The Animal Welfare (Primate licenses) (England) Regulations 2024
From 1st April 2026 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 regulations are here - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/296/made
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.
The fee for a Primate licence is outlined in the Fees page.
To apply, please complete the Primates Application Form. Before filling it in, download the form using ‘Save As’, then reopen it—this ensures you can save and submit it correctly. A licence cannot be issued to anyone under 18, or to anyone who has been disqualified from keeping primates. Once completed, please email your application to licensing@ambervalley.gov.uk. You will be contacted after your form has been received to make the required payment over the phone. Please note: your application is not valid until payment has been received.
Before granting a licence, the premises where the primate will be housed will be inspected by a suitably qualified person – usually a vet accompanied by an officer of the council. See the guidance Licensing process for keeping primates - GOV.UK for details of the standards that are required to be met.
A licence holder or applicant can make a representation relating to the decisions that a licensing authority makes relating to
Refusal of a persons application to grant, renew, vary or surrender a primate licence
An rectification notice
Revoke or vary a persons licence
Please use the Appealing a licensing decision form to make representation. The Fees for appeal can be found in the fees information and will be refunded should the decision being appealed is overturned.
THe outcome of the representation will be communicated to you. If the outcome of this representation is to uphold the decision of refusal , variation, rectification notice , revocation, surrender the applicant or licence holder has the option to appeal within 28 days of that decision to a first tier tribunal.
See here for information on tribunal appeals. https://www.judiciary.uk/courts-and-tribunals/tribunals/first-tier-tribunal/
If the licence conditions will be met a licence will be granted for 3 years unless the applicant wishes to have a shorter-term licence.
During the licence period there will be at least one interim visit made by a suitably qualified person. Charges will be made for this visit.
The licence holder has overall responsibility for the care and management of the primates kept under a primate licence and for making sure that the licence conditions attached to the licence are met.
During the term of a licence a licence holder may apply to vary the licence e.g. to increase numbers of primates kept; add or remove a species of primate from the licence; change the premises where the primates are kept.
Before a variation of premises or number increase can be made, an inspection will be needed by a suitably qualified person, the cost of which will be charged to the licence holder. There will also be a charge of £25 for re issuing a varied licence.
Application forms are here for variation of primate licence.
The local authority may also vary a licence – e.g. Reduce numbers of primates on the licence or remove species of primate if licence conditions have not been met, obstruction has occurred of an officer in carrying out their duties, fees have not been paid, rectification works have not been carried out (See below)
If you wish to surrender a licence please email env.admin@ambervalley.gov.uk.
An officer will be in contact to discuss your surrender.
Please apply for a new licence no later than 12 weeks prior to the expiry date.
Part of the consideration for renewal of a licence will be any failure by the applicant to meet the licence conditions during the previous licence term.
If a license holder dies representatives of the licensee must contact env.admin@ambervalley.gov.uk within 28 days of the date of death.
If it is found that licence conditions are not being met, a rectification notice may be served on a licence holder requiring works to ensure the licence conditions are met.
Licenses will be revoked if a licensee is convicted of an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Contact the team directly on 01773 570222 or email enquiry@ambervalley.gov.uk
