If you’ve been putting off getting your SIA licence — or you know your renewal is coming up — this is one of those moments where procrastinating will genuinely cost you money. Not in a vague, “you’ll regret it later” kind of way. In a very literal, £20-out-of-your-pocket kind of way. The Security Industry Authority has confirmed that from 1 April 2026, the cost of applying for an SIA licence is going up. The deadline is fixed. And given how long the training and application process can take, the window to do anything about it is narrowing faster than most people realise. Here’s everything you need to know.

So What’s Actually Changing?

Let’s clear up a common misconception straight away: the SIA isn’t technically raising its licence fee. The official fee has sat at £204 since April 2023, and that figure isn’t changing. What is changing is the removal of a £20 rebate that has been quietly applied to every single application since 2020. Most applicants didn’t even know it existed — it was just automatically knocked off the total at the point of payment. But from 1 April, that discount disappears. In practical terms, here’s how the numbers look:

Before 1 April 2026: £184 per licence application
From 1 April 2026 onwards: £204 per licence application

That difference applies across the board — new applications, renewals, and every licence category including Door Supervisor, Security Guard, and CCTV Operator. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your first licence or your fifth renewal. The extra £20 applies to everyone. For someone who’s been working in security for years and is simply renewing, £20 might not feel like a life-changing sum. But for someone just starting out — already facing the cost of training, transport, and time off work — it’s one more expense that’s avoidable if you move quickly.

Why Is the Rebate Being Removed Now?

The backstory here is worth understanding, because it explains why this isn’t coming out of nowhere. Prior to April 2020, the SIA had accumulated financial reserves — essentially a surplus that had built up over years of licence fee income exceeding operating costs. When the pandemic hit and the industry was under enormous strain, the SIA used those reserves to fund a £20 rebate on every application. The intention was to ease the financial burden on security workers at a difficult time. Six years later, those reserves have run dry. The SIA is a public body that’s legally required to cover its own costs, and it can no longer subsidise applications from a pot of money that no longer exists. As SIA Chief Executive Michelle Russell has noted, even at the full £204 the licence fee represents significantly better value than it did at launch — when licensing was introduced in 2004, the fee was £190, which would be roughly £347 in today’s money when adjusted for inflation. In that context, the current fee is, historically speaking, still a relative bargain. None of that makes the extra £20 feel better if you’re the one paying it, of course. But it does explain why the change is happening and why there’s no realistic prospect of it being reversed.

The Real Deadline Isn’t April 1st — It’s Much Sooner Than You Think

This is the part that catches people out every time there’s a fee change or deadline in the security industry. The assumption is: “I’ve got until the end of March, so I’ll sort it then.” But that’s not how the timeline works. To apply for an SIA licence at the current price of £184, you need to have your application submitted and paid before midnight on 31 March. But before you can submit that application, you need a completed qualification. And before you have a completed qualification, you need to have finished your training. A Door Supervisor course — the most common route into the industry — typically runs across multiple days and can take anywhere from one week to several weeks depending on the training provider and the format of the course. Once your final assessment is done, there’s additional processing time before your certificate is issued. Some providers are faster than others, but none of them can guarantee same-day turnaround. Add it all up and you can see the problem: if you try to book training in the last week of March, you almost certainly won’t have your certificate in time to submit your application before the deadline. And even if you did, training centres across the country will be fully booked as people scramble to beat the cut-off — which means the available slots will disappear long before the deadline arrives. The time to act is now, not in three weeks. If you’re ready to get started, you can browse available SIA training courses and book your place here. Availability is already tightening, so it’s worth checking sooner rather than later.

What If You’re Renewing Rather Than Applying for the First Time?

The fee increase applies to renewals just as much as it does to first-time applicants. If your current licence expires in the coming months and you haven’t yet started the renewal process, now is an excellent time to think about whether you can get it submitted before April. One thing worth knowing: SIA licences are valid for three years, and you can apply to renew up to six months before your expiry date without losing any time on the licence. If your licence expires in, say, July or August 2026, you may well be able to get your renewal application in under the current pricing if you move now. It’s also worth double-checking whether your renewal requires any refresher training. Depending on your licence category and when you last trained, you may need to complete updated training before your renewal application can be processed. Again, this takes time — another reason to start the process early rather than leave it to the last minute.

Which Licences Does This Affect?

All of them. The rebate removal isn’t limited to one particular sector or licence type. Whether you’re working towards a Door Supervisor licence, a Security Guard licence, or a CCTV Operator licence, the same change applies. The £20 difference affects every application submitted on or after 1 April 2026, regardless of the licence category or whether it’s a new application or a renewal. If you’re considering which route into the security industry is right for you, it’s worth thinking about your options before making a decision. A Door Supervisor licence is the most versatile — it covers both venue security and close protection support, and tends to command higher rates of pay. A Security Guard licence is a solid option for those looking to work in static or patrol roles. A CCTV Operator licence is increasingly valuable as surveillance technology becomes more central to modern security operations. Whatever route you choose, the fee change affects them equally. And the sooner you get your training booked, the better your chances of locking in the lower application cost. Take a look at what’s available in your area and secure your spot before courses fill up.

Is £204 Still Worth It?

Absolutely — and it’s worth putting the cost in context. An SIA licence is valid for three years, meaning the full £204 works out to less than £70 per year, or roughly £1.35 per week. Against the backdrop of what a licensed security professional can earn — Door Supervisors in London can command upwards of £15–£18 per hour, sometimes significantly more for specialist events work — the licence fee is a relatively small investment with a substantial return. Without a licence, you simply can’t work in any frontline security role legally. It’s not optional, and it’s not something employers can overlook. Having your SIA badge isn’t just a box-ticking exercise — it’s the foundation of your professional credibility in the industry, and it’s what separates the candidates who get shortlisted from those who don’t even make it onto the pile. The upcoming fee change doesn’t alter the fundamental value of holding a licence. It just adds a modest urgency to getting the process underway before 1 April if you want to avoid paying the higher rate.

How to Get Moving Before the Deadline

The process, in brief, looks like this:

Book your training course — Choose an SIA-recognised training provider and select a course that fits your schedule. Make sure you leave enough time between your final assessment and 31 March to have your certificate issued.
Complete your qualification — Attend and pass your training. Most providers will issue your certificate within a few days of completion, though this varies.
Submit your application — Once you have your certificate, you can apply to the SIA directly through their online portal. Have your documents ready in advance to avoid delays.
Pay before 1 April — Your application needs to be submitted and payment processed before the deadline to qualify for the current £184 rate.

The sooner you start step one, the more breathing room you have across the rest of the process. Leaving any of these stages to the last week of March is a gamble that isn’t worth taking when £20 is on the line — and when the alternative is simply booking a course today. Find an SIA-accredited course near you and get your application in before the price goes up.

This article is for informational purposes only. Licence fee details are correct at time of publication — always verify current pricing directly with the SIA before submitting your application.