Close protection licence applications fell 13.4% in the twelve months to September 2026, and 26.8% in the last six months, according to the SIA’s licence applications report. On its own, that sounds like falling interest. The SIA’s own figures on licences granted point to a more specific explanation: a licence only lasts three years, so today’s renewal calendar is shaped by how many licences were issued three years ago.
What The Numbers Show
The SIA updated its licence applications report on 22 October 2026. For close protection:
| Period | Applications | Change |
|---|---|---|
| October 2024 to September 2025 | 4,607 | — |
| October 2025 to September 2026 | 3,990 | −13.4% |
| April to September 2025 | 2,223 | — |
| April to September 2026 | 1,627 | −26.8% |
That’s 617 fewer applications over the year. The six-month figure compares April to September 2026 with the same months of 2025. It doesn’t mean applications fell 27% during 2026.
Close protection isn’t the only sector that moved. Over the same twelve months, door supervision applications fell 11.6%, security guarding rose 9.3%, and all sectors combined fell 7.8%.
Why The Three-Year Cycle Matters
SIA licences last three years, so many applications in any given year are renewals of licences granted three years earlier. Renewals can be submitted in the four months before expiry, so applications run slightly ahead of expiry dates. The SIA has published how many close protection licences it granted in each recent year, in a Freedom of Information response:
| Year | Close protection licences granted |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 5,258 |
| 2020 | 5,691 |
| 2021 | 6,152 |
| 2022 | 4,746 |
| 2023 (January to August) | 2,222 |
Grants fell from 6,152 in 2021 to 4,746 in 2022, and ran at about 278 a month in early 2023, against about 395 a month in 2022. That period coincides with the new close protection qualification the SIA introduced on 1 April 2022.
Licences granted in 2023 reach their three-year expiry in 2026. Set side by side, the monthly figures line up closely:
| Months | Licences granted per month, three years earlier | Applications per month |
|---|---|---|
| April to September 2025 | about 395 (2022) | about 370 |
| April to September 2026 | about 278 (early 2023) | about 271 |
The smaller group of licences coming up for renewal fell by about 30% from the 2022 monthly rate, and applications fell by 26.8%. This is a rough match, not proof. It assumes grants were spread evenly across each year, the 2023 figure only covers eight months, and applications include first-time applicants as well as renewals. But it suggests the six-month dip may largely reflect a smaller renewal cohort, not a sudden drop in the number of people choosing close protection.
What The Data Doesn’t Measure
Licence applications show how many people applied to the SIA. They don’t show vacancies, client demand, or how many licensed operators are in work. The report counts applications, not people, and doesn’t say why numbers move. Treat the figures as a picture of licensing activity.
Recommended Reading: State Protection Versus Commercial Close Protection
What’s Changed For Renewals
Renewing close protection holders now have an extra step. The SIA’s licensing criteria set out the current rules:
- Refresher training: introduced on 1 October 2025 and mandatory for renewals from 1 April 2026. The qualification is the Level 2 Award for Close Protection Operatives (Refresher), covering door supervisor principles and physical intervention skills.
- First aid: a Level 3 qualification such as First Aid at Work, First Person on Scene or First Response Emergency Care, or an accepted equivalent. Emergency First Aid at Work isn’t accepted, and the certificate needs at least 12 months’ validity before training starts.
- Licence switching: at renewal, a close protection holder can take the door supervisor refresher and apply for a door supervisor licence instead. The SIA recorded 409 holders doing this between October 2022 and August 2023, after top-up training was introduced.
If you’re approaching renewal, you’ll need to book a close protection refresher course. The SIA’s recent consultation also asked whether licence integration, which lets close protection holders work door supervision and guarding roles, should continue, so it’s worth following our consultation explainer for the outcome.
Learn about the SIA course in our blog on close protection training in the UK.
If You’re Thinking About Close Protection
The route into the profession hasn’t changed. You need a Level 3 first aid qualification, then the Level 3 Certificate for Close Protection Operatives, which the SIA sets at 194 hours over 18 days. After that, you apply to the SIA for your licence, which costs £204 and lasts three years.
The application figures tell you how the licensing calendar is moving, not whether to pursue the profession. If executive protection is the route you want, explore close protection courses near you, or read our close protection licence guide before you book.
