Keeping Primates
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Apply for a licence
Use this service to apply for a primate licence if you're a private keeper of one or more primates, or you're intending to become one.
The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 requires all primate keepers to keep primates in zoo level standards of animal welfare. Primate keepers will be subject to regular inspections to make sure these standards are upheld.
You must contact us before getting the primate. It's an offence for anyone to keep a primate without a valid licence.
You’ll need to tell us:
- the number and species of each primate you intend to keep
- the purebred status of the primate (for example, is it a hybrid, crossbreed or purebred)
- enclosure arrangements for the primate.
A licence to keep primates will last for three years.
We don't use a star rating system for primate licences.
Before you get started
You can apply for a licence to keep primates online. You’ll need:
- a description of the accommodation provided for the animals
- the name of your emergency key holder, if you have one
- your public liability insurance reference number, or the steps you’re taking to get it
- name and sex of each primate
- number and species of each primate
- date of birth of the primate (or nearest date if not known)
- the number of any microchip implanted in the primate
- emergency response arrangements
- isolation facilities
- standard operating procedures
- details of owners
- primate record
- prevention and control of infectious disease
- enclosure arrangements
- transportation of any primates
- breeding health and management plan provided by the veterinarian.
What happens next
Once you've submitted your application, you'll need to pay an administration fee of £282.
To pay your administration fee, you'll need to call our customer service team on 01795 417850.
Once you've paid
When your application has been received, we'll contact you to arrange an inspection of the premises by one of our licensing officers and an independent vet.
Once we've successfully completed our inspection, you'll receive an invoice for the second part of the licence fee, which is currently £528, together with the veterinary inspector's fee.
You can pay this invoice online.
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