Compiled by BeautyTherapistForms from the sources listed below, checked on 5 November 2026. We sell the templates linked on this page.
Do you need a licence for beauty treatments in the UK? Council licensing by nation (2026)
There is no single UK beauty licence. In many London boroughs you need a special treatment licence for treatments such as massage, manicure and electrical treatments. Elsewhere, councils license or register piercing, electrolysis, tattooing, semi-permanent make-up and acupuncture, and Wales has a national scheme. England's licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures is not yet in force.
Is there a national licence for beauty therapists?
No. Licensing is done by local councils under different laws in each part of the UK, and it attaches to particular treatments and premises, not to the job title. The National Careers Service lists no compulsory national registration for beauty therapists.
That means two therapists offering the same menu can need different licences depending on where they work. Always ask your own council's licensing or environmental health team, and get the answer in writing.
Licensing rules by UK nation
This table summarises what applies on 5 November 2026. Fees are set locally, so the examples show the range rather than what you will pay.
| Area | What needs a licence or registration | Law | Example fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| London boroughs | Special treatment licence for premises offering treatments such as massage, manicure and pedicure, electrical treatments including electrolysis, light treatments, tattooing and cosmetic piercing | London Local Authorities Act 1991 | Waltham Forest: £590 for up to two treatments, £500 manicure only, £285 ear piercing only |
| England outside London | Registration of the person and premises for acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis, where the council has adopted the powers | Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, sections 13 to 17 | Set by each council |
| Wales | Special Procedures Licence for the practitioner and Approved Premises Certificate for acupuncture, body piercing including ears, electrolysis and tattooing including semi-permanent make-up | Public Health (Wales) Act 2017, Part 4, in force since 29 November 2024 | Set by each council |
| Scotland | Skin piercing and tattooing licence, covering cosmetic body piercing, electrolysis, acupuncture and tattooing including micropigmentation | Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing Order 2006 | Set by each council |
| Northern Ireland | Registration of the person and premises for tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing, electrolysis and acupuncture | Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 | One-off fee set by the council, for example £57 in Mid Ulster from 1 April 2026 |
London: special treatment licences
London boroughs license the premises, not the therapist, and the licence names the categories of treatment allowed at that address. Waltham Forest says this applies to commercial and private addresses alike, so treating clients in your own home can need a licence. Wandsworth says you do not need one if you only treat clients in their own homes, and its licences last one year.
Waltham Forest's fees from 1 February 2026 start at £590 for up to two treatments, with £152 for each additional treatment, up to £840, and £570 per laser or IPL machine. Boroughs publish their own exemption lists, so check your borough's page before you apply.
Piercing, electrolysis and semi-permanent make-up outside London
In England outside London, the 1982 Act lets councils require registration for acupuncture and for businesses offering tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis. Both you and your premises are registered, and you must display the certificate and any byelaws. Carrying on without registration where it is required is an offence carrying a fine of up to level 3 on the standard scale.
The Act does not list treatments such as waxing, facials or nails, but councils still regulate health and safety at premises, so tell them what you offer. If you do microblading or ear piercing, read our consent guide as well.
Wales and Scotland have gone further
Since 29 November 2024, anyone in Wales who performs acupuncture, body piercing, electrolysis or tattooing, including semi-permanent make-up and microblading, needs a personal Special Procedures Licence, and the premises or vehicle needs an Approved Premises Certificate. Applicants need a regulated Level 2 Award in Infection Prevention and Control for Special Procedures.
Scotland licenses skin piercing and tattooing under a 2006 order. It has also legislated for lower-risk non-surgical procedures that pierce or penetrate the skin, such as microneedling, chemical peels, non-ablative laser and radio frequency, with licences required from 6 September 2027.
England's non-surgical cosmetic licensing scheme: where it stands
The Health and Care Act 2022 gave the government power to license non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England. In its August 2025 consultation response, the government said licences for lower-risk procedures would be issued by local authorities, with no start date set.
On 21 October 2026 the government opened a consultation on restricting high-risk procedures, such as deep chemical peels, vampire facials, dermal micro-coring and some laser procedures, to doctors, dentists and some prescribing nurses, midwives and pharmacists. It closes on 13 January 2027. Separately, it has been a criminal offence since 1 October 2021 to give Botox or fillers to anyone under 18 in England.
Get the free Treatment Licence Check Record: 16 questions and a signed declaration, emailed to you as a print-ready form.
Free template
Get the print-ready Treatment Licence Check Record
A print-ready record for checking each treatment on your menu with your council: what you asked, what they said, and your licence or registration details. Free, and yours to keep.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to do nails or waxing at home?
Outside London, nails and waxing are not covered by the main registration laws, but ask your council. In many London boroughs, manicure and pedicure need a special treatment licence, and Waltham Forest applies this to private addresses too.
Do I need a licence for ear piercing?
Usually yes. Ear piercing counts as cosmetic piercing where councils register it in England and Northern Ireland, Wales names it in its special procedures scheme, and London boroughs such as Waltham Forest license it as a special treatment. In Scotland, ask your council.
Is there a licence for aesthetics like Botox and fillers in England?
Not yet. The government has said lower-risk procedures will be licensed by local authorities, but no scheme is in force. Botox and fillers for under 18s have been banned in England since 1 October 2021.
Does a special treatment licence cover me in another borough?
No. A London special treatment licence is issued for specific premises, so a new address or a different borough needs its own licence. Mobile therapists should ask each borough they work in.
What happens if I work without a licence I need?
It is an offence. In England outside London, carrying on registrable treatments without registration can lead to a fine of up to level 3 on the standard scale, and a court can cancel a registration. Penalties differ in each nation.
Sources
- Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, Part VIII, legislation.gov.uk
- Licence to provide massage and special treatment, Waltham Forest Council
- Special treatment establishment licences, Wandsworth Council
- Licensing for tattooing, acupuncture, body piercing and electrolysis, Isle of Anglesey County Council
- Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing Order 2006, legislation.gov.uk
- Scotland's new licensing rules: what cosmetic procedures need a licence, SPICe, Scottish Parliament
- Tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licence (Northern Ireland), GOV.UK
- Licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England: consultation response, GOV.UK
- Cosmetic cowboys crackdown continues with new restrictions, GOV.UK
- Botulinum toxin and cosmetic fillers for under 18s, GOV.UK
Every treatment starts with a signature
Consultation, consent and patch-test records ready before the client sits down, so you are covered whatever happens.
The therapist who is covered, whatever happens.
These articles are general guidance for UK beauty therapists, not legal or medical advice. Our forms are editable templates: adapt them to your specific treatments, your product manufacturer's protocol and your insurer's terms.