Just to clear things up, there is no such thing as a UKARA licence. But you can become a member if you meet certain criteria.
UKARA is essentially an organisation to protect retailers, hence the name United Kingdom Airsoft
Retailers Association. Of course, this goes beyond just protecting retailers and helps ensure that only people who intend to use realistic imitation firearms (RIFs) legally can obtain them. However, the onus in law is on retailers to ensure that the RIFs they sell are to be used for permitted activities which is the main reason UKARA exists.
There is no restriction on owning an RIF, however, it is unlawful to manufacture (including modifying a ‘two-tone’ into an RIF), import or sell an RIF. But, there are a number of legal defences which includes using an RIF at an insured (third party liability insurance) airsoft skirmishing site. For example, it would be illegal for somebody to sell an RIF to somebody who does not intend to use it for activities such as attending an insured airsoft skirmishing site. This is why the majority of retailers use the UKARA member database or check you have a membership to a site to help ensure that they are selling RIFs to people who intend to use them for permitted activities.
Also, on a point brought up by
@aarondavid45, it would be completely legal to modify an imitation firearm (two-tone) into an RIF, even before you are eligible for UKARA membership, as long as you intend to use it at an insured site. For example, I had a two-tone Glock 17 (orange slide) which is now collecting dust somewhere due to the pandemic but instead of wasting money on an entirely new one I decided to purchase a custom slide to modify it into an RIF and I can easily prove that I intend to use it at an insured site due to my membership to said site or even an email or bank statement confirming a booking.
