the certificated owner.
A permit may not be issued in order to authorise the purchase or acquisition of firearms or ammunition but shotgun ammunition can be purchased if you have a temporary permit.
It is the certificate holder’s responsibility to renew their certificate on time and not rely on police reminders. The police do send out renewal reminders well in advance of expiry.
Each request for a temporary permit case must be determined on its merits but constabularies should issue them if delays have occurred in the police system.
The Home Office Guidance says:
10.61 “If a certificate expires before a renewed certificate has been issued and the certificate holder has behaved in a reasonable manner returning the forms in good time, a temporary permit (section 7 Permit) should be issued by default. With regard to renewal, the applicant may submit a photocopy of their certificate and retain the expiring certificate in order to be able to buy ammunition.”
15.4 “Permits should be issued by chief officers where a certificate has not been re-issued or where a variation has been delayed and the applicant has made the application in good time. This may be appropriate where the renewal of a certificate is so delayed that the applicant may otherwise be left without permission to continue possessing and using their firearm and ammunition. This may not be the case where the applicant or his referees had been uncooperative and, is, or are, substantially responsible for the delay. In these circumstances, the applicant should be advised to arrange for the firearms and ammunition to be placed in storage with a registered firearms dealer or another suitably authorised certificate holder.”
BASC advice on obtaining a Section 7 temporary permit
BASC’s advice is that if your certificate is delayed by the administrative process you should always make a written request for a temporary permit. These are the things you need to do:
- Supply the date you submitted your renewal application and the date your certificate(s) expired.
- Request the immediate renewal of the certificates or the issue of a Section 7 permit to prevent you from possessing firearms without a valid certificate.
- Politely advise that if a Section 7 permit is not issued then you will be obliged to consider submitting a formal complaint.
- Request details of the complaints procedure.
Refusal to grant a Section 7 permit & extra long delays
Firstly consider contacting your Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), they employ chief constables and must hold them to account for poor service. You as council tax payers and voters employ the PCC and as such they work for you. Telling your PCC about your experiences will count. The more people who do so, the greater effect it will have at improving the resources needed by firearms licensing departments. Often firearm licensing staff are not at fault, they need the necessary support to function.
Any complaint against a refusal to issue a Section 7 permit or because of rude or dismissive attitudes from police staff should be made in writing. You should be able to find details on the force’s website. BASC can’t make the complaint for you but we will advise you how to do it.
Making a justified complaint will also highlight areas where the police might improve their service.
ENQUIRIES TO: 01244-573010
© BASC August 2014 (revised January 2018)
Downloadable Firearms Forms
New application forms came into effect on 1st January 2018 and are available below for download. Only one photograph is required and the medical question has changed significantly. 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.
Other useful documents
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 |
| Shot gun certificate | Grant | £79.50 |
| Shot gun 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.
Explosives licensing forms
Form ER4a is for individuals wishing to use black powder in their own firearms or shotguns, or for historic re-enactment events.
- Use this form for an ‘acquire only’ or an ‘acquire and keep’ certificate for black powder.
- Not applicable to clubs, societies, or organisations or for any explosive other than black powder.
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.
Explosives Guidance
New record keeping requirements from April 2015
From the 5th April 2015, Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and anyone who acquires or keeps civil explosives will have 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:
- Acquired or kept by private individuals other than in connection with their work and that are solely for their own personal use.
- Cap-type primers, which consist of a metal or plastic cap containing a small amount of primary explosive mixture that is readily ignited by impact and which serve as igniting elements in small arms cartridges or in percussion primers for propelling charges.
For full information click here
Firearms Dealers forms
Home Office forms