You must register any business that carries out any of the following skin-piercing activities:
- Tattooing
- Acupuncture
- Semipermanent skin colouring, including make-up, micropigmentation, dermapigmentation, microblading, temporary tattooing, cosmetic tattooing
- Cosmetic piercing, including ear piercing and body piercing
- Electrolysis
Any apprentices that work with you must register too, and if you work from business premises you must also register that.
When you have registered, we will issue you a certificate of registration.
We recommend that your read our skin-piercing guidance [PDF, 0.2MB] and the skin-piercing byelaws [PDF, 0.2MB] before you register.
Register
To register, download the form from the GOV.UK website:
You must provide specific information, including details of your premises. You must also declare any previous convictions for practising without a licence in this field.
Tacit approval does not apply – contact us if you have not heard from us within 40 days.
You must also tell us about any change to your business:
Fees
- Premises registration: £175
- Personal (practitioner) registration: £63.50
Inspection and enforcement
Tattooists are inspected annually by an enforcement officer.
Practitioners offering cosmetic piercing, acupuncture and electrolysis will be inspected by an enforcement officer on a risk-based schedule.
During the inspection the inspecting officer will look at the following areas:
- Suitability of fixtures and fittings
- Storage and sterilisation of equipment/facilities
- Cleanliness and washing facilities
- Record keeping
- Any other relevant health and safety issues
