A legal requirement for the keeping of one or more primates to be formally licensed has been introduced in England. The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 are now force with effect from 6 April 2026.

It is an offence for anyone to keep a primate without a relevant licence.

Any individual who keeps or is proposing to keep a primate must apply for a licence by 6th April 2026. Residents and organisations located with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham must make their application to this local authority. 

This includes but is not limited to, any species of monkey, ape, lemur, loris or tarsier, these include:

• marmosets
• tamarins
• squirrel monkeys
• spider monkeys
• capuchin monkeys
• lemurs
• lorisids (also known as bush babies)

Some primates may also need a Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) licence. To check if your primate is legally classed as a DWA, visit the DEFRA Schedule of Dangerous Wild Animals (Gov.uk)

Private primate keepers will be subject to a strict inspection regime to ensure welfare and licensing standards are upheld.

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.

Application Form

Please see the application form for a list of supporting documentation required.

Primate licence application form

Licence Conditions

Licence conditions are determined nationally.

• The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024
• Licence conditions for primate keepers (Schedule 1) - GOV.UK
• Callitrichids: licence conditions for keepers (Annex A) - GOV.UK

Failure to obtain a full and correct licence, or to comply with licence conditions could result in an unlimited fine, removal of the primate or imprisonment for a term of up to 6 months.

Contact

For fees or if you wish to make any enquiry in relation to the possible need to be licensed to keep a primate, before completing your application, please email licensing@lbbd.gov.uk