Strategic export control licence (SIEL/OIEL): how to apply
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 23 August 2026 · Facts checked against GOV.UK guidance on the date above
If your business exports military or "dual-use" items, software or technology from the UK, you may need a strategic export control licence from the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) before you can lawfully ship it.
The Government charges no application fee for these licences - the real cost for most exporters is the time and expertise it takes to classify goods correctly and complete the paperwork, which is why an export control consultant or trade compliance solicitor is a genuinely common (and optional) purchase for exporters, not us charging you for the licence itself.
Short on time?Let us point you to a specialist and prepare your groundwork - and we always show you the free official route first.
Get it done for you →This guide covers the main licence types (SIEL, OIEL and OGEL), when each applies, how to apply through SPIRE or ECJU's newer online service, and processing times based on ECJU's own published performance data.
This is general information, not legal or trade-compliance advice. Export control classification is genuinely complex and carries criminal liability if you get it wrong - for anything specific to your goods or destination, use ECJU's own guidance or a licensed export control adviser.
What is a strategic export control licence?
It's authorisation from the UK Government to export specific "controlled" items - which can be a physical good, software, or "something intangible like a training programme" - to a named destination or end-user (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026).
Exporting controlled items without a valid licence, where one is required, is a criminal offence, and the rules apply whether you're a defence manufacturer or a business that unexpectedly discovers its product has a dual civilian-and-military use.
Which licence type do you need?
There are three main routes, and which one fits depends on how often you export, to how many destinations, and how sensitive the goods are.
| Licence | What it covers | Typical validity |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) | Multiple shipments of specific controlled items to one named destination or consignee | 2 years for permanent exports, 1 year for temporary exports, or until the licensed quantity is exported |
| Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) | Repeated exports of specified items to a range of pre-approved destinations or consignees | Set by ECJU per licence |
| Open General Export Licence (OGEL) | A reusable, published licence for regular exporters of specified goods to a range of destinations, once you've registered to use it | Ongoing while the OGEL remains in force |
Source: GOV.UK guidance on standard individual export licences, checked 23 August 2026.
How to apply, step by step
- Classify your goods, software or technology against the UK Strategic Export Control Lists to confirm whether they're controlled at all.
- Decide which licence type fits - a one-off or narrow SIEL, a broader OIEL, or registering to use an existing OGEL.
- Set up your access - most applications now start with a GOV.UK One Login account, an export licence account, and an organisational account on ECJU's newer online service.
- Use SPIRE instead, where required - some categories still have to apply through the legacy SPIRE system, including certain temporary SIELs with multiple end-users, transhipment licences, Category 0 goods, and exports to sanctioned destinations.
- Gather supporting evidence, including an End-User and Stockist Undertaking (EUSU) where required, confirming who the end-user is and what they'll do with the goods.
- Submit your application - there's no fee to pay.
- Track your case with the ECJU helpdesk while it's assessed, and expect longer timescales for sensitive or sanctioned destinations.
What does an export control licence cost?
Nothing, in terms of a Government fee - ECJU doesn't charge an application fee for SIELs, OIELs or OGELs.
Because the licence itself is free, we don't charge a fee to prepare or submit it for you - what's genuinely worth paying for, if your case is complex, is expert help with classification and evidence, from a specialist adviser of your choosing. The free official route on GOV.UK →
✓ Checked against GOV.UK, 23 August 2026 - no application fee is charged for these licences.
Where costs do arise, they're indirect: the time your team spends on classification, any export control consultancy or legal advice you choose to buy, and the compliance systems (denied-party screening, record-keeping) most regular exporters put in place.
How long does it take?
ECJU publishes a service standard for SIEL applications specifically: it aims to decide 70% of SIEL applications within 20 working days, and 99% within 60 working days (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026).
ECJU doesn't publish an equivalent fixed service standard figure for OIEL or OGEL registration on the same page, so if timing is critical to your business, confirm the current expectation directly with ECJU for your specific licence type.
Frequently asked questions
Is there really no fee to apply for an export control licence?
Correct - ECJU doesn't charge an application fee for SIELs, OIELs or OGELs. Any cost to your business comes from the time and, if you choose to buy it, specialist advice needed to classify goods and prepare a strong application, not from a government charge.
Do I need a SIEL or an OIEL?
A SIEL generally suits a specific, named destination and a defined quantity of goods; an OIEL suits businesses making repeated exports of the same type of item to a pre-approved range of destinations or consignees. If you're not sure, ECJU's guidance or a specialist adviser can help you classify your export pattern correctly.
How long is a SIEL valid for?
Generally 2 years for permanent exports, or until the licensed quantity has been exported, whichever comes first; temporary export SIELs are generally valid for 1 year only.
Do I have to use SPIRE, or the newer online service?
Most exporters now apply through ECJU's newer online service, but some categories - certain temporary SIELs with multiple end-users, transhipment licences, Category 0 goods, and sanctioned destinations - still require the legacy SPIRE system.
What happens if I export controlled goods without a licence?
Exporting controlled items without the required licence is a criminal offence; if you're unsure whether your goods, software or technology are controlled, check against the UK Strategic Export Control Lists or take specialist advice before you ship anything.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to GOV.UK, the Export Control Joint Unit, the Department for Business and Trade or any government body. This page is general information, not legal or trade-compliance advice - for anything specific to your goods or destination, contact ECJU directly or a licensed export control adviser.