Regulation
Beauty and aesthetic treatment regulation in Wales
Wales already licenses four procedures — acupuncture, body piercing, electrolysis and tattooing, which includes semi-permanent make-up — under Part 4 of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017. Practitioners need a licence and premises need an approval certificate. Injectables such as botulinum toxin and dermal fillers are not covered.
Last reviewed · How we research and check this
The four special procedures
Section 57 of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 defines “special procedures” as acupuncture, body piercing, electrolysis and tattooing. Semi-permanent make-up falls within tattooing, which is why a brow or lip tattoo in Wales is treated quite differently from a brow lamination.
Anyone performing these in the course of a business must hold a licence unless exempt — members of regulated health professions are among the exemptions. Businesses must also ensure the work happens only at approved premises or in an approved vehicle, with an approval certificate issued by the local authority.
How the licensing works
Licences run for three years, or short-term for a maximum of seven days — the short-term route exists for guest artists and events. Local authorities maintain public registers of licensed practitioners and approved premises, and hold powers to revoke licences, issue remedial notices and bring prosecutions.
Infection prevention and control requirements, including mandatory training and premises standards, applied from 29 November 2024. The Welsh Government estimated around 3,516 practitioners and 1,868 premises fall within scope.
The gap that catches people out
Wales licenses tattooing and piercing but not injectables. So a semi-permanent make-up artist in Cardiff needs a licence and an approved premises, while someone injecting dermal filler in the same street needs neither. It is the reverse of what most people assume, and worth knowing before you book.
Common questions
Do you need a licence for semi-permanent make-up in Wales?
Yes. Semi-permanent make-up counts as tattooing under Part 4 of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017, so the practitioner needs a licence and the premises need an approval certificate from the local authority. You can ask to see both, and the local authority keeps a public register.
Are dermal fillers licensed in Wales?
No. The Welsh special procedures scheme covers acupuncture, body piercing, electrolysis and tattooing only. Injectables are not included, so no licence is required to inject dermal filler in Wales.
How long does a Welsh special procedure licence last?
Three years for a standard licence. A short-term licence lasts a maximum of seven days and exists for guest artists and events.
Where can I check whether a Welsh practitioner is licensed?
Local authorities maintain registers of licensed practitioners and approved premises. Contact the council for the area the business operates in, or ask the practitioner to show you their licence and the premises approval certificate.
Related guides
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Every listing on this site shows what has been checked and when — or says plainly that it has not been. You contact the therapist directly and pay them directly; we take no commission.