Primate Licences

The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 introduce a new licensing regime setting out welfare standards that keepers of primates will be required to meet.

Any individual who keeps or is proposing to keep a primate may apply for a primate licence from 6 April 2025. View the Regulations which set out the conditions to be met in order to hold a licence.

Primate keepers who already hold a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence or a licence under The Animal Welfare (Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 will require a primate licence in addition to these other licences.

Licences will normally be issued for a period of 3 years and will only be granted if Buckinghamshire Council are satisfied that all the conditions set out in the Regulations are likely to be met. It will be necessary to carry out inspections both as part of the application process and during the term of a licence.

By 6 April 2026 it will be a legal requirement for all private primate keepers to hold a primate licence.

Statutory Guidance has been published by DEFRA and can be found here:

Licensing process for keeping primates - GOV.UK

Licence conditions for primate keepers (Schedule 1) - GOV.UK

Callitrichids: licence conditions for keepers (Annex A) - GOV.UK

Before you apply, read our Animal Licensing Policy and DEFRA’s Statutory Guidance

You must be 18 or over to apply.

You cannot apply for a licence if you have been disqualified under legislation as set out in Regulation 6 of the The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024.

You can download the application form.

You can contact the animal licensing team for further advice on primate licence requirements and the application process by emailing [email protected]