As of the 6th April 2026 you must have a licence to keep a primate in England. The only exceptions to this rule are primates kept in zoological collections holding a zoo licence or primates kept in research facilities holding an ASPA licence.  

What does this mean? 

It is now illegal to keep non-human primates in England without a licence. The term “non-human primates” includes all primate species, including tamarins, marmosets, lemurs, capuchins and squirrel monkeys to name a few. This legislation only applies to England, however, and does not apply to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.  

If you keep a primate privately outside of a zoological collection or research institute, or if you have a collection which does not hold a zoo licence or an ASPA licence you must get a licence to keep them or you are committing a criminal offence, and the animal can be seized by the local authorities.  

How do you get a licence? 

To apply for a licence, you must contact the local authority who is responsible for the geographical area that your primate is kept in. You must be over the age of 18 and not have previously been disqualified from keeping primates.  

The application form must include the following details: 

  • Name and address of the applicant 
  • The species of non-human primate to be licensed. Note, this must include the full Latin/scientific name of the species to avoid any confusion  
  • The number of primates of each species on the application form to be kept under the licence. For example, if you have 7 primates in total and the species are squirrel monkeys and capuchins, it must specify how many are squirrel monkeys and how many are capuchins  
  • The name or ID and sex of all the primates you keep or plan to keep 
  • The primates’ dates of birth. If you don’t know for sure, then an estimated DOB is acceptable, but should be recorded as accurately as possible. 
  • The primates’ microchip numbers  
  • The address of the licence (the enclosure, house or premises where the primates are kept) 
  • The date which the licence needs to come into effect  

Note that licences can be granted for a maximum period of 3 years. If, however, you require the licence for a shorter period of time, then this that must be stated on the application form and a reason given for this  

The inspection 

Before a licence is granted, an inspection will be made of the premises and primates. A decision on licence outcomes is usually made within 10 weeks but this timeframe can change depending on inspection timings, for example, or if there is any additional information required. 

The inspection will be made by someone who is deemed suitably qualified by the local authority, examples included on the government website are: 

  • A veterinary surgeon registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons  
  • An experienced or trained primate or animal licensing officer  
  • An experienced keeper from a UK zoo, with relevant qualifications and competency 
  • A recognised primate expert  

All inspectors must have received training in the primate licensing process before completing an inspection. Local authorities are responsible for setting their own fees so please check with your local authority before making an application.  

You can read more about the licensing application process on the UK government website here. 

What conditions need to be met for a primate licence to be granted in England? 

The government website sets out a range of conditions which are guidance for local authorities considering granting and/or renewing primate licences or taking enforcement action.  

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When a primate licence is granted, specific conditions will be given with the individual licence that must be adhered to. The conditions set out are detailed and if you are planning on keeping these animals, we would strongly encourage you read through these on the government website fully here. 

Below is an example of some of the guidelines for licence conditions set out on UK government website  

  • The licence holder must ensure that a sufficient number of people are present on site daily to provide the level of care and management needed to meet the licence conditions 
  • At least one person must be in charge at all times and is responsible for ensuring the licence conditions are met 
  • Any person giving care or having responsibility for the primates must be competent to carry out those tasks (specific training, evidence of training, further qualifications and so on are likely to be needed) 
  • Each primate must be implanted with a microchip that meets specific regulations detailed on the government website. There is a maximum timeframe of 2 years from birth or taking possession of the primate for a microchip to be implanted. Consult with your local veterinarian for further details and to arrange for a primate to be microchipped as, unlike in other species, this must be done by a veterinary surgeon.  
  • Individual records must be kept for each primate which should include the following details: name, sex, microchip number, date of birth/approximate date of birth, species (Latin or scientific name), colour and markings, name and contact details of previous keeper (if applicable), date and cause of death (if applicable), if the primate is permanently transferred to another premises the name and contact details of the new keeper must be kept on its record  
  • Written records must also be kept on permanent display at the premises which show emergency information. At a minimum, this must include the name and contact information of the person who is responsible for the overall care and management of the primates, the name and contact details of the named veterinarian and any other veterinarian who should be contacted in the event of an emergency, and contact details of the local fire and police service 
  • Full records must be kept detailing all aspects of care and management, including but not limited to nutrition plans, veterinary care records and records of any injury/disease and disease control protocols, behavioural monitoring, isolation/quarantine procedures and records and reasons, emergency protocols, daily checks and monitoring protocols  
  • All records must be kept for a minimum of 6 years from the date the record was first created  
  • A written emergency plan must be in place and accessible for access in event of emergency, it must detail how the primate would be removed from the premises if the location becomes unsafe/uninhabitable and the exact evacuation procedure that would be followed, the care arrangements for primates during and following emergency, and an up-to-date list of emergency contacts  
  • Written protocols must also be in place covering the following: temporary isolation of a primate, the death/escape of a primate, the plan for care of primates following revocation of the licence or death of the licence holder  
  • An appropriate diet must be fed that is suitable for the species and tailored to their individual needs. Water must be available at all times. They must be given opportunity to feed and forage in a way that expresses natural behaviour and given food and water that is safe for them to consume. Specific details of how this condition needs to be achieved are set out on the government website, but in essence the diet needs to be specifically formulated and nutritionally appropriate for the species and their individual needs, and their must be an individually tailored diet plan maintained for each individual detailing the diet components, quantities, frequency of feeding and method of delivery of feed. The diet plan must be formed on the advice of an expert and reviewed every 12 months.  
  • The primates must be registered with a veterinary surgeon who will carry out frequent visits to assess their health and welfare, treat sick and injured primates, advise and supervise on all aspects of the care including disease control, contraception, vaccines etc. The veterinarian must also be able to advise and assist in the event of an emergency. 
  • Primates must be housed in suitable accommodation which meets their welfare needs – physically, psychosocially and behaviourally. Specific guidance on size and type of enclosure, including materials and enclosure furnishing, is available within the guidelines on the government website. Primates must remain within their enclosures at all times except in specified conditions, such as for veterinary treatment, which are listed in the guidelines.  

You can read more in-depth detail about the specific guidelines here. 

Summary: 

  • Primates kept in England must be kept with a licence  
  • This legislation only applies to England and does not apply to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland   
  • Keeping primates without a licence is a criminal offence and animals can be seized  
  • The local authority is responsible for assessing, granting and enforcing primate licences 
  • Primate licence application involves an inspection by a suitably qualified person before a licence is granted or refused  
  • Strict conditions must be met under a primate licence to ensure the health and wellbeing of the animals