Variation of a firearm certificate
After a firearms certificate has been granted, any variations to the firearms and ammunition currently authorised may, on the holder’s application, be made by the Chief Officer of police of the area in which the holder lives.
The same blue Form 101 as for the grant of a firearm certificate should be used. The certificate holder must submit their firearm certificate, along with their completed Form 101, and where appropriate the fee.
No new photographs or referees are required.
The appropriate fee is payable only when the variation application results in an increase in the number of firearms authorised by the certificate. However, this fee is waived when such an application is made at the same time as a renewal.
One for one variations
A variation is always necessary if a certificate holder wants to change one of their firearms, even if they seek to buy a one identical to the one they are disposing of.
Applications for “one for one” variations, including both same and different calibre weapons, should be made by the certificate holder submitting his firearm certificate together with a completed Form 101, direct to their Firearms Licensing Department.
These applications are processed free of charge, providing the police are told of the disposal transaction and the new request at the same time.
In the case of a change of authorisation which has not yet been taken up, this is not usually a problem. However, applicants sometimes request a free “one for one” variation for weapons they have disposed of some time ago.
These requests cannot be dealt with on a free “one for one” basis, as the weapon being replaced is no longer on the current certificate, resulting in an increase in the number of weapons presently held.
Further enquiries are not normally necessary for applications where good reason is unchanged or where agreed storage capacities are not exceeded.
However, if the application is for a change of use for a full-bore firearm, when the applicant’s shooting club only has facilities for small-bore shooting, then the circumstances will have to be re-examined. Similarly, if the agreed storage capacity is exceeded, due to an increase in the number of weapons held, then it will be necessary to re-inspect the security aspect.