CSCS card expired or lost? Exactly what to do
An expired or missing card can cost you a day's work at the gate. The fix is usually quick and costs the official £36 — here's which route is yours, and how to avoid paying an agent for the same form.
Renewal window confirmed by CSCS: 6 months before to 6 months after the expiry date printed on your card. Every route needs only the official site or app — cscs.uk.com or My CSCS.
My CSCS card has expired
Look at how long ago it expired
Up to 6 months after the date on the card, it's still a renewal. Later than that, you apply again as a new applicant — same £36, but you must meet today's rules for that card.
Check your CITB test
Whatever the route, your HS&E test must be in date when you apply: the test pass is accepted for 2 years (3 years only when renewing a first Labourer card). If it's out of date, book it first on citb.co.uk (£23.50). See the CITB test explained.
Have your qualification ready
The card is based on a qualification — the Level 1 Award for Labourer, an NVQ for skilled cards. Since the end of 2024 cards issued on experience alone (“grandfather rights”) can't be renewed: you need a recognised qualification.
Apply in the My CSCS app or on cscs.uk.com
Pay £36 by card. Once approved, the digital card appears in the app straight away — show that on site while the plastic one is posted.
No. CSCS doesn't extend cards. What people usually mean is the 6-month grace window: you can still renew for up to 6 months after expiry. But the card itself is expired during that time — Smart Check at the gate will show it, and most sites will turn you away until the renewal is approved. Renew before the date, not after.
Lost, stolen or damaged card
Open My CSCS
Log in to the My CSCS app (or on cscs.uk.com) with the email you used when you applied.
My Cards → Replace Card
Pick the card you lost and choose Replace Card. It costs £36. Employers and training providers can also do this for you through CSCS Online.
Know what you get
The replacement keeps the same expiry date as the original. So if your card ends within 6 months anyway, renew instead — same £36, but you get a full new card period.
Other situations
“I can't find my card number”
Log in to the My CSCS app — your digital card, card number and expiry date are there. Forgotten the login or the email you used? Call the CSCS contact centre on 0344 994 4777.
“I want to update my card”
Got a new qualification (for example an NVQ Level 2 or 3)? That's a new card at the higher level — apply for it with your certificate (£36). Changed your name or contact details: update them in My CSCS or call CSCS.
“My red card is about to end”
Red cards can't be renewed. Finish the qualification you're registered on, then apply for the card it leads to. See every CSCS card and how long it lasts.
“A website wants £100+ to sort it”
Walk away. Only cscs.uk.com and the My CSCS app are official. Other sites are made to look official and charge extra for the same form you can fill in yourself.
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Add my cards — 2 minutesCommon questions
What happens if my CSCS card expires?
It stops being valid on the date printed on it, and Smart Check shows it as expired at the site gate. You can still renew it for up to 6 months after that date; after that you make a new application. Either way it costs £36.
Can I renew an expired CSCS card?
Yes, if it expired less than 6 months ago — it's still treated as a renewal. After 6 months you apply again as a new applicant, meeting the current requirements for that card.
Can I work with an expired CSCS card?
No law stops you, but most main contractors require a valid card, and digital Smart Check shows the expiry at the gate. In practice an expired card usually means you're turned away until your renewal is approved.
How do I replace a lost CSCS card?
Log in to My CSCS, open My Cards, choose the card and select Replace Card. It costs £36, and the replacement keeps the same expiry date as the original.
How do I find my CSCS card number?
It's in the My CSCS app with your digital card. If you can't get into your account, call the CSCS contact centre on 0344 994 4777.
Is there a CSCS card extension?
No. Cards aren't extended; you renew them. You can renew from 6 months before to 6 months after the expiry date.
Do I need to resit the CITB test to renew?
Only if it won't be in date when you apply. The test pass is accepted for 2 years from the test date for any CSCS application (3 years only when renewing a first 2-year Labourer card).
