Start your SIA application: your pre-flight checklist
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 22 August 2026 · Facts checked against SIA and GOV.UK guidance on the date above
The SIA application itself is only ever completed on the SIA's own website, inside your own SIA account - there's no form we, or anyone else outside the SIA, can submit on your behalf.
What follows instead is a free, plain-English pre-application checklist: which licence class you need, exactly which documents to gather, and the order the SIA's own 9-section form runs in - so you can sit down and finish it in one sitting rather than getting stuck halfway through.
This is general information, not professional or legal advice. For anything specific to your circumstances, go to the SIA directly.
Which SIA licence class do you need?
It depends on the job you'll actually do, not your job title - most of the checklist below only makes sense once you know your class.
| Licence class | Covers |
|---|---|
| Door supervision | Protecting licensed premises (pubs, clubs, alcohol/entertainment venues) 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. |
| 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. |
If you're still not sure, our full SIA licence class picker asks a few questions and tells you which one fits - do that first, then come back here to prepare.
What documents do you need before you start?
You need one document from Group A, plus two from Group B, before you can complete identity verification.
Group A - choose one
- Valid passport
- Current UK DVLA driving licence photocard
- UK birth certificate
- Adoption certificate
- Biometric residence permit
- Armed Forces Veteran Card
Group B - choose two, from different categories where applicable
- Bank or building society statement
- Utility bill
- Credit card statement
- Council tax statement
- Mortgage statement
- Government correspondence
- Tax document (P45/P60)
- Firearms licence
- Pension statement
Statements typically need to be within the last 3 months, other documents within the last 12 months, and at least one document must show your current address (SIA, verified 22 August 2026).
If your class needs licence-linked training (most front-line classes do), add your training provider's certificate or booking confirmation to this pile before you start - see our SIA training courses guide if you haven't booked yet.
What order does the SIA's own form run in?
The SIA's application is structured into 9 sections, and knowing the shape of it in advance is the single biggest time-saver.
| Section | What it covers | Prepare now |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Consent to identity and criminal-record checks - must be agreed before the rest of the form unlocks. | Nothing to prepare, just be ready to consent. |
| 2-8 | Can be completed in any order: personal details; licence class selection; address history covering roughly the last 5 years (with exact dates and postcodes); licence-linked training/qualification evidence; criminal history disclosure; right-to-work status; mental health disclosure; and any extra supporting information. | Write out your 5-year address history with dates and postcodes, and have your training certificate details ready - these are the two most common hold-ups. |
| 9 | Final declaration - confirms the information given is true and complete; ticking "I agree" submits the application. | Read everything back first: once submitted, answers cannot be changed (GOV.UK, verified 22 August 2026). |
Use the space below as your own answer pack - jot down your address history, training details and any disclosures now, in your own words, then copy them into the real SIA form when you're ready.
Ready to apply?
You can go straight to the SIA's own site and apply for free, or use our optional service if you'd like a second pair of eyes on your answers first.
You don't have to use our service - most applicants apply directly for just £204, and we can't speed up or influence the SIA's own decision either way. The free official route on GOV.UK →
✓ Fee verified against GOV.UK, 22 August 2026
Start on GOV.UK - the free route Ask about the £149 check service
Frequently asked questions
Is this the official SIA application form?
No. This is a free preparation checklist we wrote in plain English - the only official SIA application is on the SIA's own website, inside your own SIA account.
Can I submit my SIA application through this page?
No. Nothing on this page is sent to the SIA - it's a worksheet to help you prepare your answers before you open your SIA account and apply directly.
What's the fastest way to avoid delays on my SIA application?
Have your Group A and Group B documents, your training certificate details, and a written-out 5-year address history ready before you start, since gaps in these are among the most common reasons applications stall part-way through.
What does the optional £149 check include?
We review your prepared answers against this worksheet and flag anything that looks incomplete or inconsistent before you submit to the SIA. We are not the SIA, can't influence its decision or speed up processing, and the statutory £204 fee is always paid separately, directly to the SIA.
Do I have to use the paid check service?
No - most people apply directly and pay only the SIA's own £204 fee. The free official route is linked on this page and in the fee breakdown above.
Once I submit my SIA application, can I change my answers?
No - per GOV.UK's guidance, once you submit, your answers cannot be changed, which is exactly why it's worth working through this checklist first.
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 checklist is general information, not legal or professional advice, and is not the official SIA application - for anything specific to your situation, contact the SIA directly.