Primate Licensing

 

From 6 April 2026, if you wish to privately keep a primate, you will need to obtain a licence.

The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 will come into force from 6 April 2025.The legislation brings in a licensing scheme, setting strict rules to ensure that only private keepers who can provide zoo-level welfare standards will be able to keep primates. 

Existing private primate keepers can apply for a primate licence from April 2025 and, from 6 April 2026, all private primate keepers and people proposing to keep a primate will be required to hold a licence, valid for a maximum of three years, and undergo reassessment to renew their permission to keep their animals.

A person who requires a primate licence and keeps a primate in England without one will be committing an offence under section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and will be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term of up to six months, a fine or both.

Applying for a licence

Under the new framework, individuals may only keep primates under a specialist licence issued by their local authority. The statutory guidance on the licensing process is available on the gov.uk website.

The licensing scheme applies to all non-human primates, including but not limited to marmosets, tamarins, capuchins, squirrel monkeys, macaques, and lemurs. These species must now be housed in facilities that meet strict welfare standards equivalent to those found in licensed zoos.

Where any premises are between 2 local authority areas, the applicant must apply to the local authority in which the major part of the premises is situated.

Applications cannot be made by individuals who are under the age of 18 or disqualified from keeping primates.

Other relevant convictions under the Animal Welfare Act such as disqualification for keeping other animal, and any other conduct of the applicant is relevant and considered when determining an application.

Apply for a keeping or training animals for exhibition licence

You will need to submit the application fee at the same time as your application. For details of fees, please see the fees and charges page of our website.

A plan and any required procedures/policies must be submitted with the application form.

We aim to process your application within 10 weeks of receiving a complete application.  If this target is not met then the application is not automatically granted. 

What happens once I’ve submitted my application?

Before determining whether to grant an application for a primate licence, we must arrange for a suitable person to inspect the premises specified in the application. 

To grant an application, we must be satisfied that all of the licence conditions are likely to be met if the application were to be granted.

When determining the applicant or licence holder’s suitability, we must take into account:

  • any previous failure by the applicant to meet licence conditions
  • any other conduct of the applicant that is relevant

How long will the licence last for?

The period of the licence must be 3 years or, where requested by the applicant, a shorter period ending on the date specified by the applicant.

There must be at least one inspection during the licence period if the licence is granted for one year or longer.

How do I make changes or vary my licence?

Licence holders can submit an application form to vary the licence to:

  • reduce or increase the number of primates of any species that may be kept under the licence
  • add or remove a species of primate that may be kept under the licence
  • change the premises specified in the licence to other premises in the area of the same local authority

Where someone wishes to move the primates to premises in a different local authority area, the keeper will need to apply for a new licence from the local authority in whose area they wish to keep the primates.

On receipt of an application it may be necessary for an Officer to contact you to arrange an inspection to ensure compliance with the conditions and guidance.

How do I renew my licence?

Renewal applications follow the same process as an application for a new licence and require:

  • Application form and any required documentation
  • Fee
  • Inspection of the licensed premises to determine whether the licence conditions are likely to continue to be met

The renewed licence period must start from the end of the most recent licence period. The licence period will be for 3 years unless the applicant has requested a shorter licence period, for example to align with a DWA licence period.

What if my licence is refused?

The licence will be refused if:

  • the applicant can't meet the licence conditions;
  • the granting of a licence will have a negative impact on animal welfare;
  • the level of accommodation, staffing, or management is inadequate for the well-being of animals.

A licence cannot be issued to an applicant who is disqualified.

There is a right of appeal to a First-tier Tribunal within 28 days of the decision notice.

The Regulations introduce a range of enforcement powers to allow us to issue a suspension, variation or revocation notice where conditions are not being complied with i.e. there is a breach of the regulations or issues relating to the protection of the welfare of an animal.