Primate Licence

If you own or plan to own a primate, you must obtain a licence from the council. This is a requirement under The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024

These regulations bring in strict rules ensuring that only private keepers who can provide high welfare standards will be able to keep primates.

All applicants must meet all the conditions Licence conditions for primate keepers (Schedule 1) - GOV.UK

Any individual who keeps or is proposing to keep a primate must apply to their local authority for a licence by 6th April 2026. This includes but is not limited to, any species of monkey, ape, lemur, loris or tarsier.

Private primate keepers will be subject to a strict inspection regime to ensure welfare and licensing standards are upheld. From 6 April 2026 it will be an offence for anyone to keep a primate without a relevant licence. Failure to comply with the licence conditions could result in an unlimited fine, removal of the primate(s) or imprisonment for a term of up to 6 months.

The licence is valid for 3 years.

Exemptions 

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

If a primate you keep is listed in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, you will need to obtain a dangerous and wild animal licence and a primate licence.

Apply for a licence 

To apply for a primate licence to you must contact your local council. Find your local council - GOV.UK

Under contract, the City of London animal welfare services team carry out inspections on behalf of local authorities across London and the Home Counties.

The regulations require the following paperwork to be kept as part of the licence which you should submit 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.