What happens if your SIA licence expires?

It is easy to miss an expiry date, especially with a licence that lasts three years. If yours has run out, the rules are stricter than most people expect. This guide explains what happens, what you must do, and how to avoid it next time, based on GOV.UK and the SIA licensing criteria.

You cannot renew an expired licence

GOV.UK is clear: you cannot renew a licence unless you hold a current licence in that sector. If your licence has already expired, you have to apply for a new licence. You can apply to renew up to 4 months before expiry, and the SIA adds any time you have left onto the new licence, so applying early costs you nothing. After the expiry date that option has gone. See the renewal guide.

Can you keep working?

No. You cannot do licensable work without a valid licence. Doing so is a criminal offence under section 3 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. On conviction in a magistrates' court the maximum is six months in prison, a fine, or both. Read working without an SIA licence for the detail.

The official guidance does not give a grace period after expiry, and it does not say you can carry on working while a new application is being processed. Do not assume one. The SIA also says it cannot tell you exactly how long an application will take, which is why applying early matters.

What training do you need?

It depends on how long ago the licence expired. The SIA licensing criteria (May 2026) say it will accept your qualification if there are three years or less between the old licence expiring and your new application.

• Door supervisors: if it has been less than three years since you held a licence, you need the relevant refresher training. If it has been more than three years, you must obtain a new door supervisor qualification.
• Close protection: the same rule applies. Less than three years means the refresher or top-up, and more than three years means a new close protection qualification.
• Security guards: the same three-year rule applies to every front line licence, and GOV.UK says the refresher is needed if you are renewing or held a licence within the last 3 years. The SIA criteria spell out the consequences only for door supervisors and close protection, but the rule works the same way: once your old qualification is more than three years out of date it no longer counts, so expect to need the full security guard qualification again. Training providers describe it the same way, but confirm with the provider or the SIA before you pay for a course.
• CCTV and other licences: the three-year limit on qualifications applies too. CCTV applicants who have worked in a public space surveillance control room, or hold CCTV training from the last three years, may be exempt from some of the practical elements, but they still take the exam. Ask the training provider.

In every case the SIA decides, and it can ask how current your training is. If you are close to the three-year line, ask your training provider to check your dates before you book.

First aid comes first

For door supervisor, security guard and close protection you need a valid first aid qualification before you take the refresher or the full training. It must have at least 12 months left. For close protection it must be level 3, and a one-day Emergency First Aid at Work certificate is not accepted. If your first aid has also lapsed, book that first. See the first aid guide.

What it costs and what you need

• Fee: £204 to the SIA, the same as a new licence or a renewal. Any training and first aid course are extra and paid to the provider.
• Identity checks: these apply to every application, and you may need to visit a UK Post Office. Check the branch handles SIA applications first.
• Right to work, criminal record checks and training evidence: as for any new applicant. See the guide to getting a licence.

If you have already been working on an expired licence

Stop licensable work now and apply as soon as you can. If you are worried about what has happened, speak to the SIA or get independent legal advice. This guide is general information, and the SIA decides each case.

How to stop it happening again

1. Check your expiry date on the SIA register using your licence number.
2. Put a reminder in about 5 months before it expires, so you have time to book refresher training and first aid.
3. Keep an eye on your first aid expiry too, because it must still have 12 months left when you train.
4. Apply as soon as you are within 4 months.

The free Praesova Career Passport tracks your licence and qualification expiry dates and sends you reminders before they run out. Compare refresher courses on the Praesova training marketplace.

Quick questions

Can I renew my SIA licence after it has expired?

No. GOV.UK says you cannot renew a licence that has already expired. You must apply for a new licence.

Can I work if my SIA licence has expired?

No. Working in a licensable role without a valid licence is an offence under section 3 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

Is there a grace period after an SIA licence expires?

The official guidance does not give one. Do not assume you can keep working.

Do I have to retake my SIA training if my licence expired?

Not always. If it has been three years or less, the SIA accepts your qualification and you may only need the refresher. If it has been more than three years, the old qualification no longer counts: the SIA says so for door supervisors and close protection, and the same three-year limit applies to the other front line licences, so check with your provider.

How much does it cost to apply after expiry?

£204, the same fee as a renewal or a new licence (checked on GOV.UK on 8 November 2026).

Related guides

• How to renew your SIA licence
• Working without an SIA licence
• First aid for your SIA licence
• Door supervisor refresher training