Collection

Firearms

This series brings together firearms guidance and application forms.

• From: Home Office
• Published: 7 October 2013
• Last updated: 7 March 2024 — See all updates

This collection contains information about:

• how to apply for firearms certificates
• firearms law
• firearms safety

It also includes statistics that show the number of firearms and shotgun certificates in England and Wales.

Application forms

• Firearms application forms
  • 17 December 2021
  • Form

Firearms law

• Firearms licensing law
  • 13 April 2023
  • Guidance
• Firearms licensing
  • 7 March 2024
  • Guidance
• Deactivated firearms: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2403
  • 7 January 2021
  • Guidance
• Adapting shotgun magazines and deactivating firearms
  • 6 April 2016
  • Guidance

Firearms safety

• Firearms security handbook 2020
  • 20 January 2021
  • Guidance
• Safe handling of air guns
  • 20 July 2023
  • Guidance

Rifle or pistol clubs

• Approval of rifle and muzzle-loading pistol clubs
  • 28 March 2024
  • Guidance

Statistics

Find previous statistics in the Archive of statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates.

• Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2022 to March 2023
  • 6 July 2023
  • National statistics
• User guide to statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales
  • 6 July 2023
  • Guidance

Published 7 October 2013
Last updated 7 March 2024 + show all updates

1. 7 March 2024

   Removed links to outdated guidance.

2. 6 July 2023

   Added 'Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2022 to March 2023', updated 'User guide to statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales'.

3. 7 July 2022

   Added 'Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2021 to March 2022', updated 'User guide to statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales'.

4. 4 August 2021

   Updated information on changes to the law on antique firearms and the action required.

5. 15 July 2021

   Added 'Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2020 to March 2021', updated 'User guide to statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales'.

6. 23 July 2020

   Added 'Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2019 to March 2020', updated 'User guide to statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales'.

7. 2 October 2019

   Updated firearms security handbook added

8. 27 June 2019

   Updated to accompany publication of 'Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2018 to March 2019'.

9. 5 July 2018

   Added 'Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales, financial year ending 31 March 2018'.

10. 6 July 2017

    Added 'Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales: financial year ending 2017' and 'Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales: financial year ending 2017: data tables', updated 'User guide to firearm and shotgun certificate statistics'.

11. 6 July 2016

    Updated ‘User guide to firearm and shotgun certificate statistics’.

12. 30 June 2016

    Added 'Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales financial year ending March 2016’, 'Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales financial year ending March 2016: data tables’.

13. 24 September 2015

    Added 'Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales financial year ending March 2015', 'Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales financial year ending March 2015: data tables', updated 'User guide to firearm and shotgun certificate statistics'.

14. 18 December 2014

    Added firearms control at the point of entry into the UK

15. 7 August 2014

    Added 'Firearms, Firearm certificates in England and Wales statistics and Policing statistics' and 'User guide to firearm and shotgun certificate statistics'.

16. 7 October 2013

    First published.