Apply for or manage a section 5, shooting club or museum licence
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-28)

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 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/1169/made) or the firearms (fees) regulations 2019 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular-0062019-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
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.

When you apply

For an initial assessment to take place, all applications should be supported with a covering letter (maximum 2 pages).

You’ll also need to provide the following documents (if applicable):
- personal details of all authority holders named within the application form
- valid RFD
- a copy of your current authority
Without this, the application may be rejected. A rejection does not necessarily mean that you’ll be refused an authority if you reapply.

If applicable, you’ll also need to provide additional supporting documents justifying a business need for a section 5 authority.

Examples of additional supporting documents:
- current or future contracts alongside a cover letter from the contractor
- invoices from the last 6 months
- copies of your firearms register from the last 6 months
- letters of sponsorship from the past 6 months
- expressions of interest from potential customers
- business plan, maximum 2 pages (first time applicants or a new business stream)
Please ensure the evidence you provide covers every item or amount being requested for the section 5 authority.

Carriers airlines and ground handlers

You’ll need to apply for a separate section 5 authority for each airport.

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)
For more information, see chapter 3 of the guide on Firearms Licensing Law (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/firearms-law-guidance-to-the-police-2012).

To renew a section 5 authority, you must apply at least 4 months before your current authority expires. This is because the Home Office will need to contact the police before considering the application.

The Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition

The Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition is held every 2 years for one week in September in the Excel Centre in London.

If you want to exhibit prohibited weapons at the event, you’ll need a section 5 authority. If issued, this authority will only be valid for the period of the DSEI event and will be solely for the purpose of exhibiting prohibited weapons at the event.

As part of the application form, you must upload:
- a cover letter (maximum 2 pages)
- your Annex B supporting letter
The cover letter must include:
- the reason you are applying for a section 5 authority
- your RFD certificate number or whether you have applied for an RFD
Your application form must include a UK address for the invoice details. If you do not have a UK address then you must use the DSEI address, stating your company name. The DSEI address is:

c/o The Defence and Security Equipment International exhibitionThe Excel CentreVictoria Dock RoadE16 1XL

For more information on the event, visit the DSEI website (https://www.dsei.co.uk).

England and Wales

Apply for a section 5 authority (https://www.firearms-licensing.homeoffice.gov.uk/s5/privacy)

Scotland

Apply for a section 5 authority (https://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/what-we-do/firearms-and-explosives-licensing/firearms-and-shotguns/)

Shooting clubs

England and Wales

Applications will only be accepted by the Home Office. Do not apply directly to the police.

Before you apply, make sure you meet the criteria in the guidance for rifle and muzzle loading pistol clubs (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/approval-of-rifle-and-muzzle-loading-pistol-clubs).

For an initial assessment to take place, all applications should be supported with a covering letter alongside the documents below (if applicable). Without this, the application may be rejected.

Documents include:
- club secretary’s residing address
- a copy of your current approval (including the firearms class approved and expiry date)
- constitution (not a school setting)
- valid club insurance – please include a copy of the club affiliation purchase if with the NSRA
If your documentation is sufficient, your application will be allocated to the relevant police force, who will make necessary enquiries before returning the application to us for our final consideration.

If you do not provide sufficient information and supporting evidence, your application is likely to be rejected. A rejection does not necessarily mean that you’ll be refused an approval if you reapply.

To renew an approval, you must apply at least 4 months before your current approval expires.

Apply for shooting club approval (https://www.firearms-licensing.homeoffice.gov.uk/shooting-clubs/privacy)

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 DirectoratePolice Powers UnitSt Andrew’s HouseEdinburghEH1 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 (#section5) 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:
- for public benefit
- 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 (https://www.gov.uk/shotgun-and-firearm-certificates).

If you apply and do not meet the above criteria the application will be rejected. A rejection does not necessarily mean that you’ll be refused a licence if you reapply.

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 16 of the guide on Firearms Licensing Law (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/firearms-law-guidance-to-the-police-2012).

To renew a licence, 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.

Please provide a cover letter to show you meet the criteria as a museum, addressing the points below:

the museum has as its purpose, or one of its purposes, the preservation for the public benefit of a collection of historic, artistic or scientific interest which includes or is to include firearms

are you wholly or mainly maintained out of money provided by parliament or a local authority?

are you accredited by museums, libraries, and archives council (MLA) or its successor bodies, arts council England, arts council of Wales or the Scottish arts council?

Apply for a museum firearms licence (https://www.firearms-licensing.homeoffice.gov.uk/museums/privacy)

If your firearms application is approved

We consider each case in its own merit. If your licence is approved, you’ll 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.

Contact the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit (DFLU)

Firearms enquiries

Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) for queries about UK firearms legislation and other firearms questions.

Firearms applications

For application queries, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Fees

For queries about firearms licensing fees, invoices and billing, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Customer complaints

Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) 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 xx-xxxx-xxxx.