Apply for or manage a section 5, shooting club or museum licence

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

When you apply

Applications must include a cover letter and evidence of trade in order for an initial assessment to take place, without this the application may be rejected.

Cover letter to include the requirement for a section 5 authority (maximum 2 pages). Application must include:

• business name
• authority holder(s) name and personal details
• companies house number (if applicable)

Documents to show evidence of your business need for a section 5 authority will need to cover every item or quantities requested.

Examples of documents required:

• valid registered firearms dealer (RFD) (if applicable)
• copy of your current authority (renewal only)
• current or future contracts / expressions of interest
• invoices from the last 6 months (renewal only)
• addresses of the business premises where the prohibited items will be stored
• the types and quantities of prohibited items you want the authority to cover

New applicants / existing licensees with a new work stream

These applications must also include a business plan (maximum 2 pages) that sets out the company background and the requirement for a section 5 authority and evidence of prospective trade.

For example:

• current or future contracts
• invoices from the last 6 months
• letters of sponsorship from the past 6 months
• a valid import licence, if applicable
• details of third part storage, if applicable
• addresses of the business premises where the prohibited items will be stored
• the types and quantities of prohibited items you want the authority to cover
• the personal details of one or 2 named authority holders:
  • home address
  • date and place of birth
  • nationality
• contact details, including email of main contact if this is not the authority holder

Carriers airlines and ground handlers

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)
• evidence that your proposed airline or ground handler is in possession of a valid section 5 authority.

For more information, see chapter 3 of the guide on Firearms Licensing Law.

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 will 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:

For more information on the event, visit the DSEI website.

England and Wales

Apply for a section 5 authority

Scotland

Apply for a section 5 authority

Shooting clubs

England and Wales

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

We will review your application and pass it to the relevant police force, who will make necessary enquiries before sending the application to us for consideration.

If you do not give us enough information and supporting evidence your application is likely to be rejected as invalid and you will need to submit it again.

Before you apply, make sure you meet the criteria in the guidance for rifle and muzzle loading pistol clubs.

Apply for shooting club approval

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:

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 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:

• 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.

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 1617 of the guide on Firearms Licensing Law.

Apply for a museum firearms licence

If your firearms application is approved

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

If you cancel your application

We consider how much to charge for cancellations case by case. You may be charged administration, travel or accommodation costs if you cancel your application:

• following a police inspection
• after you receive an outcome

We may also ask for our administrative costs to be paid within 10 working days.

Contact the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit (DFLU)

Firearms enquiries

Email public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk for queries about UK firearms legislation and other firearms questions.

Firearms applications

For application queries, email dflu.firearmslicensing@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Fees

For queries about firearms licensing fees, invoices and billing, email dflu.fees@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Customer complaints

Email dflu.complaints@homeoffice.gov.uk 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 0300 105 0248.