Do You Need a Licence for Beauty Treatments? A UK Guide for Therapists

Quick answer: In the UK, most everyday beauty treatments such as facials, lashes, brows and waxing don't need a personal licence, but many do. Treatments that pierce the skin, such as tattooing, semi permanent make up, microblading, piercing, electrolysis and acupuncture, need council registration or a licence across the UK. In much of London, premises offering a wider range of treatments, including massage and nails, need a special treatment licence. Wales and Scotland have their own schemes, and new licensing for aesthetic treatments is on the way. Always check with your local council before you start.

This guide covers the UK. If you work elsewhere, your local authority or regulator will have its own rules, so check what applies to you.

A question new therapists often ask is whether they need a licence. The honest answer is that it depends on three things: which treatments you offer, where in the UK you work, and whether you work from a salon, from home or as a mobile therapist. The rules have grown up area by area, which is why they can feel so confusing. Here is how it all fits together.

Treatments that pierce the skin

Across the UK, treatments that break or pierce the skin carry the highest infection risk, so they are the most tightly controlled.

England (outside London)

Councils require both the practitioner and the premises to register for treatments such as tattooing, semi permanent make up and micropigmentation, microblading, cosmetic piercing, electrolysis and acupuncture. This comes from the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, and each council sets byelaws covering hygiene, equipment and record keeping. Some councils also include other treatments that invade the skin, such as microneedling, so check your council's list.

Wales

Wales was the first UK nation to introduce a national scheme. Since 29 November 2024, anyone offering tattooing (including semi permanent make up), body piercing, electrolysis or acupuncture needs a personal special procedures licence from their local authority, and must complete an infection prevention and control course. The premises or vehicle they work from also needs an approval certificate.

Scotland

Under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing) Order 2006, anyone carrying out skin piercing or tattooing as a business needs a licence. That includes cosmetic and ear piercing, acupuncture, electrolysis and micropigmentation, and it applies to mobile businesses too.

Northern Ireland

Councils require businesses offering acupuncture, cosmetic piercing, electrolysis, semi permanent skin colouring and tattooing to register before they open, under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. The council inspects the premises first.

Special treatment licences in London

London is different. Under the London Local Authorities Act 1991, most London boroughs require premises to hold a special treatment licence for a much wider range of treatments. In Kingston, for example, that includes:

• Massage, including aromatherapy and reflexology
• Manicures, pedicures and nail extensions
• Light treatments, including sunbeds
• Electrical treatments, such as electrolysis and high frequency
• Saunas, steam and spa treatments
• Laser and IPL, tattooing, microblading and skin piercing

Each borough sets its own list, conditions and fees. Some services carried out only in clients' own homes are exempt, but a treatment room in your own home counts as a premises. If you work in London, your borough's licensing team is your first call.

Aesthetic treatments: what is changing

Regulation of non surgical cosmetic treatments is changing fast across the UK.

• England. The Health and Care Act 2022 gave the government power to introduce a licensing scheme for non surgical cosmetic procedures. In August 2025 the government confirmed a green, amber and red approach based on risk, with treatments such as LED and IPL expected in the lowest tier. A House of Commons Library briefing notes the 2023 consultation drew 11,848 responses. At the time of writing, the scheme is not yet in force and no start date has been set.
• Scotland. In March 2026 the Scottish Parliament passed the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill. Once in force, procedures including injectables, laser, chemical peels and microneedling will need to take place in approved healthcare settings, and it will be an offence to carry them out on anyone under 18.
• Under 18s. Across England, Botox and dermal fillers for cosmetic purposes have been banned for under 18s since the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021, and tattooing anyone under 18 is illegal.

If you offer advanced skin treatments, keep a close eye on these changes and make sure your qualifications will meet the new standards.

Do I need a licence to work from home or as a mobile therapist?

Working from home doesn't exempt you. If your treatments need registration or a licence in your area, your home treatment room will usually need to be registered or approved as a premises. Mobile therapists may be treated differently: some London boroughs exempt treatments carried out in clients' own homes, while Scotland's skin piercing and tattooing licence specifically covers mobile businesses.

Starting out from home? Our guide to starting a beauty business from home covers planning, business rates, insurance and tax as well.

Licences are only part of the picture

Even where no licence is needed, every beauty business must follow health and safety law, carry out risk assessments, follow COSHH rules for products and keep accurate client records. Your insurer will also expect you to hold a recognised qualification for every treatment you offer.

• Sam Blake's guide to a beauty salon risk assessment covers your health and safety duties.
• Our guide to accreditation and qualifications explains which certificates insurers recognise.

How to check what applies to you

1. List every treatment you offer, or plan to offer.
2. Search your council's website for "special treatment licence" or "skin piercing registration".
3. Call the licensing or environmental health team and explain where and how you work.
4. Check your insurance covers every treatment, at every location you work.
5. Diary any renewal dates, and display certificates where clients can see them.

Clients increasingly look for proof that a business works to proper standards. Showing your registration, qualifications and insurance is one of the strongest trust signals you have. Our verified profiles are built to show exactly that, so list your business on the directory for free and let clients see the standards behind your work.

FAQs

Do I need a licence to be a beautician in the UK?

There is no single national licence for beauty therapists. Treatments that pierce the skin need council registration or a licence across the UK, many London boroughs license a wider range of treatments, and Wales and Scotland have national schemes for certain procedures.

Do I need a licence to do nails?

Outside London, nail treatments don't usually need a licence. In many London boroughs, premises offering manicures, pedicures and nail extensions need a special treatment licence.

Do I need a licence to do massage?

In many London boroughs, yes, under the special treatment licence. Elsewhere in the UK, massage doesn't usually need a licence, but you still need qualifications and insurance.

Do I need to register for microblading?

Yes. Microblading pierces the skin, so it needs council registration in England and Northern Ireland, a licence in Scotland and London, and a special procedures licence in Wales, where it falls under semi permanent make up.

Do I need a licence to work from home?

If your treatments need registration or a licence in your area, your home treatment room will usually need to be registered or approved too. Check with your council before you start.