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Guidance

Firearms licensing law

Consolidated guidance on firearms legislation.

Updates to this page

From:
Home Office
Published:
19 December 2012
Last updated:
18 September 2026
Show all updates

  1. Corrections to paragraphs 10.3 and 11.5.

  2. Amendment to the text in paragraph 10.3 to reflect the statutory guide for chief officers and the firearms application form.

  3. Amendment to the text in paragraph 1.4 and the addition of 3 paragraphs in chapter 12 to provide further advice to firearms owners following a change in law affecting possession of sound moderators.

  4. Sections 12.77 and 12.78 updated.

  5. Firearms licensing fees updated.

  6. The guide has been updated to reflect legislative and policy changes.

  7. Removed section 'Notifying the Home Office of the transfer or possession of a deactivated firearm'.

  8. Updated to reflect changes to government department names.

  9. Updated the guide to reflect change of department name: Department for International Trade (DIT) has become the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

  10. Updated paragraphs 6.37 and 12.67 – guidance on UK Athletics licenced race starters; paragraph 7.10 – re-inserted guidance on the exemption under section 11(6) relating to organised clay pigeon shoots; and paragraphs 15.27 and 15.28 – new guidance on ‘remote’ sales by registered firearms dealers.

  11. Address for Scottish Government firearms team updated.

  12. Guide on firearms licensing law updated. The document 'Legislative changes that have been made since the guide was last published in April 2016' has been removed as these changes have now been incorporated into the revised guide on firearms licensing law.

  13. Uploaded revised interim version of the firearms licensing guide as some of its content has been superseded by the statutory guidance for chief officers of police.

  14. Updated the 2021 section of the Legislative changes that have been made since the guide was last published in April 2016 with the Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2021.

  15. Details of 'Circular 001/2021: Antique firearms' added to the legislative changes guide.

  16. Updated list of recent legislative changes.

  17. List of recent legislative changes added.

  18. Updated licensing guide published.

  19. Amended to include new coordinates for the piracy high risk area.

  20. Updated guidance.

  21. Updated guidance published.

  22. Guide updated June 2014.

  23. The Guide on Firearms Licensing Law was updated on 1 December 2013.

  24. Guidance updated.

  25. Consolidated guidance now available.

  26. New chapters added.

  27. New chapters added.

  28. Domestic violence chapter added.

  29. First published.

Documents

Guide on firearms licensing law (accessible)

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Guide on firearms licensing law

PDF, 2 MB, 230 pages

Details

This Home Office guide on firearms licensing law has been updated. It should be read alongside the statutory guidance for chief officers of police.

The document provides guidance on firearms licensing legislation for anyone who is involved in licensing firearms or who has an interest in firearms or shotguns for either work or leisure purposes.

This guide is not intended to be a definitive statement of the law, but a cohesive explanation of the often complex area of firearms licensing.

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