Apply for or manage a section 5, shooting club or museum licence
How to license a firearm, manage weapons for a shooting club or get a museum licence.
Application fees will be charged for section 5 authorities as well as revised fees for shooting club approvals and museum licences.
For more information read the legislation or the firearms (fees) regulations 2019.
Prohibited weapons and ammunition (section 5) authority
You need a section 5 authority to handle prohibited weapons, component parts and prohibited ammunition. This includes:
- keeping or using heritage pistols under section 7(3) of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988
- private maritime security companies
- carriers airlines and ground handlers
When you apply
Applications must include a cover letter and evidence of trade in order for an initial assessment to take place, without this the application may be rejected.
Cover letter to include the requirement for a section 5 authority (maximum 2 pages). Application must include:
- business name
- authority holder(s) name and personal details
- companies house number (if applicable)
Documents to show evidence of your business need for a section 5 authority will need to cover every item or quantities requested.
Examples of documents required:
- valid RFD (if applicable)
- copy of your current authority (renewal only)
- current or future contracts / expressions of interest
- invoices from the last 6 months (renewal only)
- addresses of the business premises where the prohibited items will be stored
- the types and quantities of prohibited items you want the authority to cover
New applicants / existing licensees with a new work stream
These applications must also include a business plan (maximum 2 pages) that sets out the company background and the requirement for a section 5 authority and evidence of prospective trade.
For example:
- current or future contracts
- invoices from the last 6 months
- letters of sponsorship from the past 6 months
- a valid import licence, if applicable
- details of third part storage, if applicable
- addresses of the business premises where the prohibited items will be stored
- the types and quantities of prohibited items you want the authority to cover
- the personal details of one or 2 named authority holders:
- home address
- date and place of birth
- nationality
- contact details, including email of main contact if this is not the authority holder
Carriers airlines and ground handlers
Cover letter to include the requirement for a section 5 authority (maximum 2 pages):
- details of how the prohibited items will be obtained and used
- reasons you need to possess weapons and/or ammunition sought
- your previous section 5 authority (renewal only)
- evidence that your proposed airline or ground handler is in possession of a valid section 5 authority.
For more information, see chapter 3 of the guide on Firearms Licensing Law.
England and Wales
Apply for a section 5 authority
Scotland
Apply for a section 5 authority
To renew a section 5 authority, you must apply at least 4 months before your current licence expires. This is because the Home Office will need to contact the police before considering the application.
Shooting clubs
England and Wales
Applications will only be accepted by the Home Office. Do not apply directly to the police.
We will review your application and pass it to the relevant police force, who will make necessary enquiries before sending the application to us for consideration.
If you do not give us enough information and supporting evidence your application is likely to be rejected as invalid and you will need to submit it again.
Before you apply, make sure you meet the criteria in the guidance for rifle and muzzle loading pistol clubs.
What happens next
We will review your application and contact you if we need more information. We will also carry out checks, including inspecting any storage arrangements.
Scotland
Apply in writing to:
Safer Communities Directorate
Police Powers Unit
St Andrew’s House
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
Museum licences
Museums must apply for a museum licence to display or store weapons or ammunition for exhibition purposes.
Museums in England and Wales should apply online:
- for a new museum licence
- to renew an existing licence
- to amend an existing licence, such as adding new storage locations
Licences cost up to £200 and are valid for 5 years.
What a museum licence covers
A museum licence covers:
- obtaining, owning, transfer and disposal of section 1 and section 2 weapons
- owning section 5 weapons
- transferring section 5 weapons to a museum in the same museum group, which is named on the licence
You need a section 5 authority as well as a museum licence to:
- transfer section 5 weapons to a different legal entity or organisation - for example, to loan to another museum
- dispose of section 5 weapons
It’s free to apply for a section 5 authority.
Who can apply
You can only apply for a museum licence if you’re:
- maintained by Parliament or local government
- accredited by the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) or Arts Council England and Wales
Non-accredited, privately funded and private collections cannot apply for this licence. You’ll need to apply for a firearm or shotgun certificate.
What happens next
We will review your application and contact you if we need more information. We will also carry out certain checks, including inspecting any storage arrangements.
For more information, view chapter 17 of the guide on Firearms Licensing Law.
Apply for a museum firearms licence
If your firearms application is approved
We consider each case in its own merit. If your licence is approved, you will receive an email with instructions for payment. We will not issue your licence until the fee is paid. Once you have paid, the licence will be sent electronically by email.
If you cancel your application
We consider how much to charge for cancellations case by case. You may be charged administration, travel or accommodation costs if you cancel your application:
- following a police inspection
- after you receive an outcome
We may also ask for our administrative costs to be paid within 10 working days.
Contact the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit (DFLU)
Firearms enquiries
Email public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk for queries about UK firearms legislation and other firearms questions.
Firearms applications
For application queries, email dflu.firearmslicensing@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Fees
For queries about firearms licensing fees, invoices and billing, email dflu.fees@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Customer complaints
Email dflu.complaints@homeoffice.gov.uk for complaints about firearms licences.
Before you email the DFLU, you should try to resolve any issues with the firearms team directly using the other contact details above.
You can contact the Home Office by telephone on 0300 105 0248.
Updates to this page
Last updated 24 October 2024 + show all updates
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Guidance updated.
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Added information on what a museum licence covers.
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Cancellation policy and contact details have been added.
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Minor update to shooting club approvals section as renewal fees information is already covered on the page.
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Content added: 'Please note - If you are not a registered firearms dealer, or do not hold a firearm or shotgun certificate, please contact DFLU before applying for a S5 authority to check the requirements for a medical report'.
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Updated fees guidance.
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Following the successful pilot project for online approval of shooting clubs, we are now only accepting applications made via the web portal.
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The technical problem with online applications has been resolved.
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Our online application service is currently undergoing maintenance, and it is possible that some applications may experience problems during submission. We expect this to be resolved by 15 March.
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Clubs in the Metropolitan, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire police force areas can apply online as part of a trial scheme.
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Guidance on how to apply updated.
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Form for applying for club approval updated.
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Updated content
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Updated guidance published.
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First published.