Register to perform tattoo and skin piercing treatments
Treatments covered
Under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, you and your premises must register with us to carry out:
- Tattooing including micropigmentation (permanent and semi permanent makeup)
- Cosmetic piercings
- Electrolysis
- Acupuncture (including dry needling)
- any other invasion of the skin (for example, microblading and micro needling)
This is to safeguard the public against health risks, including diseases such as Hepatitis and HIV.
For information on other treatments or exceptions for medical professionals, see exemptions.
It is an offence to undertake any skin piercing practices if the premises and the person performing them is not registered.
If you are practicing at a premises that is already registered, you need only register as a practitioner unless you are renting a room at the premises as a separate trading entity.
Practitioners must operate out of a fixed registered premises.
This may include modified vehicles suitable for carrying out skin piercing activities as long as they meet our byelaws.
Before you apply
Before you apply:
- ensure your premises meets the requirements in PHE's tattooing and body piercing guidance
- read our byelaws
- read the HSL Guidance for Safe Tattooing
- read the HSL Guidance for Safe Body Piercing
- read the HSL Guidance for Safe Micropigmentation
Register a premises
A fee of £229 is due to register a premises and up to 1 practitioner.
Register as a practitioner
A fee of £62 is due to register as a practitioner.
Next steps
Your premises will be inspected before a certificate is granted.
Exemptions
Exempt person(s)
Registration is not required when skin piercing is undertaken by, or under the supervision of, a registered medical practitioner.
In the case of acupuncture, a dentist also does not need to register with us.
Exempt treatments
The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 does not require you to register with us to carry out:
- scarification
- branding
- sub or transdermal implants
- ocular implants
- tongue splitting
- Botox and cosmetic filler implants
Practitioners who use Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), class 3B, or class 4 lasers in England may have to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Registered medical practitioners who use IPL or lasers to treat disease, disorder, or injury have to register with the CQC.
Practitioners who use IPL or lasers for exclusively cosmetic purposes don’t have to register with the CQC, even if they are registered medical practitioners.
Some local councils in England also require all practitioners who use IPL and lasers to register with them, however Buckinghamshire Council do not require lasers to be registered.
Botox is a prescription only medicine and can only be administered to a defined patient by a doctor or a nurse under the supervision of a doctor.
Byelaws
Anyone registered with us to perform tattoo and/or skin piercing treatments must comply with the relevant byelaws. These byelaws set out the basic standards expected for hygienic and safe operation of tattoo and skin piercing premises.
Make changes or get a replacement certificate
For information, see make changes or request a replacement registration certificate.