SIA Licence Overseas Criminal Record Check: Everything You Need to Know (2026 Guide)
If you have ever lived or worked outside the United Kingdom, you may need to provide an overseas criminal record check as part of your SIA licence application. This requirement affects a significant number of people applying for door supervisor, security guard, CCTV operator, and close protection licences in the UK and since December 2025, the rules around overseas checks have changed in ways that will catch many applicants off guard.
This guide explains exactly who needs an overseas criminal record check, how the rules changed on 1 December 2025, how to get the documentation you need, how long it takes, and what to do if you cannot obtain a check from the country concerned.
Key update: From 1 December 2025, the SIA extended its overseas check window from 5 years to 10 years. If you have lived outside the UK for 6 or more continuous months in the last 10 years, you must provide an overseas criminal record check with your SIA licence application.
What Is an Overseas Criminal Record Check?
An overseas criminal record check sometimes called a Certificate of Good Conduct, a Police Clearance Certificate, or a Criminal Record Certificate depending on the country is an official document issued by a foreign government confirming what, if any, criminal record a person holds in that country.
The SIA requires overseas criminal record checks to ensure that anyone working in the licensed security sector in the UK does not have a criminal history abroad that would disqualify them under UK licensing criteria. This is particularly important because a UK DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check only covers offences recorded on the Police National Computer and related databases it does not capture offences committed and recorded overseas.
With over 451,000 active SIA licence holders in the UK as of 2025, and a security workforce that is genuinely international in composition, overseas criminal record checks are a routine part of the licence application process for a significant proportion of the industry.
You are required to provide an overseas criminal record check if you have lived outside of the UK for six or more continuous months during the relevant look-back period. The critical change from December 2025 is that this look-back period has been extended.
| Before 1 December 2025 | From 1 December 2025 | |
| Look-back period | 5 years | 10 years |
| Minimum period abroad | 6 continuous months | 6 continuous months |
| Countries covered | All countries incl. Republic of Ireland and British Overseas Territories | All countries incl. Republic of Ireland and British Overseas Territories |
| Who is affected | Those who lived abroad between 2020-2025 | Those who lived abroad between 2015-2025 |
You are required to provide an overseas criminal record check if you have lived outside of the UK for six or more continuous months during the relevant look-back period. The critical change from December 2025 is that this look-back period has been extended.
Important: The 6 months must be continuous, not cumulative. Multiple shorter stays do not trigger the requirement unless you spent 6 unbroken consecutive months in one country. However, if you spent 6 continuous months in Country A and then 6 continuous months in Country B within the 10-year window, you would need checks from both countries.
The overseas check requirement applies to all SIA licence types, including:
- Door Supervisor licence
- Security Guard licence
- CCTV Operator (Public Space Surveillance) licence
- Close Protection Operative licence
- Vehicle Immobiliser licence
- Security Consultant licence
Why Did the Rules Change in December 2025?
The SIA updated its criminality criteria on 1 December 2025 as part of a wider overhaul of its licensing standards. The extension from five to ten years was driven by several factors.
First, the SIA identified that the five-year window was too narrow to capture serious offences that had been committed and recorded abroad slightly outside that window. A person who committed a serious offence seven years ago in a foreign country would previously have had no obligation to disclose it.
Second, the changes were designed to bring the SIA’s standards closer to those applied in other regulated sectors. The Home Office applies similar extended look-back periods when assessing criminality for visa applications in education, health, and social care.
Third, the December 2025 update also added a range of new offence types to the SIA’s list of relevant criminality, including modern slavery, people trafficking, domestic abuse, upskirting, female genital mutilation, immigration offences, and tax evasion. The extended overseas check window ensures that any of these offences committed abroad are less likely to go undiscovered.
Data point: At end of 2025 there were 460,138 active SIA licence holders and 519,168 active licences in the UK a figure that has grown steadily year on year, driven partly by international recruitment into the security sector.
How to Get an Overseas Criminal Record Check
The process for obtaining an overseas criminal record check varies significantly from country to country. The UK government publishes detailed country-by-country guidance on how to apply, which authority to contact, and what documents to submit. There are three main routes:
Route 1: Contact the Embassy or High Commission in the UK
For many countries, the most straightforward approach is to contact that country’s embassy or high commission in London. Many embassies can process criminal record requests directly and issue a Certificate of Good Conduct without you needing to travel or contact authorities in your home country. This is often the fastest route for applicants who are already settled in the UK.
Route 2: Apply Directly to the Relevant Authority in the Country
Some countries require you to apply directly to their national police, Ministry of Justice, or equivalent authority. The UK government’s guidance pages list the specific authority to contact for each country. For some countries this can be done online; for others it requires a postal application or a visit to a local police station in person.
Route 3: Use an Authorised Agent or Apostille Service
A number of specialist agencies in the UK offer overseas criminal record check services they handle the application on your behalf, deal with the relevant authorities, and return the document to you. These services typically charge a fee but can save significant time and frustration, particularly for countries with complex or opaque application processes.
Processing Times by Region
One of the most important things to understand about overseas criminal record checks is that they can take a very long time. Processing times vary enormously depending on the country. The SIA will not progress your licence application while an overseas check is outstanding, so planning ahead is essential.
| Region / Country Group | Typical Processing Time | Notes |
| Western Europe (France, Germany, Spain, Italy) | 2 to 6 weeks | Most EU countries have well-established online portals |
| Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania, Bulgaria) | 3 to 8 weeks | May require postal applications to national police |
| South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) | 4 to 12 weeks | Recommend using authorised agents; documents often in local language |
| West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana) | 6 to 16 weeks | Can be slow start process as early as possible |
| Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan) | 4 to 10 weeks | Embassy route often available in London |
| Caribbean (Jamaica, Trinidad) | 4 to 10 weeks | High Commission in London can often assist |
| North America (USA, Canada) | 2 to 4 weeks | FBI/RCMP checks well-established and efficient |
| Conflict zones or failed states | Potentially unavailable | Exception process applies see below |
Recommendation from the SIA: Start your overseas criminal record check application at least 3 months before you intend to submit your SIA licence application. For countries where processing is known to be slow, allow up to 6 months.
Translation Requirements
If the criminal record check document is issued in a language other than English, you must provide both the original document and a certified English translation. The SIA does not accept machine translations or informal translations. Certified translations must be provided by:
- A translator accredited by the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI)
- A Fellow or Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL)
- A translation company accredited by the Association of Translation Companies (ATC)
The certified translator must confirm that the translation is accurate and complete. Their name, contact details, and accreditation number should be included on the translation document.
Translation costs vary depending on the language and document length but typically range from £50 to £200 per document. Budget for this additional cost when planning your application.
What If You Cannot Get an Overseas Criminal Record Check?
There are two recognised circumstances under which the SIA may accept an application without a completed overseas criminal record check:
1. Personal Safety Risk
If obtaining a criminal record check from a particular country would put you or your family at risk for example, if you fled that country as a refugee or asylum seeker, or if contacting the authorities there would expose you to danger you can request an exemption from the SIA. You should submit a written explanation with your licence application explaining why you are unable to provide the check and why requesting it would place you at risk.
2. Country Does Not Issue Checks to Non-Residents
Some countries will not issue criminal record certificates to individuals who no longer reside there. If this applies, you must explain the situation in writing when you submit your licence application and provide evidence that you have attempted to obtain the check and been refused on this basis. The SIA will consider each case on its individual merits.
Do not simply omit an overseas criminal record check without contacting the SIA. Failing to declare a period of overseas residence, or submitting an application without the required checks without explaining why, can result in your application being refused or your licence being revoked.
New Criminality Criteria: What the December 2025 Changes Mean
The extension of the overseas check window did not happen in isolation. It is part of a broader tightening of the SIA’s criminality criteria that took effect on 1 December 2025. Understanding the full picture helps you assess whether your overseas history is likely to affect your licence application.
Under the new criteria, the following categories of offence will now result in automatic refusal of a licence application, regardless of how long ago they occurred:
- Any sexual offence (including offences committed abroad)
- Any offence involving child abuse or neglect
- Any sentence of imprisonment exceeding 48 months
Additional offence types now considered relevant for licensing decisions include modern slavery, people trafficking, domestic abuse, upskirting, FGM, revenge porn, immigration offences, public order offences, tax evasion, and company law violations. The SIA will weigh the relevance and seriousness of any of these offences when deciding whether to grant, refuse, or revoke a licence.
Step-by-Step Checklist: Overseas Criminal Record Check for Your SIA Licence
- Check whether you need a check at all. Have you lived outside the UK for 6 or more continuous months in the last 10 years? If yes, proceed. If no, you do not need an overseas criminal record check.
- Identify every country where you lived for 6 or more continuous months within the 10-year window. You need a separate check from each qualifying country.
- Find the correct authority for each country. Use the UK government’s country-by-country guidance at GOV.UK or contact the relevant embassy or high commission in London.
- Start applications early. Allow a minimum of 3 months, and up to 6 months for slow-processing countries. Do not wait until your licence renewal is imminent.
- Arrange certified translation if necessary. Use only ITI, CIOL, or ATC-accredited translators.
- Keep copies of all applications, correspondence, and documents. If there are delays, you may need to show the SIA evidence that you have applied and are waiting.
- Submit your SIA licence application along with your overseas criminal record check documents, DBS certificate, and all other required documentation.
- If you cannot obtain a check, contact the SIA before submitting your application and explain your situation in writing.
Key Statistics: The SIA and the UK Security Workforce in 2025-2026
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
| Active SIA licence holders (end of 2025) | 460,138 | SIA Annual Report 2024-25 |
| Active SIA licences (end of 2025) | 519,168 | SIA Annual Report 2024-25 |
| Male licence holders | Approximately 402,000 | SIA Statistical Data 2025 |
| Female licence holders | Approximately 49,200 | SIA Statistical Data 2025 |
| 18-21 year olds in security workforce (2025) | 5.3% of workforce | Industry data down from 22.4% in 2023 |
| New SIA licence fee from April 2026 | GBP 204 | SIA removed GBP 20 rebate |
| Overseas check window (from Dec 2025) | 10 years (was 5 years) | SIA Licensing Criteria December 2025 |
| Trigger period for overseas check | 6 continuous months abroad | Work at Height Regulations 2005 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need an overseas criminal record check if I was born abroad but grew up in the UK?
The requirement is based on where you have lived, not where you were born. If you were born abroad but moved to the UK before the age of 6 months, or before accumulating 6 continuous months of residence abroad, you would not trigger the overseas check requirement as long as you have not since lived abroad for 6 or more continuous months within the last 10 years.
2. What if I lived in the Republic of Ireland?
Yes, the Republic of Ireland counts as an overseas country for the purposes of this requirement. If you lived in the Republic of Ireland for 6 or more continuous months in the last 10 years, you must provide a criminal record check from the Garda Siochana (Irish national police). You can apply through the Irish Embassy in London or directly through the Garda National Vetting Bureau.
3. Does time spent in a British Overseas Territory count?
Yes. British Overseas Territories including Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and others are treated as overseas for the purposes of SIA criminal record checks. If you lived in any British Overseas Territory for 6 or more continuous months in the last 10 years, you must provide an overseas criminal record check from the relevant authority.
4. My country has changed its name or government since I lived there. Who do I contact?
The UK government’s country-by-country guidance covers successor states and countries that have undergone significant political change. If you are unsure, contact the relevant embassy or high commission in the UK, or consult the SIA’s guidance documentation directly on GOV.UK.
5. I have lived in multiple countries. Do I need checks from all of them?
Yes. You need a separate overseas criminal record check from every country in which you lived for 6 or more continuous months in the last 10 years. If you lived in three different countries for qualifying periods, you need three separate checks.
6. Can I renew my SIA licence without my overseas check if it is delayed?
You should contact the SIA directly if your overseas check is significantly delayed and your licence renewal is imminent. In some cases the SIA may be able to issue a short-term extension or provide interim guidance. Do not simply submit your renewal without the required documentation this risks your application being refused.
7. Will a minor conviction abroad affect my SIA licence application?
Not necessarily. The SIA assesses the nature, seriousness, and relevance of any overseas offence in the context of working in the licensed security sector. A minor traffic offence is unlikely to affect your application. More serious offences particularly those now listed under the expanded December 2025 criteria will be assessed carefully and may result in refusal.
