Coterminous Firearm and Shotgun Certificates Explained: Fees, Forms, and When to Apply
Quick Answer
A coterminous application allows your firearm and shotgun certificates to share the same expiry date, streamlining renewals and potentially reducing overall fees. Since 5 February 2025, a coterminous grant costs £202 and a renewal costs £155 in Great Britain, with applications submitted on Form 201. This option is ideal for shooters needing both certificates who wish to simplify their licensing administration.
Quick Answer
A coterminous application lets a firearm certificate and shotgun certificate run to the same expiry date, which usually makes renewals simpler and can reduce fees compared with managing both separately. Since 5 February 2025, the standard fee is £202 for a coterminous grant and £155 for a coterminous renewal in Great Britain, with applications made on Form 201.
For most shooters who genuinely need both certificates, coterminous dates are a practical way to cut admin, avoid mixed renewal cycles, and keep licensing paperwork easier to track.
What does coterminous mean for firearms certificates?
Coterminous means your firearm certificate and shotgun certificate expire on the same date. Instead of running two separate licensing cycles, the police align both certificates so you manage them together.
That matters if you shoot across more than one discipline. A shooter might hold a shotgun certificate for clay shooting and a firearm certificate for target rifle, deer stalking, or pest control. If the expiry dates are different, you can end up completing licensing paperwork twice within a short period.
BASC describes coterminous certificates as a way of issuing both certificates to expire at the same time, with reduced administration for the applicant and the police. That is the real value. It is mainly about simplicity.
Who should consider coterminous certificates?
Coterminous certificates are worth considering if you already hold one certificate and now need the other, or if you know from the outset that you require both. They are particularly helpful for active shooters who want one set of dates to monitor in their records and renewal reminders.
They are often a good fit for:
- shooters who split time between clay, game, and rifle disciplines
- certificate holders moving from a shotgun-only setup into rifle ownership
- people who want a cleaner renewal cycle for budgeting and administration
- shooters who already keep detailed records and want one renewal timeline to manage
If you only need one type of certificate, there is no special benefit in chasing coterminous dates. The arrangement only helps when both certificates are genuinely needed and lawfully justified.
How much do coterminous certificates cost in 2025 and 2026?
The current fees came into force on 5 February 2025 under the Home Office circular for the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2025. The published rates are straightforward once you know what you are applying for.
| Application type | Current fee |
|---|---|
| Coterminous grant of firearm and shotgun certificates | £202 |
| Coterminous renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates | £155 |
| Firearm certificate grant on its own | £198 |
| Shotgun certificate grant on its own | £194 |
| Firearm certificate renewal on its own | £131 |
| Shotgun certificate renewal on its own | £126 |
According to the Home Office circular, coterminous fees are calculated by combining the firearm element with a reduced additional amount for the shotgun element. For example, a coterminous renewal is currently made up of the £131 firearm renewal fee plus a £24 shotgun renewal element.
If you want to check the wording yourself, the Home Office fee circular is available on GOV.UK.
What form do you use for a coterminous application?
In practice, you use Form 201, the standard application for the grant or renewal of a firearm and or shotgun certificate. BASC's guidance notes that if an applicant holds or requires both certificates, they can request coterminous certificates using Form 201 and the relevant fee.
The form is not a shortcut around the normal checks. You are still dealing with the full licensing process, including identity, referees where required, medical information, secure storage, and good reason for any firearm authority requested.
The Home Office Guide on firearms licensing law remains the main reference point for the legal framework behind grants and renewals, while police forces often publish their own local submission guidance and online portals.
When should you apply for a coterminous renewal?
You should not leave it to the last minute. The 2025 Home Office circular says applicants should continue to apply within the usual timescales for their police force, and notes NPCC advice that most forces accept renewals up to four months before expiry.
That four month window is useful because coterminous renewals can involve a little more coordination than a straightforward single certificate renewal. You are trying to keep both certificates aligned, so there is no advantage in waiting until the final weeks.
Good practice is to:
- check your force website for its renewal window
- set reminders at six months, four months, and eight weeks before expiry
- make sure your medical and referee information is ready early
- review your cabinet, storage arrangements, and current holdings before submission
Can you make certificates coterminous if they already have different expiry dates?
Yes, that is one of the common reasons people ask for coterminous treatment. A shooter may already hold a shotgun certificate and later apply for a firearm certificate, or vice versa. The police can align the dates so that both certificates end together.
The detail that catches people out is that the fee structure depends on whether one certificate is being granted while the other is being renewed. The Home Office circular sets out four separate coterminous scenarios, but the combined totals still come back to £202 for a coterminous grant and £155 for a coterminous renewal.
This is why it helps to think ahead. If you know you will soon need both certificates, it is worth asking your licensing department or checking the force guidance so you apply in the most sensible window.
What checks still apply to a coterminous application?
A coterminous application does not lower the standard for grant or renewal. The police still need to be satisfied that you can be permitted to possess the firearms or shotgun without danger to public safety or to the peace, and that you have good reason where a firearm certificate is concerned.
In practical terms, expect the usual licensing factors to matter:
- medical information and any relevant GP contact process
- referees and supporting declarations where required
- good reason for each firearm and quantity of ammunition requested
- secure storage for guns and ammunition
- your conduct, history, and overall suitability
The Home Office licensing guidance is very clear that firearm ownership in Great Britain is treated as a privilege, not a right. Coterminous administration may make your paperwork tidier, but it does not change the legal test.
What are the main advantages of coterminous certificates?
The biggest advantage is simplicity. One renewal cycle is easier to remember, easier to budget for, and easier to document properly.
Other benefits include:
- fewer separate reminders and diary entries
- less risk of one certificate being overlooked while the other stays current
- clearer long-term planning for medical checks and supporting paperwork
- a more organised record for people using digital logs such as Vectis Shooting Log
This can be particularly useful for shooters who already log range attendance, ammunition use, and certificate admin together. One renewal date fits neatly into that kind of system.
Are there any downsides to coterminous dates?
The main downside is that both certificates come back into view together. That can mean a larger one-off admin task when renewal comes around, rather than two smaller processes spread over time.
There can also be situations where a shooter only occasionally uses one certificate type, so the combined administration feels less convenient than expected. Even then, most active shooters still prefer one clean renewal cycle to two overlapping ones.
The real risk is not coterminous licensing itself. It is poor organisation. If you do not track dates, fees, and supporting documents properly, any certificate arrangement becomes stressful.
How can you stay on top of coterminous renewals?
The easiest approach is to treat your certificates like any other compliance deadline. Keep one accurate digital record of expiry dates, application dates, fee changes, and supporting documents.
A sensible system should include:
- certificate numbers and expiry dates
- when you intend to submit the next renewal
- storage review notes
- medical and referee paperwork status
- recent shooting activity that supports your good reason
If you keep that information current, a coterminous renewal becomes much less of a scramble and much more of a planned compliance task.
Key Takeaways
- Coterminous certificates let your firearm and shotgun certificates expire on the same date
- The current fees are £202 for a coterminous grant and £155 for a coterminous renewal
- Applications are normally made using Form 201
- Most forces accept renewals up to four months before expiry, according to NPCC advice cited by the Home Office
- Coterminous dates simplify record keeping, reminders, and renewal planning
- The normal checks on suitability, good reason, and secure storage still apply in full
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a coterminous firearm and shotgun certificate?
It is an arrangement where your firearm certificate and shotgun certificate expire on the same date. The goal is to reduce administration and make renewals easier to manage.
How much is a coterminous grant in the UK?
Since 5 February 2025, the coterminous grant fee is £202 in Great Britain according to the Home Office fees circular. You should still check your police force website for any local submission instructions.
How much is a coterminous renewal in the UK?
The coterminous renewal fee is currently £155. That rate came in with the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2025.
Do you use Form 201 for coterminous certificates?
Yes. Form 201 is the standard application for the grant or renewal of a firearm and or shotgun certificate, and BASC says it is the form used when requesting coterminous certificates.
Can I ask for coterminous dates if I already hold a shotgun certificate?
Yes. That is a common reason to request coterminous treatment. If you later apply for a firearm certificate, the force can align the expiry dates so both certificates run together.
Does coterminous licensing make the police checks easier?
No. The paperwork may be more convenient, but the legal checks on suitability, secure storage, and good reason still apply in full. Coterminous licensing changes administration, not the standard you must meet.
When should I apply for a coterminous renewal?
You should usually apply within your force's stated renewal window. The Home Office circular notes NPCC advice that most forces accept renewals up to four months before expiry.
Is coterminous licensing cheaper than holding both certificates separately?
It often is, especially when you compare the coterminous fee structure with running separate grant or renewal processes. The bigger benefit for many shooters is simpler administration rather than the saving alone.
Are coterminous certificates available across Great Britain?
Yes, the Home Office fee circular sets out coterminous fees for Great Britain. You should still check the detailed process on your own police force website because local submission systems can vary.
Can digital record keeping help with coterminous renewals?
Yes. Keeping one accurate digital record of dates, documents, and activity makes coterminous renewals far easier to manage and reduces the chance of missing a critical step.