Licences and permits

The permissions a business needs before it can trade, each one tied to the law that creates it and to the body that issues it. We point at GOV.UK for fees and forms, and never copy them.

19 of 426 licences in Northern Ireland for Firearms, explosives and fireworks

Choose from all 48 activities

C

Certificate of approval for GB air gun holders (Northern Ireland)

You need police approval if you want to possess an air gun in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

E

European firearms pass (Northern Ireland)

You need a European firearms pass from the PSNI to travel with listed firearms through European countries

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

Explosives in harbours licence (Northern Ireland)

You must have a licence for explosives in harbours in Northern Ireland

Your council · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

Explosives manufacturing licence (Northern Ireland)

You need a licence to manufacture explosives, including fireworks, in Northern Ireland

Your council · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

F

Firearm certificate (Northern Ireland)

You need a firearm certificate from the PSNI to own or possess firearms or ammunition in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

Firearms club authorisation (Northern Ireland)

You must be authorised by the police to operate a firearms club in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

Firearms dealer occasional permit (Northern Ireland)

You need an occasional permit from the police if you are a certified firearms dealer wanting to trade outside your registered premises

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

Firearms dealer’s certificate (Northern Ireland)

You need a certificate from the police to operate as a firearms dealer in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

Fireworks manufacture and storage (Northern Ireland)

You need a licence to manufacture and store fireworks in Northern Ireland

Your council · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

Fireworks manufacture, storage and sales licences

You need specific licences to manufacture fireworks, store fireworks, and sell fireworks all year round (except when selling at specific times set out below).

Your council · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

Fireworks retailer registration (Northern Ireland)

You need to register with the Department of Justice to sell fireworks in Northern Ireland

Your council · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

M

Move firearms or signalling apparatus to or from a ship, aircraft or aerodrome (Northern Ireland)

You need permission from the police to move firearms to or from a ship, or signalling apparatus, to or from an aircraft or aerodrome …

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks · Marine and marine transport · Transport and logistics, including aviation

Museum firearms licence (Northern Ireland)

You need a licence to possess firearms, weapons and ammunition for museum purposes in Northern Ireland

Your council · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

O

Occasional clay pigeon shoot notification (Northern Ireland)

You need permission from the police to hold an occasional clay pigeon shoot in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Arts and recreation · Firearms, explosives and fireworks · Sports

One-on one-off firearm transaction (Northern Ireland)

You must notify the police of any one-on/one-off firearms transactions in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

P

Purchase or acquire explosives for purposes other than blasting (Northern Ireland)

You need police permission to purchase or acquire explosives for purposes other than blasting

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

R

You must register with the police if you manufacture, sell or transfer shotguns, firearms or ammunition or are involved in the repairing, testing or …

Home Office · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks · Security

S

Sell or dispose of a firearm (Northern Ireland)

You must notify the police of the sale or disposal of a firearm to anyone in the UK who is not a firearms dealer

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

V

Visitor’s firearm permit (Northern Ireland)

You need a visitor's permit from the police to possess a firearm or ammunition as a non-resident in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Executive · Northern Ireland

Firearms, explosives and fireworks

We have not yet mapped an enabling instrument for 8 licences on this list. That is a gap in our graph, not a statement about the law, and those pages say so rather than guessing.

Checking approvals more broadly?

A licence is one of several things you may need before your first day of trading. The pre-trading quick check walks the registrations, insurances and approvals alongside it.

Run the pre-trading quick check

Not sure which of these apply to you?

Our guides on finding a licence and dealing with your local council walk through the questions that decide it.

Find a licence