The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has announced changes to its fee structure for licensing and Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) services following its annual statutory review of costs. The changes take effect on 1 June 2026.

The update affects both ACS annual registration fees and the conditions under which discounts apply to additional individual licence applications.

The most significant change applies to the ACS annual registration fee calculation. The fee per licensable individual deployed will increase from £15 to £25. ACS fees are based on the number of SIA-licensed operatives employed by a company, meaning costs scale with workforce size. Smaller and medium-sized organisations continue to pay lower total fees than larger contractors under the existing structure.

The SIA states this is the first increase in ACS annual registration fees since the scheme was introduced in 2006. It also notes that, even after the increase, the fee remains lower in real terms when adjusted for inflation compared to its original level.

The SIA is also changing how the 50% discount on additional licence applications is applied. The discount will remain in place but will now only apply where a second application is submitted on the same day and on the same application form. Previously, applicants could qualify for the discount at different times. The change reflects the requirement to carry out full checks for each application, including criminal record checks, and to ensure fees better reflect the cost of processing.

The SIA confirms that all fees are set on a cost-recovery basis. Charges are designed to cover the full cost of delivering licensing and ACS services, without generating profit or requiring taxpayer subsidy. Individual licensing fees remain separate from ACS fees and are also calculated under the same principle.

The SIA also clarified that these changes are not related to its work on Martyn’s Law. Separate funding arrangements are in place through the Home Office for that programme of work.