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The SIA Close Protection Licence allows the holder to legally work as a close protection operative or bodyguard in the United Kingdom.
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The Close Protection Licence enables you to work in the private security industry as a bodyguard or close protection operative — the licence for people trusted with other people's safety.
The licence is issued by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and is valid for 3 years. Holders will be expected to handle high-pressure situations and the threat of assault, while providing security for important individuals, including celebrities, politicians and sports stars.
If you are conducting the licensable activities of a Close Protection Operative then by law you require an SIA Licence. In certain circumstances, however, your employer may have been given an exemption under Section 4(4) of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
The bar is higher here than for any other SIA licence — this is the licence for protecting people, not property. But if you're serious about the work, none of it is out of reach. A past conviction doesn't automatically rule you out either: the SIA looks at each case individually, so check before you count yourself out.
Check with our SIA Criminal Record tool
Be 18 years of age or older
Have the right to work in the UK
Hold a current First Aid at Work qualification (Level 3) before training
Pass the Level 3 Close Protection Course
Pass the SIA's identity and criminal background checks
You will need to verify your identity to satisfy parts of your SIA application, namely your photo ID. The easiest way to do this is at the Post Office, where staff check your documents and take your photo.
You'll need one primary identity document, such as a passport or UK driving licence, plus two supporting documents, one of which must show your current address. Keep your First Aid at Work certificate and course qualification safe too — they're part of your evidence.
The SIA Close Protection Licence costs £190 and the licence is valid for 3 years. The fee covers the cost of processing your application and is non-refundable. For further information, please refer to the Official SIA Website.
Applying for more than one licence in the same application? The first licence costs £190 and each additional licence is half price at £95. The discount only applies when the licences are part of the same application.
The rules changed on 1 April 2026: to renew your SIA Close Protection Licence, you now need to complete the SIA's Close Protection Refresher qualification first. It updates the safety-critical skills the role depends on, and you'll need a current Level 3 first aid qualification before you can take it.
You can start renewing your current SIA Close Protection Licence 4 months before it is due to expire. The new licence will commence only after your current licence has expired. The application cost is a non-refundable £190.
Book the Close Protection Refresher
The CP Refresher qualification — required from 1 April 2026
A current Level 3 first aid qualification (FAW or equivalent) before the refresher
The £190 application fee, up to 4 months before expiry
Updated skills and knowledge that keep you ready for the demands of the role, and keep your licence valid.
The SIA calls this licensing integration. The Close Protection Licence sits at the top of the stack — it covers the widest range of front-line work:
Door Supervisor work
Security Guard work
Security Guard work
Key holding work
To apply for the Close Protection Licence, you must complete the training course and obtain the Level 3 Certificate for Working as a Close Protection Operative within the Private Security Industry. The course usually runs over 16–19 days:
The law, your powers and your responsibilities. The foundation every operative builds on before a principal ever trusts them.
Threat assessment, surveillance awareness, route planning and protective escort drills. The craft of keeping someone safe without them noticing the work.
Defusing confrontation under pressure — then the multiple-choice exams and live practical drills that earn you the qualification.
Many providers offer extras: evasive and convoy driving, introduction to short firearms, close combat and anti-ambush training.
The course is assessed by multiple choice exams and practical assessments, including live drills. They test both what you know and how you perform when it counts.
| Unit | Assessment | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Working in the Private Security Industry | Multiple-choice exam | The law, your responsibilities and how the industry works |
| 2 · Working as a Close Protection Operative | Multiple-choice exam + practical drills | Threat assessment, planning and protective escort work |
| 3 · Conflict Management | Multiple-choice exam | Defusing confrontation and managing high-pressure situations |
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The SIA Security Guard Licence costs a non-refundable £190. This is paid directly to SIA, who are the licensing authority for the security industry. Please see the following answers if you are self-employed or currently hold a separate SIA Licence.
If you are self-employed and have paid for your own licence fee, you can claim back £44 (calculated for basic rate taxpayers).
If you currently hold an SIA licence in a separate category and are obtaining an additional licence in another, you are eligible for a 50% discount. For example, if you hold a Door Supervisor Licence and are obtaining a Close Protection Licence, you will only pay £110, instead of £190.
Your SIA Close Protection Licence is valid for 3 years. Once it expires, you will need to reapply. You can start this process 4 months before it is due to expire. This will not affect the duration of your current licence or your new licence. The cost is the same as for a new licence: a non-refundable £190. There are currently no refresher courses required.
To be eligible for an SIA Close Protection Licence, you must first be over 18 years of age, be allowed to live and work in the UK and have passed the necessary criminal checks. Next, you will need to be a Certified First Aider (FAW). This is often covered by your Training Provider. Finally, you will need to have successfully completed and passed the Close Protection Training Course, which will provide you with a Level 3 Certificate for Working as a Close Protection Operative within the Private Security Industry.
The Close Protection Training Course takes you through topics that are essential to providing security for individuals and handling high-stress situations. It runs over 16 days some of the additional areas covered include Evasive Driving, Short Firearms and Close Combat. The training course and the attached qualification (Level 3 Certificate for Working as a Close Protection Operative within the Private Security Industry) is required in order to apply for the SIA Close Protection Licence.
The SIA checks the criminal background of applicants through a DBS check, as well as verifying their identity.
Having a criminal record does not necessarily prevent you from obtaining an SIA Licence. However, this will depend on the type of offence. It is best to contact the SIA directly if you are considering applying for a licence. It is also worth noting that a criminal record could cause the SIA to take longer to process your application as they would need to run extra checks.
If you spent at least 6 continuous months within the last 5 years, then you will need to produce some supporting evidence regarding your Criminal Record for your SIA application. For example, you will need to provide some evidence of a criminal check which covers this period. However, if you were serving in the military during this period, then an extract of your military record (which covers the mentioned period) will be enough.
The SIA states that it takes 25 working days to process a licence application. In rare cases where there may be issues with identity checks or there are some questions about criminal records, it could take up to 6 weeks.
With the SIA Close Protection Licence, you can work as a Close Protection Officer, or bodyguard and provide security for important individuals like celebrities or businessmen. Using your licence, you are also able to perform many other roles in the security industry, as the skills are transferable and the SIA permits this type of Licence Integration (please see below).
Licence Integration is where one licence can be used in another related area. For example, a Close Protection Licence can used where a Door Supervisor Licence is required. This depends on the licensable activity being carried out and the licence held.
It is a criminal offence on both your part and the employers to work in the private security industry without an SIA Licence unless your employer has been give the necessary exemptions under Section 4(4) of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
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