Form

Protected species licence for science, education or conservation (A29)

Apply for a licence to kill, take, disturb or possess a protected species for survey, research or conservation work.

From:
Natural England
Published
6 October 2014
Last updated
26 September 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Licence application form A29

PDF, 648 KB, 18 pages

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Report actions taken under this licence (LR29)

PDF, 328 KB, 6 pages

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Details

This licence allows you to kill, take, disturb or possess a protected species when you carry out:

  • surveys
  • research for scientific or educational purposes
  • work to conserve the species you are applying for

Protected species are:

For a licence to survey bats or badgers you must use a different application form.

Apply for an A29 licence

Complete these forms:

  • application form A29
  • references - where applicable

Before you fill in these forms, you need to download and save them to your computer. Send your forms to Natural England using the details on the application forms.

You must also include a project plan that is titled, dated and gives details of:

  • the objectives of the project
  • why the work is necessary
  • methods you will use
  • timing of proposed activities
  • any alternative methods you’ve considered
  • a plan or map to show the project location
  • biosecurity measures
  • how negative impacts on species will be avoided or minimised
  • duration of the project and the reason for this
  • how the data obtained will be used and shared.

When you need to pay

You may need to pay for a new A29 licence, or to make changes to an existing licence. Natural England will assess your A29 form and tell you:

  • if you need to pay
  • how much you’ll pay

You will need to pay for a licence if the main aim of the project is:

  • surveys for construction or development
  • filming or photography

You will not need to pay for a licence if the main aim of the project is:

  • science, research or education relating to a protected species or habitat
  • conservation of a protected species or habitat

How to pay

Natural England will send you an invoice when it approves your application.

You can pay by:

  • electronic bank transfer
  • debit or credit card by telephone - except American Express
  • cheque

Your invoice will give payment method details.

VAT does not apply to charges for wildlife licences.

You need to include your invoice number with your payment.

Natural England accepts purchase orders. If you want Natural England to add a purchase number to your invoice, you must include it in the invoice details in your A29 form.

Forms for specific species

There are separate forms for:

Give references

You need to give references when you apply for this licence if you:

  • have not held a licence for the species or a similar species for the last 3 years
  • want to use methods that you have not previously had a licence for

How to request a change to your existing A29 licence

Use the report form LR29 on this page to request an amendment to your A29 licence. You need to include an updated project plan with a relevant plan or map.

You must quote the licence reference number.

How to report your actions

You must report any actions you took using this licence on the report form (LR29) on this page.

You must report within 2 weeks of your licence expiring, even if you’ve taken no action.

Send your completed form by post or email to Natural England using the details on the form.

If you’re using the report form to renew your licence, you must include an updated project plan and map.

Published 6 October 2014
Last updated 26 September 2023 + show all updates

  1. Form LR29 has been updated and the £61 compliance fee for renewals or modifications has been removed.

  2. Removed the separate charge form. You should enter charge screening information into section 14 of the A29 form.

  3. Link changed to direct applicants to the new water vole mitigation licence information. Water vole content removed from A29 charge form.

  4. Added link to 'Beavers: licence to capture, transport and re-release beavers or modify or remove beaver dams, burrows and lodges (CL50)' in the section ‘Forms for specific species’.

  5. We've replaced the licence application form (A29) and the report form (LR29).

  6. The instruction 'you must not use traps with a spring-loaded door' has been removed from the water vole method statement template.

  7. Applications for, requests for changes to, or renewals of, the A29 licence need an updated project plan and plan or map. Replaced report form with updated version.

  8. Updated and replaced water vole method statement with an accessible template.

  9. For a water vole licence, you must show in your method statement, that there is no reasonable alternative to trapping and moving them off site.

  10. From 28 September 2020 you may need to pay for an A29 licence. Added A29 charge screening form and updated A29 licence application form.

  11. Separated licence A29 and A30. You can find A30 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protected-species-licence-for-survey-research-or-conservation-work-or-to-prevent-damage-to-livestock-a30

  12. Added report forms and replaced application forms with revised, interactive PDF versions.

  13. First published.

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