Pet owners are reminded of an important legal change coming in from April 2026. You may have forgotten about the important change in the rules as the legislation was actually made law back in 2024.

But the new rules will come into force from April 2026. From this date, anyone who keeps a non-human primate, such as a marmoset or a tamarin, will have to hold a primate licence.

Previous Government guidance explains: “Existing and prospective keepers of primates will be required to be licensed by the local authority for the area in which the primate is or is proposed to be kept. Only a person (and not an organisation) can keep a primate under this primate licence.”

The local authority responsible for issuing animal licences is the local council for your area, such as the district or borough council. You can find out who your local authority is using this tool on the Government website.

The licence will last for up to three years and you will need to apply for another one before it runs out. If you are found keeping a primate without a licence, you could be fined or be sentenced to six months in prison.

What does a primate licence entail?

To apply for a licence, you must be aged 18 or over and not be disqualified from keeping primates. Your application must provide your name and address and these details:

• The species of primate, and the number of primates of each species to be kept under the licence
• The premises where the primates are to be kept
• The date from which you propose that the licence should have effect
• If you are requesting a licence for a period of less than three years, the date on which you want it to expire.

For each primate you keep, you also have to provide these details in your application:

• Its name and sex
• Its species
• Its date of birth or, if not known, its approximate date of birth
• The number of any microchip implanted in the primate.

Your approved licence will specify where the primates are to be kept, their species and the number of each species, the period of the licence and within what timeframe you need to apply to renew your licence.

If you fail to meet a condition of your licence, you could be fined.