The Time It Takes To Get Licensed

Once you have applied for a licence, playing the waiting game can be frustrating. After all, we all have bills to pay, and life isn’t exactly going to pause while you wait in limbo. The fact is, once you have invested time and money into your training, you want nothing more than to get straight to work. So, why the hold-up?

Answering the question of how long it should take to get a licence is very tricky. The reason is that there is no official timescale for licence applications, and this is down to a series of dependable factors. This could be the following:

• Nationality (as it affects your right to work in the UK
• Address history
• Criminal record, if you have one  
• Time spent outside of the UK

Every application carries its own set of specific circumstances that must be considered. So, each application carried out will be processed according to its own individual timescale. Some applications may be processed in days, others weeks, and some even months. For example, the latter could be down to the SIA having to wait for the outcome of a court case before they can decide.

Timescales can also be affected by the volume of applications being processed at the time. Then there’s the response time from outside agencies involved in the process, such as criminality disclosure bodies that are integral to the SIA’s daily activities.

Getting your licence in good time will depend solely on YOU. If the information you give to the SIA is incorrect or incomplete, then you can expect delays in your application. To give you an idea, here is how the application process can be applied to the following scenarios:

Example 1 – Let’s say the SIA receive an application that contains incomplete or incorrect information. In this instance, they will need to write to the applicant and ask for the correct information before granting their decision.

Example 2 – The SIA receives an application the day after the one mentioned above that has all the correct information necessary to grant a decision. Even though the application in example one was received first, it will be the latter application that will take priority and be granted.

The important thing to remember here is that the SIA are not responsible for delays if you provide them with incorrect information.

Rule of thumb – Carefully check your application before sending it, and respond quickly to any requests made by the SIA when they seek further information.

With all the above now sunk in, take a breath and proceed carefully when applying for your licence. For those who are already awaiting their licence, be patient and try to cooperate where possible.

The journey to getting licensed needn’t be a stressful one!

How to work in the security sector

If you are interested in working in the security sector, whether it be as a Door Supervisor, Security Guard or CCTV Operative, you will need to obtain an SIA Licence.

To obtain an SIA Licence, you will need to complete a course. Once you have completed the course, will you then be able to apply for an SIA Licence and work in the security sector.

Looking for jobs? 

To find the latest security jobs, check out our Jobs Board, which has 1,000+ jobs from the UK’s best security companies. 

If you’re on the hunt for a security job on the go, download the GuardPass app for all the latest jobs and more. The GuardPass App is available for download on the Apple App Store or on the Google Play Store.