SIA Licence Check, Tracker and Renewal Guide
Published 7 May 2026 · Updated 19 October 2026
How to check an SIA licence on the public register, track expiry with a free tracker, and handle renewals so no officer works unlicensed.
If your officers work in a licensable role, every one of them needs a valid Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence, every day they work. Working without one is a criminal offence for the officer, and a security company that supplies unlicensed officers risks prosecution and losing its clients. This guide covers how to check a licence, how renewals work, and how to build a tracker that tells you in good time.
Who needs an SIA licence
Front line roles in these sectors need an SIA licence: security guarding, door supervision, public space surveillance (CCTV), close protection and cash and valuables in transit. The licence must match the work. A door supervisor licence does not cover security guarding, so a person moved between sectors needs the right licence for each. For a specific duty such as key holding, check the SIA website for which licence applies.
SIA licence checker: how to check a licence on the register
The SIA runs a free online Register of Licence Holders. Check it, do not rely on the plastic card alone.
- Search by licence number, or by name and the sector you are checking.
- Confirm the name and photo match the person in front of you.
- Confirm the licence status is active and note the sector and the expiry date.
- Record the date you checked and who checked it.
Check at hire, and again on a schedule you set. Many firms check monthly, and again straight after any renewal date. This is good practice, not a rule, but a dated record of checks is exactly what a client or auditor asks to see.
How renewals work
- Renewals are not automatic. The officer must apply. The SIA does not guarantee a new licence, because their circumstances or the licensing criteria may have changed.
- They can apply 4 months before expiry. Applying early does not lose time: any time left on the current licence is added to the new one.
- An expired licence cannot be renewed. If it has lapsed the officer must apply for a new licence, and must not work in a licensable role until it is granted.
- Fees. The application fee for a renewal is the same as for a new licence. It was £204 from 1 April 2026, and there are discounts when more than one licence is applied for together. Check the SIA site for the current figure.
- You can pay for your officers. Many employers pay the fee. The officer links their SIA online account to yours, and you can submit the application for them.
Read the SIA's own guidance: Renew your SIA licence.
Build a tracker that warns you early
A good tracker has one row per officer and these columns: name, licence number, sector, expiry date, days to expiry, last register check, who checked, and renewal applied. Then add warnings.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 120 days before expiry | Renewal window is open. Tell the officer and ask them to apply |
| 60 days before | Chase anyone who has not applied |
| 30 days before | Escalate to the manager. Plan cover for the rota |
| 14 and 7 days before | Final reminders. Confirm the application is in |
| Expiry day | Anyone without a granted renewal comes off the rota until it is sorted |
You can download a free SIA licence tracker that does the day counting and colours rows amber and red for you. Keep only the personal data you need and protect the file, because licence numbers are personal data under UK GDPR.
What to do when a licence lapses or is revoked
Take the officer off the rota straight away. Tell the site manager so cover can be arranged, and record what happened and when. Do not deploy them "just for tonight". The risk to the officer, to you and to the client is not worth one shift.
How GuardFlow helps
GuardFlow keeps SIA licence, right to work, DBS and training documents on each officer's record and sends expiry reminders at 30, 14, 7 and 0 days. The SIA check itself is recorded manually against the official register: GuardFlow does not run the register check for you. The point is that nothing relies on one person's memory or a spreadsheet nobody opened this month. See all features or book a demo.