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What is an SIA licence?

An SIA (Security Industry Authority) licence is a legal requirement for anyone undertaking a private security role within the UK. For example, you will need one if you want to become a security officer (security guard) or to work as a door supervisor in licensed premises and at events. Under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, it is a criminal offence to work without one.

SIA licences act as official evidence that the post holder is a ‘fit and proper’ person, has been trained to the necessary minimum industry standards by a government approved licence-linked training course and is qualified to undertake all responsibilities associated with his or her security position.

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How to apply for an SIA licence

To apply for a licence in the UK you first need to complete an accredited licence-linked SIA training course, details of which you can find on the UK government website here.

Here at Venture, we deliver accredited SIA training courses from our purpose-designed training centre in Andover. You can find out more, view current courses and book here.

Passing a training course won’t automatically grant you a licence, but it’s a necessary step you’ll need to take if you wish to become a registered security professional in the UK and apply for work in the private security sector.

Once you’ve completed your training course you can apply for your licence on the UK government website by creating an online account and submitting an application form.

How long does an SIA licence last?

SIA licences are currently valid for three years.

Licence renewal

You’ll need to keep your SIA licence up to date to avoid any disruption to your ability to work, so it’s important that you complete your SIA licence renewal before your current licence expires.

For that reason, it’s advisable to renew your SIA licence when you have around four months‘ validity out of the three years remaining, leaving you plenty of time for your new licence to arrive before your current one expires. The SIA will contact you when there are four months left on your licence and the new one will be dated to start from the expiry of the previous licence, provided you apply in plenty of time within that four-month period.

At Venture, we provide The Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher) – the mandatory refresher qualification for existing SIA Door Supervisor licence holders who need to renew their licence.

Our course combines the required refresher training with Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW), giving you everything you need to complete your refresher training in one place. You can find out more, view upcoming courses and book here.

Female security officer for Venture Security

How much does an SIA licence cost?

The current cost is £204 per licence (correct as of April 2026), which must be paid in full at the time you submit your SIA licence application.

You may need to apply for more than 1 licence. If you apply for more than 1 licence as part of the same application, the SIA will apply a discount of 50% to the additional licences.

SIA licence payments are also non-refundable, so in the event that your application is denied (because you’ve provided false information on your application for instance) you’ll forfeit your SIA licence cost.

If you wish to reapply for an SIA licence, following a failed application, you will need to submit a fresh application via your SIA account on the UK government website and pay the required SIA cost again.

Finding an approved SIA licence course

If you are applying for a front-line SIA licence in the UK, you will usually need to hold the relevant SIA licence-linked qualification before you can apply.

Venture Security delivers professional SIA licence-linked training for people looking to start or progress their career within the security industry. Our training combines the knowledge required to achieve the relevant qualification with practical learning informed by our real-world experience as an established security provider.

We offer a range of security training courses, including Door Supervisor, Security Officer and CCTV (Public Space Surveillance) training, alongside relevant refresher and top-up training.

Looking to gain or renew an SIA licence?

View Our Courses

When choosing a training provider, you should ensure that the qualification and training meet the current requirements for the SIA licence you intend to apply for. You can find further information about SIA licence-linked training and the qualifications required on the UK Government and Security Industry Authority website.

  • Do you provide security training and SIA licence courses?

    Yes. We provide professional security training for individuals looking to enter or progress within the security industry, as well as training for businesses and organisations.

    Our security training includes SIA licence-linked qualifications, such as Door Supervisor, Security Officer and CCTV (Public Space Surveillance), together with relevant refresher and top-up training.

    As an established operational security provider, our courses combine recognised qualifications with practical learning informed by real-world security experience.

    We can also support organisations requiring training for their teams, including group bookings, private courses and bespoke training programmes.

    View Our Courses

  • SIA Licence requirements

    In addition to passing a government accredited SIA licence course, anyone applying to get SIA licenced as a private sector security professional in the UK also needs to undergo a criminal records check and provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

    As part of your application, you’ll also be asked to submit proof of identity. This needs to include one form of photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence, and two official documents, such as a council tax bill, mortgage statement, utility bill or bank statement, along with a recent passport style photograph of yourself.

    Only original documents are accepted in each case, so you must be prepared to post whichever proof you submit, in order for your application to be processed. You will then been required to attend an eligible Post Office to have your documents checked, photograph taken and to pay for your application.

  • How long does a licence take to arrive?

    You can use the government’s decision timescale indicator to give you a rough indication of when you can expect your licence to be issued.

    You can also track the progress of your application via “my applications” by logging in to your SIA account on the UK government website.

    The speed your SIA application is processed depends on a number of variables, such as how quickly you return your identification documents and the number of licences you’re applying for.

    If you have a criminal record, a pending trial, or have lived continuously outside of the UK for a period of six months or more (within five years of applying for your SIA licence), this can also influence how quickly your licence is granted.

  • Working before your licence is issued

    It is an offence under the Private Security Act 2001 to work in a licensable security role without a valid SIA licence, and this continues to be the case right up until you physically receive your licence (or at least proof it has been granted).

    In 2025, the SIA made changes to the rules for issuing Licence Dispensation Notices (LDNs). You cannot work in a private security role until your full licence application is fully approved.

    The new rules mean LDNs can only be issued to applicants who held an active SIA licence when they submitted their licence application. This will ensure that anyone working on an LDN has undergone a criminal record check within the last 3 years.

     

  • Further reading

    You may also be interested in:

    What to Expect When Going for Your SIA Licence Which physical security job is right for you? A day in the life of a Venture Security Officer
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