Firearms Licensing

Shot gun applications

Shot Gun Certificate (Section 2, Firearms Act 1968)

A Shot Gun is a smooth-bore gun (not an air gun), which

  • has a barrel not less than 24 inches in length and a bore not exceeding 2 inches in diameter,
  • either has no magazine, or has a non-detachable magazine incapable of holding more than two cartridges
  • is not a revolver gun.

Application Form for a Shot Gun Certificate – Form 103

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.

Fees
Grant £50
Renewal £40
'Co-term' - if you are renewing your Shot Gun Certificate at the same time as your Firearm Certificate, so that they both have the same expiry date, the fee is £10 + the full Grant or Renewal fee for the Firearm 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 E.
  • Countersignatory has known you personally for at least 2 years and meets the required status.
  • Countersignatory has read Part A, read and signed Part D, and signed one of your photographs as a true likeness.
  • Included 4 passport sized photographs - one signed by you, one certified by your countersignory.
  • Cheque (signed)/postal orders for correct fee made payable to: Mayors Office for Policing and Crime
  • If ‘co-terminous’ application have you completed both a Shot Gun and a Firearm application form.
  • 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 weeks to be returned to you by the Royal Mail if undelivered.

Firearms Licensing