Contents
England and Wales, and what is still unclear
This guide follows GOV.UK’s renewal page (updated 19 June 2026) and the SIA’s Get Licensed booklet (May 2026). The SIA’s pages do not spell out every case, and we say below where they are silent. The SIA consulted until 23 October 2026 on new licence-linked qualifications due in 2027 and has not published the outcome, and until then the current rules apply. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own qualifications and rules, so this guide does not cover them. It is not legal advice, and the SIA is the place to confirm your own case.
The short version
- Renewal is not automatic. You apply, pay and go through the checks again.
- You can apply up to 4 months before the licence expires. Time left on the old licence is added to the new one.
- The fee is £204, according to GOV.UK, the same as for a new licence.
- Door supervisors, security guards and close protection operatives need a refresher qualification and a first aid qualification before it. The renewal page lists no refresher for CCTV operators.
- An expired licence cannot be renewed. You must make a new application.
When to apply
GOV.UK says you can only renew if you hold a current licence in that sector. You can apply up to 4 months before it expires, and any time left is added to the new licence, so applying early costs you nothing. The SIA also says renewal is not guaranteed. A relevant conviction or a change to the licensing criteria could affect it.
The SIA says it cannot give an exact timescale for an application. Its online decision timescale indicator gives an estimate only. Your employer can pay the fee or submit the application for you, once you link your SIA online account to theirs.
The fee
GOV.UK gives the renewal fee as £204. The statutory fee has been £204 since April 2023, but until 31 March 2026 applicants paid £184 because of a £20 rebate from historic reserves. The rebate ended on 1 April 2026. Older articles on other sites still quote lower figures. If you apply for more than one licence in the same application, GOV.UK says the extra licences get a 50 per cent discount. Since 1 June 2026 that discount applies only if the additional application is made on the same day, on the same application form. Before that it could be claimed at any time.
Refresher training and first aid
You do not repeat training you have already passed, but door supervisors and security guards must now add a refresher qualification. Close protection operatives must too, from 1 April 2026. The SIA’s booklet says it was introduced on 1 October 2024 and became mandatory on 1 April 2025.
| Licence | Refresher qualification | First aid before the refresher |
|---|---|---|
| Door supervisor | Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher) | Emergency First Aid at Work, or equivalent |
| Security guard | Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry (Refresher) | Emergency First Aid at Work, or equivalent |
| Close protection operative | Level 2 Award for Close Protection Operatives in the Private Security Industry (Refresher) | A level 3 first aid qualification (FAW or equivalent) |
| CCTV operator (public space surveillance) | None listed on the renewal page | None listed |
The first aid qualification must be valid for at least another 12 months, and you show it to your training provider before the refresher course. You must finish any refresher and first aid requirement before you can apply to renew. The Get Licensed booklet lists the awarding organisations that offer each refresher. GOV.UK says the SIA will not accept qualifications granted by BIIAB on or after 11 August 2026, though the booklet still lists BIIAB, so ask your centre which awarding organisation it uses.
Switching from door supervisor to security guard
At renewal, a door supervisor can choose between two options, according to the SIA:
- Take the door supervisor refresher and renew the door supervisor licence.
- Take the security guard refresher instead and apply for a security guarding licence.
The SIA warns that a holder who switches can no longer lawfully do the activities a door supervisor licence covers. It also says that to get a door supervisor licence back later, you would need a new door supervisor qualification if more than three years have passed since you held one. Within three years, you would take the door supervisor refresher on top of a valid qualification.
If your licence has already expired
GOV.UK is clear: you cannot renew an expired licence, and you must apply for a new one. There is no grace period listed. Working in a licensable role without a licence may be breaking the law, GOV.UK says. Stop and sort it out first.
The training rule is where people get stuck. The SIA’s booklet says it accepts a qualification for a new application, even from a lapsed holder, as long as three years or less passed between the old licence expiring and the new application. Its example: a licence granted in February 2020 that expired in February 2023 can be followed by an application in January 2025 using the qualification gained in January 2020.
For door supervisors and security guards, GOV.UK’s training page is plainer than the booklet. If you held a licence in that sector within the last 3 years, you must hold both a full licence-linked qualification and the refresher qualification, with a first aid qualification (valid for at least another 12 months) in place before you take the training. So a lapsed holder inside the three years does not simply reapply with the old certificate. For public space surveillance (CCTV) the page lists no refresher: it says an older qualification can be accepted if it has been less than 3 years since the old licence became inactive. If more than three years have passed, you need a current full qualification, which in practice means retaking the full training and exams. Ask your training centre which qualification you need to show before you book.
The checks
The SIA runs the same checks as for a new applicant: identity, criminal record and, in most cases, right to work. GOV.UK says you must prove your identity again and may have to visit a Post Office that handles SIA applications. Our how to get an SIA licence guide covers what it asks for.
If you need the full exams again
If your licence expired more than three years ago, or you want a different licence, you are back to the full qualification papers. Our guide to SIA exam questions and pass marks sets out the papers. Our free door supervisor and security officer practice tests have 25 original questions each. The paid banks have 295 original questions (door supervisor, £9) and 312 (security officer, £19). They are written for the full knowledge papers, not for the refresher assessments, and are not from the SIA or any awarding organisation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to renew an SIA licence?
£204, according to GOV.UK. That is the SIA fee only. The refresher course and first aid training are paid to the training centre.
Can I renew an SIA licence that has expired?
No. GOV.UK says an expired licence cannot be renewed and you must apply for a new one.
How early can I renew?
Up to 4 months before the expiry date. Any time left on the old licence is added to the new one.
Do CCTV operators need refresher training?
The renewal page lists a refresher only for door supervisors, security guards and close protection operatives. It lists none for CCTV. The SIA changes its rules from time to time, and it has consulted on new qualifications for 2027, so check the page before you renew.
Sources
Last checked 2 November 2026. Dates in brackets are when each page says it was last updated.
- Renew your SIA licence, GOV.UK (19 June 2026)
- Check what training you need to get an SIA licence, GOV.UK (20 August 2026): the 3-year rule, refresher qualifications and first aid for lapsed holders, and the BIIAB cut-off
- Get Licensed: SIA licensing criteria, SIA (May 2026): the 3-year rule, licence switching, first aid and the refresher qualifications
- Fee changes for SIA licensing and approval services, SIA (28 May 2026): the 1 June 2026 discount rule
- SIA licence fee rebate ends in April 2026, SIA (4 March 2026): the £184 to £204 change
- Proposed changes to SIA licence-linked qualifications, SIA consultation (28 August to 23 October 2026): new qualifications planned for 2027
- Find out if you need an SIA licence, GOV.UK (29 January 2026)
- The SIA ending its endorsement of BIIAB: what it means for you, SIA (12 August 2026)
Changes to this guide
- 2 November 2026: The consultation on new qualifications has closed, so the note now says the SIA consulted rather than is consulting. Re-checked the sources.
- 26 October 2026: Draft written and fact-checked. Corrected the lapsed-licence refresher rule (GOV.UK does say it applies within 3 years), the 1 June 2026 discount rule and the fee history, and added close protection.
This guide is general information written from the official sources listed above and checked on 2 November 2026. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and Plainfiles is not endorsed by any government body. Rules change, so check the linked official pages for your own situation. Written and designed by Plainfiles with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, then checked against the official legislation and guidance listed in the sources. How we write and check our guides.