Firearms Licensing
Firearms applications
A firearm is a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged.
A firearms certificate must be held for any firearm or ammunition.
Except:
- Shot guns which may be held on a Shotgun Certificate
- Shot gun cartridges containing five or more shot, none of which exceeds ·36 inch in diameter, which can only be purchased on production of a Shotgun Certificate
- Air weapons of a type not declared specially dangerous (i.e. those falling below a prescribed muzzle energy limit)
- Ammunition for an air gun, air rifle or air pistol
- Blank cartridges not more than one inch in diameter
The Police grant Firearm Certificates predominantly for single shot rifles of any calibre, self-loading .22RF rifles (and corresponding ammunition) and muzzle loading pistols. Component parts of Section 1 firearms also require a Firearm Certificate, as do accessories such as sound moderators.
The applicant must show good reason for each and every firearm held on a Firearm Certificate. The Firearm Certificate will specify the type and calibre of each firearm (and amount of corresponding ammunition) that may be possessed. More dangerous articles classified as ‘prohibited weapons’, are covered by Section 5 of the Firearms Act and would require authority from the Secretary of State (with a small number of exceptions).
You can either fill in the form ‘on-screen’, print it off and sign it, or just print off the blank form and complete the whole of it by hand. Please note that it cannot be saved on your computer if you are only using Adobe Reader.
This download includes two referees’ forms. If it is typed ‘on screen’, the name and address details for the ‘Applicant’ and both referees will be automatically copied over to the Forms 125. Please note Part C of the referees’ forms cannot be typed on screen.
Your referees should fill in the remainder of the Forms 125 and send them direct to your firearms licensing office.
Fees
Grant £50
Renewal £40
'Co-term' - if you wish to renew your Shot Gun Certificate at the same
time as your Firearm Certificate, so that they both have the same expiry
date, the fee is the full Grant or Renewal fee for the Firearm Certificate
+ £10 for your Shot Gun Certificate. Both forms must be completed.
From 1st July 2009, applications for all types of shotgun, firearm or explosives certificates must be sent direct to the Firearms Enquiry Teams. Applications will no longer be accepted at police stations within the Metropolitan Police Area. Cheques or postal orders for the correct fee should be made payable to: Mayors Office for Policing and Crime (Cash will not be accepted).
Checklist
Please use this checklist to ensure you have included everything
we need to process your application efficiently:
- Indicated whether the application is a Grant or Renewal application
- Completed all parts of the application form
- Read, signed and dated the authorisation at Q16 and the declaration at Part F.
- Referees have known you personally for at least the last 2 years and are not relatives.
- Referees have read Part A, signed the declarations at Part E and ‘certified’ one of your photographs
- Referees have each been given Form 125 and the correct address to return it direct to us after they have completed it (see below)
- Included 4 passport sized photographs - one signed by you, one ‘certified’ by each of your referees
- Cheque (signed)/postal orders for correct fee made payable to Mayors Office for Policing and Crime
- If ‘co-terminous’ application have you completed both Firearm and Shot Gun application forms?
- Land Form and/or Club Form to support ‘good reason’
- Send to the correct address. The local authority that you pay your Council Tax to (for your main residence) will determine where you should send your application. In the Metropolitan Police Area there are five Firearms Licensing Offices. Refer to our Contact Us section for the appropriate office address
- Have you put enough postage on? It can take several weeeks to be returned to you by the Royal Mail if undelivered