Applying for a permit for the security industry

• You must apply for the permit from the competent authority.
• Once you have submitted the application and all documents are complete, the competent authority will check whether you meet all the requirements.
• If you meet all the requirements, you will receive the permit.
• You may only start your activity once you have received the permit.

In the case of legal entities (e.g. limited liability companies, business companies, public limited companies, registered cooperatives), you only need to complete the application form for the legal entity itself. You must submit all personal documents for all natural persons authorized to represent you (e.g. identity card). For the legal entity, you also need an excerpt from the central trade register.
Partnerships (GbR, KG, OHG, PartG, GmbH & Co. KG) are not eligible for authorization as such. Therefore, each managing partner requires a permit. You must submit a completed application form and all personal documents for each of these persons.

More information

If you have not resided in Germany or the EU in the last 3 years and therefore your "reliability" cannot be sufficiently checked, you cannot obtain a permit.

Mere surveillance (e.g. using technical security equipment), observation or investigation activities (e.g. detective agencies) or the mere provision of space (e.g. lockers) do not constitute security services requiring a permit.

At the request of the authorities, the parties concerned must provide the information required to monitor business operations. Furthermore, the authorities are authorized to enter the business premises in order to carry out inspections and visits.
Operating a security business without the required permit is an administrative offense punishable by a fine of up to EUR 5,000. Violations of the obligations in connection with the employment of persons are also considered administrative offenses.

Legal remedy

• Appeal (appeal may be excluded depending on national law)
• Administrative court action

• Application for a permit pursuant to § 34a of the Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act (Gewerbeordnung)
  

  You will find the application form on the top right of this page under Further Information.

• Proof of personal reliability if resident in Germany:
  
  • Extract from the Central Trade Register for submission to an authority in accordance with Section 150 (5) of the Trade Regulation Act
  • Certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority (document type O)
• Proof of personal reliability if resident abroad:
  

  Documents from the home country that prove personal reliability

• Proof of the company's legal form if the company is based in Germany:
  
  • for companies entered in a register: Extract from the commercial, cooperative or association register
  • otherwise a copy of the articles of association (e.g. in the case of a civil law partnership (GbR))
• Proof of the company's legal form if the company is based abroad:
  

  Documents from the country of domicile that prove the legal form.

• Certificate of competence
  

  IHK certificate of professional competence or another comparable recognised professional qualification.

• Certificate in tax matters of the tax office
  

  (to be applied for at the tax office of the place of residence)

• Extract from the list of debtors of the enforcement court
  

  The debtors' register can only be inspected online at www.vollstreckungsportal.de. Registration is necessary here. You will then receive a PIN by post, which you can use to start your search. The result of your query must be printed out and enclosed with your application.

• Professional liability insurance
  

  The professional indemnity insurance must be taken out with an insurance company licensed to do business in Germany. The minimum insurance sum per loss event is 1,000,000 euros for personal injury, 250,000 euros for property damage, 15,000 euros for the loss of guarded property and 12,500 euros for pure financial loss.

• Important note for legal entities
  

  The extract from the Central Business Register, the certificate in tax matters, the extract from the debtors' register and the information from the insolvency court must be submitted both for the legal entity (e.g. GmbH, AG) and for the persons authorised to represent it by law, the articles of association or the partnership agreement (e.g. management, board of directors).

  In addition, an extract from the commercial register must be submitted.

• In addition, a copy of your residence permit if you do not have German citizenship or citizenship of another European Union country
• Copy of identity card or passport with registration certificate, or presentation on site.
  

  In the case of legal entities, for all natural persons authorized to represent them.

• Extract from the commercial register (if applicable and available)
• Proof of orderly financial circumstances, e.g:
  
  • Current certificate in tax matters from the tax office (to be submitted in the original)
  • and, if applicable, from the municipal tax office
  • Submission of a statement of assets
  • Information from the insolvency court as to whether proceedings have been opened (so-called negative certificate)
• Proof that the required liability insurance has been taken out
• Clearance certificate for the last 5 years from the local tax office
• Certificate from the insolvency court and enforcement court for the last 5 years
• Note
  

  Comprehensive information is obtained from the Federal and Central Commercial Register as well as a statement from the responsible police authority.

• Application for a permit for a security guarding business (natural person) (pdf, 865.1 KB)
  

• Application for a permit for a security guarding business (legal entity) (pdf, 912.6 KB)
  

435,00 EUR bis 1.920,00 EUR The exact amount of the fee is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the costs incurred.

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

Not specified. Please contact the responsible office.

How long does it take to process

Not specified. Please contact the responsible office.

• § 34a Gewerbeordnung
• Verordnung über das Bewachungsbewerbe (BewachV)
• Kostenverordnung der Wirtschaftsverwaltung (WKostV)