Apply for an acupuncture, tattooing, piercing and electrolysis licence

You must apply for a licence if you want to perform acupuncture, skin piercing, electrolysis, tattoos or semi-permanent skin colouring as a business.

The aim of licensing is to protect the public from the transmission of blood-borne viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other infections.

This licence includes:

tattooing
semi-permanent skin colouring
cosmetic piercing
electrolysis
acupuncture

Fees

You must register both yourself and your premises. A separate fee of £140.10 is required for each licence.

The licences do not have to be renewed.

How to apply

Step 1: Download a licence registration form.

Step 2: Send the completed form by email to foodandhealth@southglos.gov.uk or post to: Environmental Health, South Gloucestershire Council, PO Box 1954, Bristol BS37 0DD.

Step 3: Make your payment online by selecting the other payments option. From the dropdown menu, choose food health and safety and then, dependent on your application, acupuncture tattoo piercing electrolysis premises, or personal.

Menu displays four options including acupuncture tattoo piercing electrolysis for premises and personal applications.

You can also pay by calling 01454 868001 and quoting your name, the business name and address.

The fee must be paid before the inspection of your business premises takes place.

Step 4: When you have received your licence, you must display this with a copy of the relevant byelaws in your premises.

Requirements

To continue to operate you must follow the requirements of our byelaws:

acupuncture
cosmetic piercing
dry needling
electrolysis
ear piercing
semi-permanent skin colouring (including microblading)
tattooing

Guidance on infection prevention

Ear and cosmetic piercing businesses can find specific guidance on minimising the risk of perichondritis (an infection of the skin and tissue caused by bacteria) on GOV.UK.