You can renew up to 4 months (123 days) before your licence expires and you lose nothing: the SIA adds the time left on your old licence to the new one. Your new licence can take 2 weeks to a month to arrive, so book your refresher early.
- Enter your licence expiry date to see your timeline.
The rules behind the planner
- 4 months, 123 days. The SIA accepts a renewal application up to four months before your licence expires, and it adds any time left on the old licence to the new one. Renewing early never shortens your licence.
- Refresher first. Since 1 April 2025 you must hold the Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher), or the Security Officers equivalent, before you can renew. The certificate has to be issued by the awarding body and show on your SIA account before you apply, which takes a few working days after the course.
- First aid with 12 months left. Your Emergency First Aid at Work certificate, or an equivalent that meets Health and Safety Executive guidance, must be valid for at least another 12 months on the day the refresher training starts. If it is not, renew it first; our refresher courses include the first aid day for anyone who needs it.
- No gap. You cannot work while your licence is expired, and an expired licence cannot be renewed at all, only replaced with a new application. Six months before expiry is a comfortable time to book.
The full picture is in our guides to Door Supervisor renewal and Security Guard renewal. The SIA's own rules are on its renew your licence page.
FAQ
How early can I renew my SIA licence?
Up to four months, 123 days, before the expiry date printed on your licence. Time left on the old licence is added to the new one, so you lose nothing.
Do I need a refresher course to renew my SIA licence?
Yes, since 1 April 2025, for door supervisor and security guard licences. You need the Refresher qualification as well as your original licence-linked qualification.
Does my first aid certificate need to be valid to renew?
You must hold an Emergency First Aid at Work certificate, or equivalent, with at least 12 months remaining before you can take the refresher training that renewal depends on.
What happens if my SIA licence has already expired?
It cannot be renewed. You apply for a new licence, with the same training requirements, and you cannot work in a licensable role until it is issued.