What this means
Start with the exact decision in front of you.
Suspension or revocation can immediately affect lawful deployment, employment and the public register. A later application is a separate licensing decision under the criteria then in force; it is not an automatic restoration of the lost licence.
Immediate priorities
Organise the position before responding.
Verify the register entry and cease any prohibited licensable role
Give employers an accurate copy of the operative decision
Identify whether appeal, changed circumstances or a later application is the proper route
Detailed guidance
The procedure, evidence and possible route from here.
01
Define what work the current status permits
A suspended or revoked licence cannot authorise the licensable activities covered by it. Check the statutory activity and sector rather than relying only on job title. Some administrative or unlicensed duties may be possible, but the employer should assess them against the legislation and operational facts. Carrying on licensable activity without a valid licence can create separate consequences for the worker and business.
Provide the employer with the formal SIA decision and current register result. Distinguish suspension, which is temporary, from revocation, which removes the licence. An employer may also operate its own disciplinary or redeployment process under employment law; that outcome does not change SIA status. Keep communications accurate so a temporary suspension is not represented as a criminal conviction or a final misconduct finding.
- Check the legal activity, not only the role name
- Give the employer verified status information
- Keep employment and licensing decisions distinct
02
Manage clients, assignments and records
Stop affected deployments and arrange a safe handover of keys, access devices, incident material, body-worn equipment and confidential information. Record when the licensed duty ended and who assumed responsibility. Do not retain operational data to support a personal appeal outside the employer's lawful process. Request copies of relevant evidence through proper channels so client security and data protection are preserved.
If the decision arose from an incident, preserve the duty log, assignment instructions, training record and employer outcome before routine deletion. Compliance after the decision may become relevant to suitability, while ignoring it may create further adverse information. Continue obeying any bail, safeguarding, immigration or employment restriction independently of SIA status. Restoration of one process does not automatically remove restrictions imposed by another.
- Handover access and security assets formally
- Request evidence through lawful employer channels
- Track all independent restrictions
03
Assess appeal, changed circumstances or reapplication
A court appeal challenges the licensing decision within its statutory period. A request based on new circumstances may ask the SIA to revisit a continuing suspension where the risk basis has changed. A fresh application after revocation is assessed under the criteria then in force and is not automatic restoration. Choose the route by the decision, timing and evidence rather than submitting overlapping requests without a defined legal purpose.
Before reapplying, verify that mandatory identity, right-to-work, qualification and criminality requirements are met and prepare accurate disclosure of the prior licence outcome. If suitability was the issue, gather evidence of the material change rather than resubmitting the rejected account. Pay no agent who promises guaranteed approval. The SIA makes the decision, and lawful work can resume only after a valid licence appears with the necessary sector and conditions.
- Choose the route matching the current decision
- Check all criteria before a new application
- Wait for verified grant before licensed work
Key questions
Keep the analysis tied to this stage.
What work is prohibited by the current licence status
Whether the original decision can still be challenged
Whether and when a fresh application can satisfy current criteria
Advice is provided only by the regulated firm that accepts a matter.
Common questions
Clarifying the route without assuming the outcome.
Can I move to an unlicensed security role after suspension?
Only if the actual duties do not require the affected SIA licence. The employer should assess the activities, not merely rename the role.
Will a fresh SIA application restore my old licence?
No. It is a new decision under the current criteria, with disclosure and evidence considered afresh. Work must wait for a valid grant.
Connected guidance
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Official sources
Check the material for this question.
Sources checked 19 September 2026. Rules change, so compare the current notice and linked official material and tell the operator if a citation or summary needs correction.