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The procedures are quite different. However, common to both is the requirement of both parties to the transaction to notify the police by recorded delivery or registered post within seven days of any acquisition, sale, or transfer of a firearm or shotgun.

In the case of a shotgun, any temporary transfer to another person exceeding 72 hours must also be notified. The seller of a firearm or shotgun must complete Table 1 of the recipient's firearm certificate or Table 2 of the recipient's shotgun certificate with the required details.

A shotgun certificate holder may purchase or acquire another shotgun at any time and notify the police as described above. The same applies to a firearm certificate holder with the appropriate authority on his certificate. If there is no such authority, an application for a variation must be submitted using the standard Firearm Certificate application form. A shortened variation application is currently under development with the Home Office.

Any application for a firearm that will add to the number of weapons held will attract the fee of £26. Applications for a variation on a one for one basis (i.e. no increase in the number of firearms held) will be free of charge.

Note: "Variations" only apply to firearm certificates. You do not need a "variation to acquire additional shotguns.