Licensing application forms
We have many forms because information required for different types of licence varies considerably in the amount of detail required and the nature of evidence needed in support of the application.
- Licences
- Application forms
- Which application form do I need?
- General licences
- Class licences
- Helpful hints on obtaining licences
- Licensing statistics
- Licensing in the marine environment
Related
- European protected species licensing
See our licences page for summary information on: Who needs a licence; what is needed to get one, and how long it takes.
Natural England has introduced a new chargeable Pre-submission Screening Service offering an enhanced level of advice for European Protected Species Mitigation licensing.
All other advice and guidance in relation to species licensing and licences are presently provided free of charge.
To help you choose the right form, please see our guidance on which application form you may need or contact us for advice.
Complete the form and send it to us at the address given on the form. Microsoft Word format application forms can be completed electronically, saved to your computer and e-mailed as an attachment, you may find our compression guidance: (1.62mb)
useful. Some applications can be completed online. Alternatively, you can ask us to send you a paper copy of the form and return it to us by post.
Most licences are issued with a report form, which must be filled in and returned once the licensed action has been completed, where a separate report is required, they can be downloaded from the table below. These can be completed electronically and e-mailed as an attachment. These forms can often be used to request a renewal of a licence.
- Animals, survey work e.g. great crested newts, dormice, native crayfish
- Animals, scientific/conservation projects e.g. great crested newts, dormice, crayfish, water voles
- Badgers
- Bats
- Birds, fish-eating - damage to inland fisheries e.g. cormorants
- Birds - with special protection
- Birds - without special protection
- Deer
- Dormice
- European protected species
- Great crested newts
- Mammals - damage, public health and safety
- Mink, coypu or grey squirrels, Keeping non-indigenous mammals
- Non-native species, Release of
- Plants, all protected species
- Rabbits
- Sale, exhibition & possession of birds, animals or eggs
- Seals
Badgers
European protected species (includes all bats, great crested newts)
Protected animals (not birds) for science, education or conservation
Protected plants for science, education or conservation
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
Plant - any on Schedule 8 of WCA 1981 or Schedule 4 of Conservation of Habitats and Species Regs. 2010 in relation to science, education or conservation: WML-A31: (302kb) (e.g. collection of protected plant samples for genetics study)
Template for References: (74kb) | Schedule 8 Species List | WML-LR31: (106kb) |
Protected birds - Schedule 1
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule 1 bird - disturbance for public health and safety: WML-A08: (325kb) (e.g. Peregrine nesting on electricity pylon) | Schedule 1 Species List | |
| Schedule 1 bird - disturbance in respect of science, research or conservation: WML-A27: (164kb) or ONLINE (e.g. Research project on kingfisher nesting behaviour)
Template for References: (74kb) | Schedule 1 Species List Guidance on references for applicants: (47kb) | Report: (116kb) |
| Schedule 1 bird - disturbance for photography WML-A28: (181kb) or ONLINE (e.g. Photography of barn owls)Template for References: (74kb) | Schedule 1 Species List Guidance on references for applicants: (47kb) | Report: (116kb) |
Other birds - without special protection
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| General birds - birds or their eggs in relation to damage to crops, to preserve public health or safety, to preserve air safety including prohibited methods (mist netting, carbon dioxide or stupefying): WML-A08: (325kb) (e.g. greylag geese fouling recreation area)
Please note customers who have previously held a licence for this purpose can apply to renew it on the report form | Report/renewal: (233kb) | |
| General birds - birds or their eggs in relation to science, education, research or conservation: WML-A33: (147kb) or ONLINE (e.g. Study of robin nesting behaviour)
Template for References: (74kb) | Guidance on references for applicants: (47kb) | WML-LR33: (105kb) ONLINE |
| Gulls in relation to conservation: WML-A36: (172kb) (e.g. control of Herring gulls to conserve other wild birds) | ||
| Falconry: WML-A41: (189kb) (e.g. Falcon taking quarry birds) | WML-LR41: (231kb) |
Fish-eating birds - damage to inland fisheries
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Cormorants, herons, goosanders and mergansers in relation to preventing serious damage to fisheries - new applications: WML-A06: (379kb) | ||
| Cormorants only - Renewal and report form in relation to damage to fisheries. Only for use by customers who have previously held a license for this purpose.
New applicants should use the form above | WML-LR06: (259kb) |
Fish-eating mammals - damage to inland fisheries
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Fish eating mammals in relation to preventing serious damage to fisheries: WML-A06: (379kb) Note the fish eating birds form should currently be used for all mammal species including otter, a mammal form will be developed in the future. |
Mammals - damage, public health and safety
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| General mammals - in relation to damage, public health and safety: WML-A05: (155kb) |
Sale and exhibition and possession
Release of non-native species
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Release of non native species and those listed under Schedule 9: WML-A03: (210kb) - (e.g. release of rehabilitated munjac) | Schedule 9 Species List |
Keeping non-indigenous mammals - (mink, coypu or grey squirrels)
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Mink, grey squirrel and coypu - to keep for exhibition, science and education: WML-A04: (131kb) (e.g. wildlife collection to open to the public)
NB there is a charge for the coypu licences | WML-LR04: (203kb) |
Seals
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Seals all purposes: WML-A17: (164kb) (e.g. seal damage to fisheries) Natural England only issues seal licences for rivers. All other applications must be made to the Marine Management Organisation |
Deer
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Deer - for science, education and for relocation: WML-A32: (173kb) (e.g. Trapping and radiocollaring deer for behavioural study)
Template for References: (74kb) | Guidance on references for applicants: (47kb) | Report: (105kb) |
| Deer - for shooting deer during the close season or at night for certain, specified purposes: WML-A16: (264kb) (e.g. health and safety issue) | Further information on licensing under the Deer Act 1991 (as amended) |
Rabbits- complaints regarding damage
| Application form | Guidance | Report/Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbits - complaint form: WML-A02: (117kb) (e.g. exceptional case of rabbit damage of national significance) | Obligations under the Pests Act 1954 and Agriculture Act 1947: WML-G22 |
