Acupuncture, tattooing and skin piercing

Your businesses and premises must be registered with us if you carry out any of the following:

• tattooing
• semi-permanent skin colouring or micro-pigmentation
• cosmetic piercing
• electrolysis
• ear piercing
• acupuncture

Each business (each self employed person or each employer) and each premises must be registered.

Fees from April 2025

For registration as Business a one-off Fee of £168

For registration as Premises a one-off Fee of £263

With a fee of £431 when applying for both the businesses and premises.

You can check the full list of skin piercing registrations on our public register.

•  Public register
• Advanced notice of changes affecting those carrying out cosmetic procedures

Tattooing, electrolysis and ear piercing applications

Each business (each self employed person or each employer) and each premises must be registered.

Tattooing, electrolysis and ear piercing registration

You will also need to comply with the relevant bylaws and tattooing guidelines.

Acupuncture applications

You must register each practitioner and the premises from which you will operate.

Acupuncture - Premises and Practitioner registration

You will also need to comply with the relevant bylaws.

Further guidance

• Tattooing and body piercing guide - Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
•  Tattooing bylaws
•  Acupuncture bylaws
•  Active tattooing registrations
•  Skin piercing activities - Public register