SIA licence: everything you need to apply
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 22 August 2026 · Facts checked against SIA and GOV.UK guidance on the date above
An SIA licence costs £204, is applied for entirely online through your own SIA account, and, once granted, lasts 3 years.
It's issued by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and you need one to work legally as a door supervisor, CCTV operator, security guard, close protection officer, or in a handful of other front-line security roles.
This guide walks through who needs a licence, the licence classes, what you need before you apply, the step-by-step process, what it really costs, and the honest picture on how long it takes - based on the SIA's own published figures, not the "up to 12 weeks" line you'll see repeated elsewhere.
This is general information, not professional or legal advice. For anything specific to your circumstances - including eligibility questions or a refused application - go to the SIA directly or speak to a licensing solicitor.
What is an SIA licence?
An SIA licence is the legal permission the Security Industry Authority grants you to carry out certain private security jobs in the UK.
The SIA is the body set up under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 to regulate the sector; without a valid licence, doing licensable security work is a criminal offence, for you and potentially for whoever employs you.
Who needs an SIA licence?
You need one if your job involves "front-line" licensable activity, such as door supervision, monitoring public-space CCTV, close protection, or guarding cash and valuables in transit.
You also need a (different, non-front-line) licence if you manage, supervise or direct people who do that front-line work, even if you never do it yourself.
Not everyone working in security needs a licence - in-house staff and some roles carry exemptions - so if you're not sure, the safest first step is our licence class picker, which asks a few questions and tells you exactly which licence (if any) applies to your role.
Which SIA licence class do you need?
There are several licence classes, and which one you need depends on the actual job you'll be doing, not your job title.
| Licence class | Covers |
|---|---|
| Door supervision | Protecting licensed premises (pubs, clubs, venues with an alcohol or entertainment licence) from disorder, theft or unauthorised access. |
| Public space surveillance (CCTV) | Using CCTV to identify people or monitor activity to prevent disorder, damage or assault. |
| Security guarding | Guarding premises or property against damage, theft or unauthorised access (without the CCTV-for-disorder element above). |
| Close protection | Protecting a named individual from physical harm. |
| Cash and valuables in transit | Guarding property against theft or damage while transporting it in a vehicle. |
| Key holding | Holding, or controlling access to, keys or devices that operate a lock, as a licensable activity in its own right. |
| Non-front-line | Managing, supervising or directing people who carry out any of the above. |
There's also a separate vehicle immobilisation licence, which currently applies in Northern Ireland only and lasts 1 year rather than 3. For the full, plain-English breakdown of which class fits your job - including where two classes overlap - use the SIA licence class picker.
What you need before you apply
You need four things in place before you start an SIA application: the right training, your ID, proof you can work in the UK, and a clean-enough criminal record check.
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Licence-linked qualification | Front-line licences (door supervision, CCTV, guarding, close protection, cash in transit) need a specific SIA-approved training course first; non-front-line licences don't. See our SIA training courses guide to find the right one for your class. |
| Identity documents | One "Group A" document (passport, DVLA photocard licence, birth certificate) plus two "Group B" documents proving your current address. |
| Right to work | In most cases you must be able to show your right to work in the UK as part of the application. |
| Criminal record check | The SIA runs this itself as part of your application. If you've spent 6 months or more outside the UK in the last 10 years, you'll also need to provide overseas criminal record evidence. |
You must also be 18 or over to hold an SIA licence.
How to apply for an SIA licence, step by step
You apply entirely online, yourself or through your employer, via your own SIA account - there is no paper application form.
- Confirm you need a licence, and which class. Use the class picker if you're not certain.
- Complete your licence-linked training course (front-line licences only) with an approved provider - see our training courses guide.
- Gather your ID documents - one Group A document and two Group B documents showing your current address.
- Check your right-to-work status so you can evidence it in the application.
- Create your SIA online account and start the application - this is a multi-section online form; there's no way to apply by post.
- Pay the fee - £204 for your first licence class, or £102 for each further class you apply for in the same application.
- Go through the SIA's criminal record check, which runs as part of your application - provide overseas evidence if you've lived abroad for 6+ months in the last 10 years.
- Track your application in your account - the SIA offers a personalised decision timescale indicator once you're logged in (see "How long it takes," below).
- If you're approved, you'll get a "licence granted" letter, and (for front-line licences other than key holder) a physical licence card within 14 days. You can start work with the letter and photo ID before the card itself arrives.
What does an SIA licence actually cost?
The statutory SIA fee is £204 for your first licence, and £102 for each additional licence class you apply for in the same application - a genuine saving if you need, say, both door supervision and CCTV.
You don't have to use our service - most applicants apply directly for just £204. The free official route on GOV.UK →
✓ Fee verified against GOV.UK, 22 August 2026
On top of the SIA's own fee, most people also pay for their licence-linked training course separately - typically £250-£400 for a door supervisor course through an SIA-approved provider (Get Licensed / OTS News, 2026), which isn't part of the SIA's fee and is paid to the training provider directly. Our SIA training courses guide compares providers by licence class.
How long does an SIA licence take?
The honest answer is: the SIA won't commit to a fixed number of weeks, and its own guidance now explicitly says "we cannot tell you exactly how long your application will take."
Instead, once you're logged into your SIA account, you're offered a personalised decision timescale indicator - the SIA is clear that its result "does not guarantee how long your application will take."
What we can tell you, from the SIA's own published performance data: its internal target for the 2026-27 financial year is an average of 10 working days from when your checks reach the "checks in progress" stage to a decision being made (SIA/Home Office data, dated 11 May 2026) - but that clock only starts once your identity and criminal-record checks are already under way, not from the moment you submit.
Because timescales vary so much by individual circumstances, the practical advice is simple: start your application, training and document-gathering as early as possible, and don't book a start date that depends on a specific approval date.
Renewing your SIA licence
Your SIA licence does not renew automatically - you have to apply for renewal yourself if you want to keep working once it expires.
You can start the renewal process up to 4 months before your current licence expires, and the SIA recommends doing this promptly to leave enough time for processing.
Renewal uses the same fee structure as a new application (£204 for one licence, £102 for each further licence renewed at the same time), you'll need to prove your identity again, and any remaining time on your current licence carries over onto the new one.
Some licence classes, including door supervisor, security guarding and close protection, also require refresher training and an in-date first aid qualification as part of renewal - check the requirements for your specific class before you apply. If you've lost your card rather than needing a renewal, see our SIA badge guide for what to do.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a paper application form for an SIA licence?
No. SIA licence applications are online only, through your own SIA account - there's no paper route, whether you apply yourself or your employer applies on your behalf.
How much does an SIA licence cost if I need more than one licence class?
You pay £204 for your first licence class and £102 for each further class applied for in the same application - so applying for two classes together costs £306 in statutory fees, not £408.
Does an SIA licence renew automatically?
No. You must actively apply to renew before your 3-year licence expires; nothing happens automatically, and you can start the renewal application up to 4 months before your expiry date.
Can I work while my SIA licence application is being processed?
In almost all cases, no - you shouldn't carry out licensable security work until your licence is actually granted. If you think an exemption might apply to your situation, check directly with the SIA before you start any work.
What happens if my SIA licence application is refused?
The SIA publishes separate guidance on what happens if your application is refused, including how appeals work; if this happens to you, read that guidance on GOV.UK and consider speaking to a licensing solicitor rather than relying on general information like this guide.
Do I need an SIA licence if I only supervise security staff?
Possibly, yes - a separate non-front-line licence covers managers, supervisors, directors or partners who oversee people carrying out licensable activity, even if they don't do the front-line work themselves. Use our licence class picker to check.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the SIA, GOV.UK or any government body. This page is general information, not legal or professional advice - for anything specific to your situation, including a refused application or an appeal, contact the SIA directly or a licensing solicitor.