SIA Licence Requirements: Who Can Get One in 2026?

Before you book any SIA course, it is worth ten minutes to check you actually qualify for the licence at the end of it. The requirements are set by the Security Industry Authority and fall into four areas: age, right to work, identity, and criminal record. Here is what each one means in practice.

1. Age

You must be 18 or over to hold an SIA licence. There is no upper age limit — plenty of people enter the industry later in life, particularly into static guarding and CCTV roles.

2. Right to work in the UK

You must have the legal right to work in the UK. The SIA verifies this as part of the application, and you will need to provide evidence — a passport, biometric residence permit, or share code depending on your status.

3. Identity and address

You must be able to prove who you are and where you live. For the course and application you will typically need:

• A valid passport or UK photocard driving licence
• Proof of address dated within the last three months (utility bill, bank statement or council tax letter)
• Your National Insurance number

4. Criminal record

This is the requirement people worry about most, and the honest position is more forgiving than many expect. The SIA carries out a criminality check and assesses each applicant individually. A criminal record does not automatically prevent you from being licensed — the SIA weighs the nature of the offence, how long ago it was, and whether it is relevant to security work.

As a general guide:

• Minor or old convictions often do not prevent licensing
• Spent convictions are treated more favourably
• Serious, recent or relevant offences (violence, dishonesty, drugs) are more likely to cause problems

Do I need any qualifications first?

No prior qualifications or experience are needed to start. The training course itself provides everything the SIA requires. For the Door Supervisor licence you will also need Emergency First Aid at Work, which is built into our course.

Check, then book with confidence

If you meet the four requirements above, you are clear to book. Our Leicester courses run weekly with same-week starts, and we support you through the SIA application so it goes through smoothly.