In the UK, your Shotgun Licence is commonly referred to as a Shotgun Certificate. For your first application for a Shotgun Certificate you will dealing with a “grant” of a certificate. Do not be confused with Shotgun Certificate renewals, as just as the name suggests, these are for renewing an existing certificate. Thus, please make sure that you follow the correct links and information requests as appropriate (grant as opposed to a renewal).
| What information do I need? |
| What are the costs? |
| How do I apply? |
| When do I apply? |
WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED?
Apart from the usual personal information, there are 3 main areas of significant importance:
- Criminal history (or lack thereof)
- Medical history
- Personal reference
Criminal history and any convictions
The UK has some of the strictest gun laws in the world, so it’s no surprise that you’re going to have to be a person of good social standing to be eligible to own a gun. You have to even include speeding/motoring offences in your application!
If you’re someone who has had run-ins with the law before or been caught and convicted of any criminal offence, it might be time to look at taking up golf as an hobby instead. There are some conditions, even if you have a semi-chequered past, but it’s going to be a far more challenging process. If in doubt, get in touch with your local police force and ask them; they should be able to give you an idea of your chances.
And don’t even think about lying; really? They’re the Police, they have your records. Trying to pull the wool over their eyes is only going to land you in (more) hot water.
Medical History
Another non-surprise here is that you’re going to have to have a good history of mental health. If you’ve been diagnosed or treated for mental illnesses, depression and the like, it’s going to be a tough road. As has been evident in the past (most recently the tragedy in Plymouth), anything that brings into question your mental ability to safely and responsibly own a gun, is going to weigh heavily against you.
You’ll need to prepare and submit a doctors letter WITH your application. These rules have recently changed, so please make sure you get this done BEFORE applying, otherwise you’re at a high risk of having your application rejected.
Each Police Force has their own version (with a very small number not requiring them at all), so it’s best to test the application process (DO NOT SUBMIT) to ensure you can access the correct doctors letter template.
Personal Reference
You will need a personal reference (just one) to include on your application who can vouch for your character. You have to have known each other for at least 2 years and they cannot be a family member or member of the Police Force.
TIP: if you already shoot at a clay pigeon club/ground, check with them as to whether they offer this. I know of some clubs that are happy to provide references and this can definitely help your case.
WHAT ARE THE COSTS?
The current cost of a Shotgun Certificate grant application is £79.50.
However, there are some additional costs that often aren’t factored into the process, most notably:
- Doctors letter costs – you didn’t think that was going to be pro-bono did you? Expect to pay £30+ for your GP to fill this in. It can take from 1-4 weeks depending, so DO NOT apply for your Shotgun Certificate grant until you have this.
- Gun cabinet/safe – the FEO (Firearms Enquiry Officer) will ask to review your safekeeping arrangements on their interview visit. Best practice is to get this purchased and installed before they visit to make the process as streamlined as possible; it’ll save you time and hassle. Expect to pay £100+.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Paper submissions are becoming less and less accepted so applying online is the preferred approach. Every Police Force should have an online application process, so follow the instructions below to find out which ones apply to you.
Another problem with paper forms is the time they take just to arrive and get processed. Online is quicker and likely to get you in the queue quicker.
WHERE DO I APPLY?
The link will take you to the .gov.uk website for Firearms and Shotgun Certificates. You will need to:
- Click “Start Now”
- Choose your local Police Force.
- Follow the links to their official website.
- Use the link on you local Police Force’s website to apply for a Shotgun Certificate (grant).
