Primate licensing
From 6 April 2026, you must have a licence to keep a primate.
The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences)(England)Regulations 2024 (opens new window) came into force on 6 April 2025. The legislation brings in a licensing scheme, setting strict rules to make sure only private keepers who can provide zoo-level welfare standards can keep primates.
What is a primate?
A primate is an animal of any species other than human beings that belong to the primate order of mammals. This includes but is not limited to, any species of monkey, ape, lemur, loris or tarsier.
Primate licensing
Existing private primate keepers can apply for a primate licence from April 2025. From 6 April 2026, all private primate keepers and people proposing to keep a primate will be required to hold a licence, valid for a maximum of 3 years, and undergo reassessment to renew their permission to keep their animals.
The licence is subject to conditions set out in Schedule 1 (opens new window) of the act.
A person who keeps a primate in England without the required licence will be committing an offence under Section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and will be liable on conviction to imprisonment for up to 6 months, a fine, or both.
For further information and to obtain an application form please contact [email protected].
