How long will it take you to get your firearms licence?
Whether you’re renewing or applying for a shotgun or firearms licence, the time it takes will depend on where you live.
Fast turnaround
If you live in Bedfordshire or Herfordshire then you’re probably in luck. The quoted average turnaround time is 38.5 days for Bedfordshire and 39.5 days for Hertfordshire.
But if you live in Northumbria, the quoted average turnaround time is a whopping 153 days and Cumbria is even more at 178 days. Of course, Covid caused a huge backlog.
Speeding things up
Is there anything you can do to speed up getting a renewal of your firearms licence or getting your first one?
It’s always worth being a member of a shooting organisation like BASC or the National Gamekeepers Organisation as you will get shooting insurance and support. The BASC firearms team is extremely helpful with advising on delays in grants and renewals of firearm and shotgun certificates.
If the delay is causing you anxiety and you’re worried about your legal status and being in possession of a firearm without a valid certificate in force, remember that you can contact your local firearms licensing manager and request a Section 7 temporary permit.
BASC advises applicants to: “Keep a log of all contact with the licensing authority and be persistent about your shotgun licence waiting time. If you are a BASC member and having difficulties then contact the BASC firearms team.”
Don’t delay
Key advice here would be not to wait until the last minute to renew your firearms licence – you should allow at least 12 weeks to do so and even longer if you’re a first timer. (Something to remember if you’re planning on buying a first gun at auction.)
Many a shooter has had to hang up his or her guns for a season because they neglected to renew a shotgun or firearms certificate. Don’t join them.