The Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2026

S.I. 2026/1050 · Made 23 September 2026

ARMS AND AMMUNITION

Made

23rd September 2026

Coming into force

29th September 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 26A(1), 26B(1), 27(2), 28(2) and 53(1)(a) and (b) of the Firearms Act 1968^f1.

1Citation, commencement and extent
2Amendments to the Firearms Rules 1998
3Transitional arrangements
Signature
Schedule 1: Form of application for the grant or renewal of a firearm and/or shot gun certificate
Schedule 2: Firearm Certificate
Schedule 3: Shot Gun Certificate
Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and extent

(1)

These Rules may be cited as the Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2026 and shall come into force on 29th September 2026.

(2)

These Rules extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

2Amendments to the Firearms Rules 1998

(1)

The Firearms Rules 1998^f1 are amended as follows.

(2)

In rule 3 (firearm certificates), after paragraph 4(iv) insert—

(v)

the holder of the certificate must, without undue delay, inform the chief officer of police by whom the certificate was granted, if they are diagnosed as suffering from, or are treated for a relevant medical condition^f2, or if their symptoms relating to an existing relevant medical condition which they have previously disclosed, have worsened since the certificate was granted;

(vi)

the holder of the certificate must, without undue delay, inform the chief officer of police by whom the certificate was granted, if they consult any medical practitioner who is not their General Practitioner or a General Practitioner from the same practice, regarding a relevant medical condition, and they must provide contact details of the medical practitioner and details of the treatment received.

(3)

In rule 5 (shot gun certificates), after paragraph 4(iv) insert—

(v)

the holder of the certificate must, without undue delay, inform the chief officer of police by whom the certificate was granted, if they are diagnosed as suffering from, or are treated for a relevant medical condition, or if their symptoms relating to an existing relevant medical condition which they have previously disclosed, have worsened since the certificate was granted;

(vi)

the holder of the certificate must, without undue delay, inform the chief officer of police by whom the certificate was granted, if they consult any medical practitioner who is not their General Practitioner or a General Practitioner from the same practice, regarding a relevant medical condition, and they must provide contact details of the medical practitioner and details of the treatment received.

(4)

In Schedule 1 (form of application for firearm and shot gun certificates, and firearm certificate)—

(a)

for the form in Part I (form of application for the grant or renewal of a firearm and/or shot gun certificate) substitute the form in Schedule 1 to these Rules (form of application for the grant or renewal of a firearm and/or shot gun certificate);

(b)

for the form in Part II (firearm certificate) substitute the form in Schedule 2 to these Rules (firearm certificate).

(5)

In Schedule 2 (shot gun certificate), for the form in Part II (shot gun certificate) substitute the form in Schedule 3 to these Rules (shot gun certificate).

3Transitional arrangements

An application for the grant or renewal of a firearm certificate or a shot gun certificate may continue to be made using the application form which is replaced by rule 2(4)(a) if it is received on or before 29th October 2026 by the chief officer of police for the area in which the applicant resides.

Signature

Sarah Jones

Minister of State

23rd September 2026

Home Office

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules make amendments to the Firearms Rules 1998 (S.I. 1998/1941) (“the 1998 Rules”).

Rule 2(2) amends Rule 3 of the 1998 Rules to require as a condition of a firearm certificate that the applicant must notify the police if they are diagnosed with or treated for a relevant medical condition, or if their existing symptoms relating to a previously disclosed relevant medical condition have worsened since their certificate was granted. The applicant must also notify the police if they consult any medical practitioner other than their General Practitioner or a General Practitioner from the same practice, regarding a relevant medical condition and provide contact details for the medical practitioner and of the treatment received.

Rule 2(3) amends Rule 5 of the 1998 Rules to require as a condition of a shot gun certificate that the applicant must notify the police if they are diagnosed with or treated for a relevant medical condition, or if their existing symptoms relating to a previously disclosed relevant medical condition have worsened since their certificate was granted. The applicant must also notify the police if they consult any medical practitioner other than their General Practitioner or a General Practitioner from the same practice, regarding a relevant medical condition and provide contact details for the medical practitioner and of the treatment received.

Rule 2 (4)(a) replaces the existing application form for a grant or renewal of a firearm and/or shot gun certificate with the application form in Schedule 1.

Rule 2 (4)(b) replaces the existing firearm certificate with the certificate in Schedule 2.

Rule 2 (5) replaces the existing shot gun certificate with the certificate in Schedule 3.

Rule 3 makes provision to enable chief officers of police to process applications which are made using the form to be replaced by Schedule 1 to this Order, provided that the application concerned is received on or before 29th October 2026.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.