How Much Does an SIA Licence Cost?
An SIA licence costs £204 for one licence, the fee in force from 1 April 2026. Each extra licence in the same application costs £102, so a guarding and door supervision application costs £306 in total. The fee is non-refundable, and the licence lasts 3 years. Training is paid for separately.
What is the application fee?
The Security Industry Authority charges £204 for one licence. This is the fee in force from 1 April 2026, and it is paid when you apply online. The Security Industry Authority, usually shortened to the SIA, is the United Kingdom regulator for private security.
The fee is non-refundable. That means you lose it if your application is refused or if you withdraw, so confirm that you meet the age, training, identity and right-to-work requirements before you pay.
What if you want more than one licence?
Security guarding and door supervision are separate licences, and you can apply for both in one application. Each extra licence in the same application costs £102 rather than the full £204.
For both licences in one application the fees add up to £306, which is £204 plus £102.
What else will you pay for?
The application fee is not the whole cost of getting started. You must complete first aid, either Emergency First Aid at Work or an equivalent, and then the licence-linked qualification. Security Guarding is 30 hours over 4 days with self-study or 38 hours over 5 days without. Door Supervision is 44 hours over 6 days or 52 hours over 7 days.
Course prices are set by training providers, so they vary, and you should check with the provider. The SIA does not publish them in the guidance this answer relies on.
How long does the licence last?
A licence lasts 3 years. Spread over that period, the single-licence fee works out at £68 a year before training costs.
Check the SIA application page for renewal.
How can you keep the cost down?
If you need both licences, apply for them in one application: each extra licence in the same application costs £102 rather than £204, so guarding plus door supervision is £306 in total.
Get the application right the first time. The fee is non-refundable, so a refusal or a withdrawal means paying again. Check your age, training, first aid, right to work and identity documents before you submit.
Compare training providers on what the course includes and on the price, which varies from one provider to the next. Confirm that the course is the correct licence-linked qualification, since an inexpensive course that does not lead to the licence you need costs you more in the end.
Also remember when the cost arises. You pay the fee when you apply, so training and first aid come first and the application fee comes last, once you have everything ready. Remember too that the fee is non-refundable, so submit the application only when the rest is ready. A licence then runs for 3 years from issue, which is the period over which to weigh the cost against the work you expect to take.
Does a licence guarantee work?
No. A licence lets you work legally in a licensable role; it does not bring you customers. XGuard is a marketplace, not a security company, and it does not promise work or availability. Before a professional can list on XGuard we check the licence number with the SIA, and professionals set their own rates.
Treat the licence fee as a business cost and plan your pricing and expected jobs accordingly.
Related questions
Is the SIA licence fee refundable?
No. The fee is non-refundable, even if your application is refused or you withdraw.
How much is a second SIA licence?
Each extra licence in the same application costs £102. For example, security guarding plus door supervision costs £306 in total.
Does the £204 include training?
No. It is the application fee only. Course prices are set by training providers and vary, so check with the provider.
How long is an SIA licence valid?
A licence lasts 3 years.
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