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Firearms And Explosives Licensing

The Firearms and Explosives Licensing Unit administers licenses for all current firearms and explosives within the West Mercia area, and provides an advisory service to the public, police officers and the shooting sports community.

The law relating to shotguns, firearms and explosives is complex, so we aim to provide everyone with clear and concise guidance through this website and our specially trained staff.

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Get an application form

Here you can find application forms for firearms and shotguns certificates and transfer of shotguns forms.

Download application forms

Remember To Use The Right Postage!

When you are posting your applications back to us, please make sure you use the correct postage.� Shotgun and/or firearm renewal application paperwork packages require a postage fee of at least� 61p (‘Large Letter” rate) to enable it to be successfully delivered to the Firearms Licensing Unit.

Any packages not bearing adequate postage fees are likely to be held at first local and then national mail sorting offices for up to six weeks, before being opened to ascertain the sender’s address and then returned to sender.� This is likely to mean that your application will be late in arriving to us.

If certificate renewal applications are subsequently received by the Firearms Licensing Unit after the expiry date of the current certificate, an additional fee of �10.00 will be charged.�

Additionally, any weapons in your possession at this time will be deemed to be held unlawfully.

To avoid possible prosecution if your certificate has expired, you must lodge your weapons with a Registered Firearm Dealer (RFD) or other authorised person, pending the renewal of your certificate. Failure to do so could lead to them being seized by the police.

So, to prevent this happening to you, please ensure that you affix the correct postage fee on all applications!

View the Post Office website for more details about correct postage rates.