Primate licences

From 6 April 2026, if you wish to privately keep a primate, you will need to obtain a licence.

The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 will come into force from 6 April 2025. The legislation brings in a licensing scheme, setting strict rules to ensure that only private keepers who can provide zoo-level welfare standards will be able to keep primates.

These are examples of primates that require a primate licence.

• Marmosets
• Apes, chimpanzees
• Tamarins
• Squirrel Monkeys
• Spider Monkeys
• Capuchin Monkeys
• Lemurs
• Lorisidae (also known as bush babies)

Existing private primate keepers can apply for a primate licence from April 2025. From 6 April 2026, all private primate keepers and people proposing to keep a primate will be required to hold a licence, valid for a maximum of three years and undergo reassessment to renew their permission to keep their animals.

A person who requires a primate licence and keeps a primate in England without one will be committing an offence under section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and will be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term of up to six months, a fine or both.

We are expecting DEFRA to issue further guidance in relation to primate licences and this page will be updated following this. Please check for any changes or additional information. 

Primate Standards for Privately Kept Primates in England (defra.gov.uk) 

I am a private keeper of a primate. What do I need to do?

You should apply for a primate licence from April 2025. Applying early will mean you have a longer period to adapt to the changes that will become law in April 2026.

What conditions will I need to meet to be licensed?

You can find the conditions you must meet in Schedule 1 of the regulations. All applications will need to meet the conditions.

Is anyone exempt from the need to be licensed?

The regulations do not apply to any premises under the Zoo Licensing Act or places specified in a licence under Section 2C of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act.

How much does a licence cost? What will happen after I apply?

You must pay a fee which will be announced at a later date. You will also be required to pay for a vet.

Once a valid application is received, a licensing officer will arrange to inspect your premises. They will assess your premises against the conditions specified in the regulations.

How long do licences last?

Primate licences last for a maximum of 3 years, but you can request a shorter period if necessary.

You must apply to renew your licence 10 weeks before your current one ends.

What paperwork will I need to submit with my application?

The regulations require the following paperwork to be kept as part of the licence. To make sure we deal with your application as quickly as possible, you should submit them as part of your application. Your policies and procedures should provide an overview of your business and detail how you meet all the licence conditions.

The following paperwork needs to be submitted as part of your application:

• a plan of the premises
• a register of all animals kept on the premises, including:
  • its name
  • its sex
  • its microchip number
  • its date of birth - if this isn't known, its approximate date of birth
  • its species
  • its colour and marking
  • the name and contact details of its previous keeper, where applicable
  • the date and cause of its death, where applicable
  • where the primate is permanently transferred to other premises, the name and contact details of the new keeper, where applicable, and the address of the place it has been relocated
• a written emergency plan covering:
  • the measures to be taken for the removal of the primates should the licensed premises become unsafe or uninhabitable
  • the arrangements for the care of the primates during and following an emergency
  • an up-to-date list of emergency contact details that includes the fire service and police
• a written procedure for special circumstances, including contingencies in the event of:
  • the temporary isolation of any primate, including arrangements for making sure that the welfare of any primate that is being temporarily isolated is met during the period of its isolation
  • the death or escape of a primate
  • the care of the primate following the licence's revocation or the licence holder's death
• a written hygiene protocol covering:
  • cleaning and disinfecting
  • prevention and control of the spread of disease
  • a written transportation procedure covering the welfare of the primate while being transported
• the individual diet plans for each primate - this must be created based on guidance from a vet or primate dietary expert.