If you want to work in UK private security, front line roles legally require a licence from the Security Industry Authority. Here is the whole process in plain English: what it costs in 2026, the training you need first, how to apply, and how long it really takes. For the official application itself, always use the SIA's own service on GOV.UK.
The headline numbers for 2026
- Licence fee: £204 from 1 April 2026. Until March 2026 the fee was £184 because the SIA subsidised each application by £20 from reserves; that subsidy has ended.
- Validity: three years for standard front line licences.
- Minimum age: 18.
- Decision time: most complete applications are decided within about 25 working days. Incomplete paperwork is the most common delay.
- Training costs are separate and vary by provider and route.
Step 1: pick your licence type
Apply for the licence that matches the work you will actually do:
- Door supervisor: the most flexible front line licence; covers licensed premises and general guarding.
- Security guard: static and corporate guarding without licensed premises work.
- CCTV (public space surveillance): control room and monitoring roles.
- Close protection: bodyguarding and executive protection.
- Key holding and other specialist categories, plus non front line licences for directors and managers of security businesses.
Step 2: complete the licence-linked training
Before applying you must pass the licence-linked qualification for your role with an approved awarding organisation. Two things catch people out:
- First aid first. For door supervisor and security guard routes you must hold suitable first aid training, such as Emergency First Aid at Work, before you take the licence-linked course.
- Identity documents on course day. Training providers must check who you are; bring the documents they ask for or you lose the booking.
Step 3: apply online
- Create your account on the SIA's online service via GOV.UK and complete the application for your licence type.
- Prove your identity following the SIA's document rules, including your address and name history. Gaps and mismatches here cause most delays.
- Declare your criminal record honestly. The SIA runs its own checks; many convictions do not automatically bar you, but a false declaration will.
- Pay the £204 fee. Some employers pay it for you; ask before you apply.
- Track progress in your SIA account and respond quickly if they request more evidence.
Renewals and top-up training
Renew before your licence expires; you can apply from a few months out and working on an expired licence is an offence. Door supervisors and security guards renewing today must also have completed the newer top-up training requirements introduced in recent years, so check your training record before you pay. Diary the expiry date the day your licence arrives: employers lose good staff to avoidable lapses every month.
What the licence does not cover
The licence proves you may work in the industry. It does not replace employer-side screening to BS 7858, which most security contracts require, and it does not include the site and role training a company must evidence for audits: fire safety, conflict management refreshers, counter-terrorism awareness under Martyn's Law expectations, and so on. That evidence lives on your employer's training matrix.