Gun Laws in the UK: Licensing, Air Weapons and Penalties

Gun laws in the United Kingdom treat firearm ownership as a privilege that has to be justified to the police, not a right. Handguns and semi-automatic centrefire rifles are banned outright for civilians in Great Britain. The firearms that remain legal — mainly bolt-action rifles, standard shotguns, muzzle-loading pistols, and low-powered air weapons — can only be held by someone who passes background checks, medical screening, a police home visit, and ongoing storage inspections, and who holds the correct certificate for the weapon. Getting any of this wrong is a serious criminal offence, with mandatory minimum prison sentences for the worst breaches.

The system rests on the Firearms Act 1968, which applies to England, Scotland, and Wales.1Legislation.gov.uk. Firearms Act 1968, Section 1 Northern Ireland has its own legislation with different rules, including that handguns can still be held on a firearm certificate there. Scotland diverges on air weapons, covered further down.

What Is Banned Outright

Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 lists weapons that are illegal to possess without personal authorisation from the Home Secretary, which is granted only rarely and almost exclusively for professional uses such as film armouries and approved dealers.2Legislation.gov.uk. Firearms Act 1968, Section 5 For an ordinary civilian, everything on this list is off-limits:

  • Automatic firearms of any kind.
  • Self-loading and pump-action centrefire rifles. Only .22 rimfire versions are exempt.
  • Handguns and other short firearms, meaning any firearm with a barrel under 30 centimetres or an overall length under 60 centimetres. Air weapons, muzzle-loaders, and signalling devices are the narrow exceptions.
  • Self-loading and pump-action shotguns with barrels under 24 inches or an overall length under 40 inches, unless chambered for .22 rimfire.
  • Military ordnance such as rocket launchers, mortars, explosive ammunition, and grenades.
  • Firearms disguised inside another object.
  • Bump stocks, which increase a semi-automatic weapon’s rate of fire.
  • Devices designed to discharge gas, liquid, or other noxious substances.

Possessing anything on this list carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison for anyone aged 21 or over, and three years for younger offenders. The maximum on indictment is ten years, and a court can only go below the minimum if it finds exceptional circumstances.3Legislation.gov.uk. Firearms Act 1968, Section 51A

What You Can Legally Own

Two certificate types cover almost all lawful civilian ownership, and each has its own legal test.

Firearm Certificate

A firearm certificate covers rifles, muzzle-loading pistols, high-powered air rifles above 12 foot-pounds, and any shotgun that doesn’t meet the standard shotgun definition. You have to show a “good reason” for possessing each specific firearm you want. The certificate lists every gun by type, calibre, and serial number, and caps the ammunition you can buy and store at any time.4Legislation.gov.uk. Firearms Act 1968, Section 27

Shotgun Certificate

A shotgun certificate covers smooth-bore guns with barrels at least 24 inches long, a bore no wider than 2 inches, and either no magazine or a fixed magazine holding no more than two cartridges. Anything falling outside those specifications is treated as a Section 1 firearm and needs the stricter certificate instead.1Legislation.gov.uk. Firearms Act 1968, Section 1 The legal test is slightly easier: the police must grant a shotgun certificate unless they have reason to believe you would endanger public safety. You don’t have to prove a specific good reason, and there is no cap on the number of shotguns you can own, though each one’s details are recorded.

Who Can Hold a Certificate

Every applicant must satisfy the chief officer of police on three points: that they are fit to be entrusted with a firearm, that they have good reason to possess it, and that granting the certificate would not endanger public safety.4Legislation.gov.uk. Firearms Act 1968, Section 27 Typical accepted reasons include deer stalking, pest control on farmland, and active membership in an approved shooting club.

Self-defence is not an accepted reason anywhere in Great Britain. Home Office guidance is explicit on this, and mentioning self-defence anywhere in an application is grounds for refusal.5GOV.UK. Firearms Licensing Law

Automatic Disqualifications

Section 21 of the Firearms Act 1968 bars certain people from possessing any firearm or ammunition, regardless of what they might otherwise qualify for:6Legislation.gov.uk. Firearms Act 1968, Section 21

  • Anyone sentenced to three years or more in prison, or to a life sentence, is banned for life.
  • Anyone sentenced to between three months and three years is banned for five years from the date of release.

These bans apply automatically. There is no application process, and no police discretion. A disqualified person who touches a firearm commits a separate offence, even if someone else holds the certificate.

How To Apply

The process is the same whether you want a firearm certificate, a shotgun certificate, or both. It starts with Form 201, downloadable from GOV.UK or your local police constabulary’s website.7GOV.UK. Firearms Application Forms

Before you begin, gather:

  • Four identical passport-style photographs (45mm x 35mm), full-face, no hat.
  • Two referees who have known you personally for at least two years, are resident in Great Britain, and are of good character. They cannot be family members, firearms dealers, or serving police officers, and they cannot be paid for the reference.8GOV.UK. Application Notes for Form 201
  • The exact calibre, type, and intended use of each firearm you want, plus the maximum ammunition you plan to hold.
  • A medical declaration completed by your GP (or another GMC-registered doctor) after checking your medical records for relevant conditions such as depression, substance misuse, or certain neurological conditions.

The medical check is often the slowest step. Your GP may charge a fee, and costs vary. Police cannot process the application until the medical information comes back.

Current Fees

Licensing fees rose substantially in February 2025 to match the cost of processing, and a further inflationary increase applies from June 2026. The current schedule:9GOV.UK. Circular 001/2025 – Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2025

  • New firearm certificate: £204
  • Firearm certificate renewal: £135
  • New shotgun certificate: £200
  • Shotgun certificate renewal: £130
  • Both certificates together, new: £208
  • Both certificates together, renewal: £160

The Home Visit and Decision

Once your paperwork and fee are in, the police verify your criminal record, interview your referees, and review your medical disclosure. A firearms enquiry officer then arranges a home visit to check your stated reason, assess your circumstances, and inspect your gun storage.10College of Policing. Processes

Processing times vary between forces. Some manage eight weeks; others take four months or longer, particularly where medical queries slow things down. Approved applicants receive the physical certificate by post. A refusal comes with a written explanation and a right of appeal to the Crown Court in England and Wales, or the sheriff court in Scotland.11Legislation.gov.uk. Firearms Act 1968, Section 44 Appeal deadlines are tight, and missing them forfeits the right to challenge.

Storage and Renewal

Every certificate holder must store firearms securely against unauthorised access. In practice, that means a steel gun cabinet conforming to British Standard BS 7558, bolted to a structural wall or floor and not immediately visible to visitors. Ammunition must be locked separately, either in a different compartment inside the cabinet or in another lockable container. The enquiry officer checks storage during the home visit, and police can re-inspect at any point during the certificate’s life.

Certificates last five years.12GOV.UK. Circular 014/2018 – Limited Extension of Validity of Firearm and Shotgun Certificates Submit renewals at least eight weeks before expiry to avoid a gap in legal possession. Moving house triggers an obligation to tell the police immediately; failing to do so is a criminal offence and can lead to revocation.

Air Weapons

Air rifles and air pistols sit in their own space. In England and Wales, an air rifle producing up to 12 foot-pounds of muzzle energy and an air pistol producing up to 6 foot-pounds can be owned without any certificate.13GOV.UK. Air Weapons – A Brief Guide to Safety Above those limits, an air rifle needs a firearm certificate and an air pistol becomes a prohibited weapon. Buyers must be at least 18, and under-18s face restrictions on unsupervised use.

Scotland Is Different

Scotland introduced its own regime under the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015. Since December 2016, anyone in Scotland who wants to own, use, or carry an air weapon must hold an Air Weapon Certificate regardless of muzzle energy. The certificate costs £72 for five years, and existing firearm or shotgun certificate holders can add air weapon authority for £5. Young people aged 14 to 17 can apply with parental consent.14Police Scotland. Air Weapons Possessing an air weapon in Scotland without a certificate is a criminal offence, which catches out English residents who travel north with an air rifle assuming the same rules apply.

Visitors Bringing Firearms Into the UK

Non-residents who want to bring firearms into the UK, or use them during a visit, need a visitor’s firearm or shotgun permit. A UK-resident sponsor must submit the application, providing details of where the firearms will be used and stored and supplying documentation of the visitor’s credentials, such as a firearms certificate from their home country or a letter of good character from their government or police force.15Police Scotland. Visitor Permits and 11(6) Authorities

Applications typically take up to six weeks. The fee is £47 for an individual permit or £233 for a group. All documents must be in English. Arriving in the UK with a firearm and no valid permit is a serious offence, and border officials will seize the weapon.

Penalties

The consequences for breaking UK firearms law are heavy, and not knowing the rules is not a defence:

  • Possessing a Section 5 prohibited weapon: mandatory minimum of five years in prison for adults aged 21 and over, three years for younger offenders, and a maximum of ten years.3Legislation.gov.uk. Firearms Act 1968, Section 51A
  • Possessing a Section 1 firearm without a certificate: up to five years on indictment.1Legislation.gov.uk. Firearms Act 1968, Section 1
  • Possessing a shotgun without a certificate: up to five years on indictment.16Legislation.gov.uk. Firearms Act 1968, Section 2
  • Breaching certificate conditions: a criminal offence, with possible imprisonment and automatic revocation.
  • Failing to report a change of address or store weapons properly: revocation of the certificate and possible prosecution.

Police can revoke a certificate at any time if they believe the holder is no longer fit, and can seize weapons immediately if there is a public safety risk. Once a certificate is revoked, the holder must surrender all firearms and ammunition to the police or to a registered firearms dealer without delay.