Firearms and shotgun certificates: cost and how they work
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 23 August 2026 · Facts checked against the Firearms Act 1968 and the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2026 on the date above
A firearm or shotgun certificate is issued by your local police force, not a council or a GOV.UK online service, and it lasts 5 years before you need to renew.
This is a purely informational guide - because firearms licensing involves police vetting, background and medical checks, and a genuine "good reason" test, we don't offer any application help for it, and we'd encourage caution around any site that does.
This guide covers the difference between a firearm and a shotgun certificate, what each costs following the fee change on 4 June 2026, and where to apply directly with the police.
This is general information, not legal, safety or firearms-specific advice. Firearms law is genuinely high-stakes - for anything specific to your application, eligibility or a refusal, contact your local police force's firearms licensing department directly, or a solicitor who specialises in firearms law.
What are firearms and shotgun certificates?
They're the legal authorisations, granted under the Firearms Act 1968, that allow someone to possess, buy and use a firearm or shotgun in Great Britain.
A shotgun certificate covers smooth-bore shotguns, while a firearm certificate covers rifles, pistols and other section 1 firearms, and the eligibility tests and conditions attached to each differ - a firearm certificate specifies the exact guns and quantity of ammunition you're allowed, where a shotgun certificate does not.
Applications go to "the chief officer of police for the area in which the applicant resides," under the Firearms Act 1968 (checked 23 August 2026) - there's no national online application route separate from your local force.
Who can get a firearm or shotgun certificate?
You need to satisfy the police that you don't pose a threat to public safety, and, for a firearm certificate specifically, that you have "good reason" to possess each specific firearm and the ammunition for it.
The process typically includes referee checks, a home visit, secure storage checks, and increasingly a medical check with your GP, on top of standard criminal record and background checks - the exact requirements are set out in police firearms licensing guidance rather than a single simple checklist.
Given how much turns on individual circumstances here - medical history, storage arrangements, the specific "good reason" test - this is exactly the kind of application where speaking directly to your local force's firearms licensing team, or a specialist solicitor, is more useful than any general guide, including this one.
What do firearms and shotgun certificates cost?
Fees changed on 4 June 2026 under the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2026, and applications received by police on or after that date are charged at the new rates.
There's no "our fee" on this page - we don't offer a paid application service for firearms or shotgun certificates. Read the official fee circular on GOV.UK →
✓ Fees verified against GOV.UK's published circular, checked 23 August 2026
Applications received by your police force before 4 June 2026 were charged at the previous, lower fee - if you applied before that date, check with your force which rate applies to you.
How long does a certificate last, and how do you renew?
Both a firearm certificate and a shotgun certificate are valid for 5 years from the date of grant.
Renewal is a fresh application to your police force, at the renewal fee shown above, and it's your responsibility to apply in good time before expiry - a lapsed certificate doesn't extend itself while you wait to hear back.
Where do you actually apply?
You apply directly to your local police force's firearms licensing department, in the prescribed form, not through GOV.UK or any national portal.
Because eligibility, storage requirements and the "good reason" test are genuinely case-specific, and because getting this wrong can mean a refused application or a criminal offence, we're pointing you straight to the official route rather than summarising a step-by-step process here.
Read the official police firearms licensing guidance on GOV.UK →
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a firearm certificate and a shotgun certificate?
A firearm certificate covers rifles, pistols and other section 1 firearms, and specifies the exact guns and ammunition quantity you can hold; a shotgun certificate covers smooth-bore shotguns and doesn't specify individual guns in the same way.
How much does a firearm or shotgun certificate cost?
From 4 June 2026: £204 to grant a firearm certificate (£135 to renew), £200 to grant a shotgun certificate (£130 to renew), and £208 for a combined grant or £160 for a combined renewal if applying for both together.
Who issues firearms and shotgun certificates?
Your local police force - specifically the chief officer of police for the area where you live - not a council or a GOV.UK online service.
How long does a firearm or shotgun certificate last?
Both are valid for 5 years from the date they're granted, after which you must apply to renew.
Does apply for licence help with firearms applications?
No - this page is informational only. Given the safety-critical and highly individual nature of firearms licensing, we point you directly to your local police force's firearms licensing department rather than offering any application help ourselves.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the police, GOV.UK or any government body. This page is general information only, not legal, safety or firearms-specific advice, and we don't offer any application assistance for firearms or shotgun certificates - contact your local police force's firearms licensing department, or a specialist solicitor, for anything specific to your application.