Northern Ireland firearms licensing fees set to more than double

Consultation launched as fees set to rise

Northern Ireland’s firearm certificate holders face a proposed 153% average rise in licensing fees, with BASC and Countryside Alliance Ireland calling for an independent review of the branch responsible for administering the system and urging certificate holders to respond to the consultation before it closes on 29 May.

The Department of Justice launched its public consultation on 30 March, proposing to increase all firearms licensing fees across the board. For rifle owners, the most immediate impact would be felt in the cost of a firearm certificate, which would rise from £98 to £250, and a variation by the Chief Constable, up from £30 to £77. Fees have not changed since 2016.

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Cost recovery argument under scrutiny

The Department of Justice says current income covers only around 40% of what it costs the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to run the licensing service, leaving a shortfall of almost £2million in the last financial year. It argues that full cost recovery is necessary to safeguard the public, giving the PSNI scope to better resource its licensing teams and carry out thorough checks on the suitability of applicants.

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BASC and Countryside Alliance push back

BASC is strongly opposed. Director for Northern Ireland Tommy Mayne said the organisation would not accept any fee increase “without a full, transparent review of the necessary processes within firearms licensing”, adding that any additional income raised must be ringfenced for licensing rather than absorbed into the wider policing budget. 

Countryside Alliance Ireland has also made clear its stance, launching an e-lobby tool urging Northern Ireland’s 54,000 certificate holders to contact their MLAs and demand the Assembly block any increases until the Firearms and Explosives Branch (FEB) has been independently reviewed. 

Roger Seddon, shooting campaign manager at the Countryside Alliance, told Rifle Shooter the Department of Justice was attempting to paper over its own failures. “The Northern Irish Government is trying to plug a financial gap caused by inadequate policy and practice in PSNI’s firearms and explosives branch by unfairly delving into the pockets of rural people – people who rely on firearms for work, protection and community,” he said.

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Deficit and delays raise concerns

According to the consultation document, the FEB deficit stood at £267,000 in 2017-18. By 2025-26 it had reached £1,995,000, a sevenfold increase over eight years, during which the promised efficiencies of the online licensing system have not materialised and a backlog has built up leaving many applicants waiting 18 months or more. 

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Banded system changes proposed

The consultation also covers proposed changes to the banded system, which allows FAC holders to swap one rifle for another within calibre bands through a dealer, without making a formal variation application. The proposed additions include the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5×47 Lapua, .260 Remington and 7×57 Mauser to the large quarry band, the .17 Winchester Super Magnum to the medium quarry band, and the 9mm/.357 air rifle to the small quarry band. 

BASC has welcomed the principle of expanding the banded system – the proposal draws on recommendations the organisation submitted to the Justice Committee in 2020 – but Mr Mayne warned the current proposals had “cherrypicked” those recommendations and would not deliver the improvements originally envisaged.

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Deadline for responses approaches

The consultation closes on 29 May 2026. Responses can be submitted via the Northern Ireland Government Citizen Space website or by email to FEB@justice-ni.gov.uk. The Countryside Alliance Ireland e-lobby can be found at countryside-alliance.org.