Skin piercing and tattooing

If you are offering skin piercing or tattooing services, you need to register yourself and your premises. This applies if you offer:

• acupuncture
• semi-permanent skin colouring
• tattooing
• cosmetic piercing, including ear piercing
• electrolysis

You can read tattooing and body piercing guidance on GOV.UK.

Register yourself

To register yourself, you will need to:

• be a registered practitioner
• complete the register a person form
• upload your completed application form and pay the £65 fee

Register a premises

To register a premises, you will need to:

• complete the register a premises form
• upload your completed application form and pay the £112 fee

What happens next

Once we receive your application, we will:

• send you a certificate of registration within 14 days
• inspect your premises once you have received your certificate, to confirm you are complying with our bylaws and health and safety legislation

You do not need to renew your licence each year. It will be valid unless you surrender it or we revoke it.

You can also view a list of existing licensed premises on our piercing premises register.