Apply for ACS approval
What we check and how you apply for approval.
You will need to pass all of our application checks to become an approved contractor.
We can help you with your ACS application. Before you seek advice from third party consultants, please contact us.
What do we check?
You provide private security services regulated by the SIA
You cannot be an SIA approved contractor unless all of the following apply to you:
- you provide private security services in the UK
- you offer services in the security activities that we license
- you provide those services under contract
- you have provided those services for at least 12 months
- you supply at least two licensable operatives in each of the activities for which you are seeking approval
- the people you deploy on regulated activity are employees or employees for tax purposes
Your business is ‘fit and proper’
We will check the identity, criminality, financial probity and integrity of the people running your business (often referred to as ‘controlling minds’).
We will take into consideration:
- who controls your business and the licensable individuals you supply
- any criminal convictions or charges relating to your business or its controlling minds
- the financial circumstances of your business and its controlling minds
- the integrity of your business and its controlling minds
Your directors are licensed
All directors must hold a valid SIA licence. This includes executive and non-executive directors, shadow directors, parent company directors and corporate entities holding a directorship.
Your staff are licensed
All security operatives you deploy must hold a valid SIA licence.
How do you apply for approval?
There are two ways to become approved: standard and passport. It is up to you which one you choose.
Either way will involve one of our approved assessing bodies, so you should talk to them as well. They may have a view on which route would work best for you.
Standard route to approval
- You assess your company using the ACS self-assessment workbook and the ACS self-assessment report. Please also read our 2025 update to the ACS Self-Assessment Workbook and our 2026 update to the ACS Self-Assessment Workbook.
- If you meet the required standard, you fill in the ACS application form and submit it through your online business account. At the same time, you pay the application fee.
- We process your application and conduct our checks.
- If we confirm that you are eligible for approval, you arrange an assessment with your chosen assessing body.
- We will give your assessor all of the information you gave us in the application form.
- They assess your company and produce an assessment report for you. They also send a copy to us.
- We review their report and make our approval decision.
- If we approve your company, you pay the registration fee.
Passport route to approval
- You get certified through one of our accredited passport schemes.
- You fill in the ACS application form and submit it through your online account with proof of your certification. At the same time, you pay the application fee.
- We process your application and conduct our checks.
- We make our approval decision.
- If we approve your company, you pay the registration fee.
Read more about the passport route to approval.
ACS assessing bodies
We do not usually assess you directly, although we can if we need to. Instead, we ask assessing bodies to conduct the assessment of your organisation on our behalf.
The assessing bodies we are partnered with are:
- British Assessment Bureau (a subsidiary of Amtivo Group Limited)
- NSI
- SSAIB
All ACS assessors must abide by our .
You should not proceed with a standard route ACS assessment until we tell you to.
Fees you must pay
You must pay fees to us and fees to your assessing body.
Fees you must pay to us
We charge two different types of fee:
- An application fee, which you must pay in full when you apply for approval. This pays for us to process your application and is non-refundable.
- An annual registration fee, which you must pay after you are approved and then every year for as long as you remain approved. This fee is non-refundable.
The application fee varies depending on the number of licensable staff in your organisation:
- Up to 10 licensable staff: £400
- 11 to 25 licensable staff: £800
- 26 to 250 licensable staff: £1,600
- Over 250 licensable staff: £2,400
The registration fee is the same for everyone: £25 per licensable individual deployed.
The registration fee changed on 1 June 2026. Learn more about the change.
SIA accredited passport schemes
We accept the passport scheme shown below.
NSI ACS Passport Scheme
This scheme covers the following licensable activities:
- Cash and valuables in transit
- Close protection
- Door supervision
- Key holding
- Public space surveillance (CCTV)
- Security guarding
Contact us
If you have any enquiries regarding the ACS, please submit these through your online business account (select ‘Help’). If you do not have a business account you can register for one.
Or you can call us on 0300 123 9298.
Third party advice
You may choose to use a consultant or another adviser to help you with your ACS application. They are independent suppliers to your business, so you should check their services and costs before you appoint them.
We do not train, approve or endorse consultants. Be cautious of anyone who claims to have a special link to us or any influence over our decisions.
Consultants and other advisers do not hold any responsibility for meeting ACS terms and conditions. That responsibility stays solely with your business and its senior decision makers.
We will normally speak only to the contacts you give us. If you want us to include a consultant, accountant, solicitor or similar adviser, you must ask us in writing. If we agree, they can only support you in an advisory role. Your business will still be accountable for all information provided and for meeting all ACS requirements.