Primate Licensing

Primate Licensing

Licence summary

There are now strict rules to ensure that only those able to provide zoo-level welfare standards will be able to keep primates.

From 6 April 2026, anyone other than licensed zoos and certain medical research facilities keeping primates must have a primate keeper licence. Primates include:

• Marmosets

• Tamarins

• Squirrel Monkeys

• Spider Monkeys

• Capuchin Monkeys

• Lemurs

• Lorisids (also known as bush babies)

From April 2026, all private primate keepers and people proposing to keep a primate will be required to hold a licence. Licences will be valid for a maximum of three years, with further assessment to ensure continued compliance on renewal.

From April 2026, keeping a primate without a primate keeper licence will be a criminal offence. A conviction for unlicensed keeping of a primate carries a penalty of imprisonment for a term of up to six months, an unlimited fine, or both.

View a summary of regulations relating to this licence. 

How to Apply

Supporting Documentation

The regulations require the following paperwork to be kept as part of the licence.

Your policies and procedures should provide a snapshot of your business and detail how you meet all of the licence conditions.

• 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 or, if not known, its approximate date of birth;

  • its species;

  • its colour and markings;

  • the name and contact details of its previous keeper (where applicable);

  • the date and cause of its death (where applicable); and

  • 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 to which 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; and

  • 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 ensuring that the welfare needs of any primate that is being temporarily isolated are met during the period of its isolation.

  • the death or escape of a primate; and

  • the care of the primates following the revocation of the licence or the death of the licence holder.

• The individual diet plans for each primate.

  • This must be created based on guidance from a vet or primate dietary expert.

• 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 application

You can complete the application via our online portal. During this time, you can upload relevant documents and pay the fee.

Once we have received a valid application, the team will arrange the inspection of the premises. The inspection will be carried out by an authorised officer of the Council and our appointed vet

Applications will only be placed on hold for a maximum of eight weeks before being cancelled.

Fees

Decision

The inspection team will produce a report of its findings. The report will be used to decide whether to grant or refuse a licence and will advise you in writing of the decision. We will aim to complete this within 6 weeks of the inspection.

Following the inspection, if we are satisfied that the licence conditions are likely to be met, the application will be granted. If we are not satisfied, then the application must be refused.

Renewals

You need to renew a minimum of 10 weeks before the expiry date.

Please apply to renew using our online portal and upload the relevant documents.

A copy of the current public liability insurance certificate and any procedures which have been updated should be attached to the renewal application. 

How long do licences last?

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