Circular 001/2025: Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2025
Published 15 January 2025
© Crown copyright 2025
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This circular sets out new firearms licensing fees which will come into force on 5 February 2025 under the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2025.
Section 43 of the Firearms Act 1968 gives the Secretary of State the power to amend firearms licensing fees by order. The 2025 order amends section 32(1), section 35(1), section 35(1A) and section 35(3) of the Firearms Act 1968, and sections 11(3) and 17(8) of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, to increase the fees charged by the police in respect of the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates (including coterminous grant and renewal), variation of firearm certificates, replacement of lost or destroyed certificates, registration as a firearms dealer and the grant of visitors’ permits. The new fees will allow police forces to fully recover the costs they incur in administering these firearms licences.
From 5 February 2025 the new fees will be:
| Licence type | Fee for full-cost recovery |
|---|---|
| Grant of firearms certificate | £198 |
| Renewal of firearm certificate | £131 |
| Grant of shotgun certificate | £194 |
| Renewal of shotgun certificate | £126 |
| Coterminous grant of firearm and shotgun certificates | £202 |
| Coterminous renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates | £155 |
| Registration as a firearms dealer: grant | £466 |
| Registration as a firearms dealer: renewal | £466 |
| Registration as a firearms dealer: game fair etc | £30 |
| Replacement of lost or destroyed firearms certificate | £9 |
| Replacement of lost or destroyed shotgun certificate | £9 |
| Variation of firearm certificate (not like for like) | £47 |
| Grant of visitors permit: group | £233 |
| Grant of visitors permit: individual | £47 |
For coterminous grant or renewal applications there are four scenarios where the new fees apply. In all situations the fee is calculated using the fee for the firearms grant or renewal plus an additional amount for the shotgun grant or renewal. The scenarios are explained in more detail below:
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when an applicant is granted a shotgun certificate at the same time as being granted a firearms certificate, the total fee payable will be £202. The fee for the grant of a firearm certificate will be £198 and the fee for the grant of a shotgun certificate will be £4;
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when an applicant is granted a shotgun certificate at the same time as renewing a firearm certificate, the total fee payable will be £202. The fee for the renewal of a firearm certificate will be £131 and the fee for the grant of a shotgun certificate will be £71;
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when an applicant is renewing a shotgun certificate at the same time as being granted a firearm certificate, the total fee payable will be £202. The fee for the grant of a firearm certificate will be £198 and the fee for the renewal of a shotgun certificate will be £4; and
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when an applicant is renewing a shotgun certificate at the same time as renewing a firearms certificate, the total fee payable will be £155. The fee for a renewal of a firearm certificate will be £131 and the fee for the renewal of a shotgun certificate will be £24.
Firearms licensing applications received by the police on or after 5 February 2025 will incur the new fee. If an application and related payment has been received by the police on or before 4 February 2025, the police will honour the fee that has been paid. Applications to renew firearm and shotgun certificates should continue to be made within the usual timescales (please check the police force website for this information). Applicants should not apply ‘extra early’ in order to avoid paying the new fees. In these cases, the police may return applications and request that the new fee is paid. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has advised that most forces accept renewals up to four months before expiry date.
Police forces need to update related guidance and websites to reflect the new fees to be charged.
The fees charged by the Home Office or the Scottish Government in respect of section 5 authorities, shooting club approvals and museum licences are not affected by the 2025 order and remain unchanged at present.