Tortoise Licensing Laws
All breeds of tortoise are listed on CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) under either Annex A or Annex B categories.
ANNEX A TORTOISES (require a licence)
Annex A tortoises DO require a special licence (‘Article 10 certificate’) if you want to SELL or BREED from a tortoise listed in this category. However, you can gift a tortoise to another person without this certificate providing no money has exchanged hands.
There are 2 types of Article 10 certificates:
TSC (Transaction Specific Certificate):
These are issued for tortoises that are too small to be microchipped (typically where plastrons are less than 60mm*) so they can be legally sold by the person named in box 1 of the certificate ONLY (it is illegal to use this certificate to sell an Annex A species if it has a different name and address in box 1 to the person that is selling it).
SSC (Specimen Specific Certificate):
These are issued for tortoises that have been microchipped (typically where plastrons are over 60mm*) and can therefore be identified as an individual. These SSC certificates allow you to legally sell the microchipped/identified tortoise without changing the name and address in box 1 of the certificate.
ANNEX B TORTOISES (do not require a licence)
Annex B tortoises DO NOT require a licence (‘Article 10 certificate’) to sell or breed from tortoises in this category.
*What happens if my TSC has a different plastron length specified (eg 100mm instead of 60mm)?
Please note that the TSC for some species of tortoise is valid until they are >100mm rather than 60mm. This will be specified in the “special conditions” section on your TSC for your tortoise.
*What happens if Wildlife/Defra licencing and rules change?
Rules do change from time to time. If this happens, the original TSC certificate issued for your tortoise is still applicable ie if the original TSC certificate states (in the “special conditions” section) the certificate is valid until the specimen reaches 60mm, then this still applies.
Which Tortoise breeds require a licence in the UK?
Below is a list of the more common (and some less common!) tortoise breeds found in the UK and indicates if they require a licence or not.
If your breed of tortoise is not listed, then check out this website
If I’m buying a tortoise that requires a certificate what should I do?
When you are buying a tortoise you should check the above table to see if the breed you are buying requires a licence. Don’t assume what the seller tells you is correct, as it could be an illegal sale and the tortoise may not be rightfully yours and you could inadvertently be participating in an illegal sale.
If the breed of tortoise you are buying isn’t listed in the above table, then you can check this website to see if the species of tortoise you are buying requires a certificate.
If your tortoise does require a certificate/article 10 licence, then at the point of sale you should receive a copy of the certificate from the seller. The certificate provided can be a copy but you must check that the seller named in Box 1 of the certificate is the person that is selling you the tortoise.
Also, if the tortoise requires a certificate and is >60mm in length* then it needs to be microchipped by law and the microchip number should be included on the certificate. This information will typically be in either box 4 or box 20 of the certificate.
If details aren’t correct, then insist the seller rectifies the issue BEFORE you take your tortoise home with you.
How do I apply for an Article 10 licence for my tortoise?
In the UK, you need to fill out the application form (it is called a FED1012 form). You will need to make the necessary payment and include the payment reference on the form to avoid delays. Instructions on how to fill out the form are online but you can also contact Wildlife Licencing for help on completing the form as they follow strict guidelines and any errors will cause delays or your application being rejected. It can take 4-6 weeks for your application to be processed.
When should I apply for an Article 10 licence for my tortoise?
You will need to apply for a licence or article 10 certificate if any of the following apply (UK only):
If you want to sell your tortoise (Annex A tortoises only) and it’s under 60mm* in length. Even if you have a copy of the TSC from a breeder but wish to sell your tortoise and it’s still less than the length specified on the TSC, then you need to apply for a new TSC (so your name is in the “holder” box rather than the breeder’s name).
If you want to sell your tortoise (Annex A tortoises only) and it’s now over 60mm* in length. This applies to tortoises that do not already have a SSC licence. They also need to be microchipped.
If you want to breed from your tortoises (Annex A tortoises only) and don’t already have SSC’s for your tortoises. Both males and females require individual licences (you will need to complete separate application forms for each tortoise).
If you are a breeder then you need to obtain this certificate before you sell the tortoise (and must include the parents microchip and A10 numbers on the application form). If you purchased from a breeder you should already have this certificate.
You do NOT need to apply for a licence or get your tortoise microchipped if you are keeping it as a pet.
How much does a tortoise licence cost in the UK?
An article 10 certificate (SSC) in the UK costs £31. This is the cost for ONE SSC certificate for a tortoise that has been microchipped and can be identified as an individual
An article 10 certificate (TSC) in the UK costs £31. This is the cost for ONE TSC application. You can also include multiple hatchlings on the same TSC article 10 application form and would need to pay £1.50 for each additional hatchling you list. Hatchlings listed must have the same male parent and be from the same breeding season. For example: 7 hatchlings with the same male parent in April on one TSC application would cost £31+(6x£1.50). Full details of hatch dates, parents (SSC and microchip numbers) will be required.
Please check cost of licences on the wildlife licencing website as this is subject to change.
Where can I find more information on tortoise licencing?
Which Tortoises sold at HappyTortoises require a licence?
Our Indian Star and Mediterranean spur thighed tortoises require licences. We obtain the necessary licences for your BEFORE sale.
We will ask you to provide your name and address so we can pass this information onto Wildlife Licencing to update their records to show you now own the tortoise (or you can contact them directly to update your information). We will organise all of this for you as part of the cost of purchasing a tortoise from us.
Our leopard tortoises do not require a licence, so no paperwork is required.