Acupuncture, tattooing and skin piercing

Apply to register

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

A one-off £234 fee applies for each registration application.

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

PDF icon 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

PDF icon Tattooing bylaws

PDF icon Acupuncture bylaws

PDF icon Active tattooing registrations

PDF icon Skin piercing activities - Public register

Get in touch about environmental health

The quickest way to contact us is by using our online forms which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need to speak to us give us a call during office hours and talk to our Customer Services team who will be happy to help.