Collection

Reptile licences

Licences for activities affecting reptiles.

• From: Natural England and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 13 October 2014
• Last updated: 11 October 2022
  Show all updates

  1. 11 October 2022

     Added the page 'Protected species: apply for a mitigation licence (A05 and A05a)' to the list of Other licences.

  2. 13 October 2014

     First published.

Find out how reptiles are protected.

Mitigation licence for smooth snakes and sand lizards

• Smooth snakes and sand lizards: apply for a mitigation licence (A46)
  • 1 April 2025
  • Form

Possess or sell smooth snakes and sand lizards

• European protected species: apply for a licence to possess them (A37 and LR37)
  • 8 March 2022
  • Form
• Licence to possess plants and animals for scientific purposes (CL01)
  • 1 January 2026
  • Statutory guidance
• Licence to sell animal specimens taken before October 1981 (CL07)
  • 1 January 2026
  • Statutory guidance
• Licence to sell protected plants and animals (A38 and LR38)
  • 1 March 2022
  • Form
• Protected animals: licence for taxidermists to own dead animals (GL02)
  • 1 January 2026
  • Statutory guidance
• Wild animals: licence for individuals to possess specimens (CL06)
  • 1 January 2026
  • Statutory guidance
• Wild birds and animals: licence to possess samples (GL10)
  • 1 January 2026
  • Statutory guidance

Survey or research smooth snakes and sand lizards

• Protected species licence for science, education or conservation (A29)
  • 1 April 2025
  • Form

Other licences

• Non-native (alien) species: apply for a licence to release them (A03 and LR03)
  • 18 August 2025
  • Form
• Protected species: apply for a mitigation licence (A05 and A05a)
  • 1 April 2025
  • Form