Apply for a skin piercing licence

If you offer skin piercing or similar treatments in Walsall, you must register with the local authority.
Both the person doing the treatment (practitioner) and the place where it happens (premises) must be registered.

It is against the law to work without registration.

Treatments that need registration

You must register if you carry out any of these treatments:

• tattooing
• semi‑permanent skin colouring
• cosmetic piercing
• electrolysis
• acupuncture

You must register both the premises and the practitioner.

Premises and personal (practitioner) registrations are separate. In most cases, you will need both.

Registering your premises

The premises where these treatments are carried out should be registered.

• You only need to do this once for each premises
• The fee is £130
• Apply when you first start offering any registerable treatment

If you want to add a new treatment (for example, adding acupuncture to an existing tattoo registration), you must register the premises again for that treatment.

If you relocate your business to different premises, you must apply for a new premises registration.

Apply to register your premises

You can register your business premises online.

Registering as a practitioner (personal registration)

Each person who carries out treatments must register.

• You must register yourself, even if the premises is already registered
• Only register for the treatments you actually carry out and have the right training, supervision and equipment for
• The fee is £130 per person

Adding a new treatment later

If you want to add a new treatment (for example, adding acupuncture to an existing tattoo registration), you must register again for that treatment.

Changes to your registration

• Registrations do not expire under current law
• If you move to work at a different premises, you must apply for a new personal registration

Apply to register as a practitioner

You can register as a practitioner online.

Exemptions

You don't need to register if these treatments are carried out by a registered medical practitioner, or under their direct supervision:

• tattooing
• semi‑permanent skin colouring
• cosmetic piercing
• acupuncture
• electrolysis

You don't need a premises or personal registration for acupuncture if it is provided by a dentist, or under their direct supervision.

What happens next

After we receive your application:

1. One of our officers will visit your premises
2. They will check the conditions on site
3. They will talk to you about your application

If everything is in order, we will give you a certificate. This allows you to legally carry out treatments in Walsall Borough.

If you do not register

It is illegal to carry out skin piercing or related treatments without registration.

If you do, you could face a £1,000 fine if convicted.

Contact us

If you have questions about your application, or exemptions, please contact us.