Security Industry; Applying for a License

Commercial security services require a license. “Security services” as defined in Section 34a of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO) refer to activities aimed at protecting the lives or property of others from interference by third parties. Security services require active custodial duties (e.g., supervision or patrols). These custodial duties must be performed by human personnel.

A security service provider may be a natural person or a legal entity. In the case of partnerships (e.g., OHG, KG), each managing partner is considered a business operator and requires a license. For legal entities, the license is issued to the GmbH or AG.

The personal licensing requirements (good character, proof of having successfully passed a proficiency exam, sound financial standing) must be met by the business operators or by the legal representatives of a legal entity. 

Good character is verified by the licensing authority, in particular, on the basis of an unrestricted extract from the Federal Central Register to be obtained by the authority, a statement from the police and the Bavarian State Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as well as an extract from the Central Trade Register to be requested by the applicant. 

Security duties may only be entrusted to persons (security guards) whose reliability has been verified by the authority on the basis of an unrestricted extract from the Federal Central Register and a statement from the competent police authority, and who have also received at least 40 hours of instruction in the legal and technical fundamentals necessary for performing the activity from the Chamber of Industryand Commerce for at least 40 instructional hours or have successfully passed a proficiency examination administered by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). 

For the following security activities, security guards are also required to have successfully passed a proficiency examination administered by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK):

• patrols in public areas or on private property where public traffic actually occurs;
• Protection against shoplifters;
• Security at the entrance areas of nightclubs;
• Security at reception facilities pursuant to Section 44 of the Asylum Act, at shared housing facilities pursuant to Section 53 of the Asylum Act, or at other properties and facilities used for the official accommodation—including temporary accommodation—of asylum seekers or refugees, in a supervisory capacity;
• Security for large-scale events with restricted access in a supervisory capacity.

The security contractor must register the security guards through the Security Guard Registry.  

The authorities have the right to request information and conduct inspections from business operators pursuant to § 34a of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO), in accordance with § 29 of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO). Upon request by the authorities, the parties concerned must provide the information necessary for the supervision of business operations. Furthermore, the authorities are authorized to enter business premises to conduct inspections and surveys there.

Contact:

+(49) 09131 / 86 - 2290

+(49) 09131 / 86 - 1515

• Reliability of the Business Owner and Their Staff
• Sound financial standing
• Proof of professional competence through a successfully passed exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK)
• Adequate liability insurance

Before granting the permit, the authority shall obtain at least one statement from the police and the Bavarian State Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as well as an unrestricted extract from the Federal Central Register.

• When submitting an application on behalf of a legal entity (e.g., UG, GmbH, AG), a current extract from the commercial, cooperative, or association registry
• Certificates regarding tax matters issued by the tax office and the municipal tax office; for legal entities, all legal representatives
• A copy of the national ID card, passport with a certificate of residence, passport or ID card substitute, or any other official identification document; for legal entities, copies of the identification documents of all legal representatives
• Proof of having successfully passed the proficiency exam or other acceptable forms of proof
  

  for the applicant and the persons to be appointed to manage the business or a branch office; in the case of legal entities, the legal representatives, provided that they are themselves directly involved in the performance of security duties or have not appointed a person to manage the business or a branch office who holds a certificate of competence or other equivalent proof of qualification

• Proof of Liability Insurance
• Information from the debtor registry

• Security Permit: 150 to 1,500 EUR in accordance with the Schedule of Fees under the Cost Act (Rate No. 5.III.5/12.1)
• Extract from the Central Trade Register: 13 EUR in accordance with the Judicial Administration Cost Regulations
• Competency exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce: approx. 170 EUR
• Training with certification (training certificate) from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce: approx. 425 EUR for security personnel (per security guard)