There are now strict rules to ensure that only those able to provide zoo-level welfare standards will be able to keep primates.
From 6 April 2026 anyone other than licensed zoos and certain medical research facilities keeping primates must have a primate keeper licence. Primates include:
- Marmosets
- Tamarins
- Squirrel Monkeys
- Spider Monkeys
- Capuchin Monkeys
- Lemurs
- Lorisids (also known as bush babies)
From April 2026 a person keeping a primate without a primate keeper licence will be committing a criminal offence. Conviction for unlicensed keeping of a primate carries a penalty of imprisonment for a term of up to six months, an unlimited fine, or both.
The regulations on keeping primates can be read online
This form helps us improve the content and structure of our webpages only, and we cannot provide a response to any submission below.
To get in touch with a service-related enquiry, please use the contact us form.