The regional Police Force directorate grants a guarding licence for ten years. For a company, it checks reliability and especially the people involved. Every statutory body member must be at least 21, of good character, reliable, medically fit and professionally qualified, with the required education and experience and a type P competence card after an Interior Ministry examination. Members with interests of 15% or more must be of good character and reliable. Attach personal documents, the founding deed and the fee. Unlicensed operation risks a fine and activity ban.
A guarding service may not be provided to even one client without a licence. Act No. 473/2005 Coll. on Private Security examines not only the company but, above all, the people behind it. Most unsuccessful applications fail on those people.
The regional directorate issues separate licences for each service type
Under Section 3, guarding includes protecting property and people, maintaining order where people gather and operating security systems. Detective services and professional training are separate security service categories (Section 2(1)) with separate licences (Section 27(2)).
The regional directorate decides on granting a security service operating licence on an application by an individual or legal entity. […] A security service operating licence is issued for ten years unless this Act provides otherwise.
— Section 9(2) of Act No. 473/2005 Coll. (unofficial English translation)
Founders may also apply before the company is entered in the Commercial Register. The registration application must then be filed within 90 days after the decision becomes final (Section 10(2)).
Who is checked?
The company’s own reliability is examined, followed by its people:
The regional directorate grants a security service operating licence to a reliable legal entity […] if internal order and security interests do not prevent it and […] individuals serving as its statutory body or members of that body meet the conditions prescribed in […], and an individual holding at least a 15% ownership interest meets the conditions prescribed in […].
— Section 12(1) of Act No. 473/2005 Coll. (unofficial English translation)
Every statutory representative must satisfy Section 11(1): EEA citizenship, age of at least 21, full legal capacity, good character, reliability, medical fitness and professional competence. The same applies to a procuration holder and authorised representative (Section 12(2)), while a statutory representative without Slovak residence requires a responsible representative (Section 12(3)). Intentional criminal offences and a continuing activity ban exclude good character (Section 13). Reliability is broader: specified offences in the preceding two years, criminal prosecution and a police conclusion that the person offers no assurance of honest performance can prevent it (Section 14(1)). The Slovak Information Service always gives an opinion on statutory representatives (Section 14(4)). Medical fitness is evidenced by a medical assessment including a psychological examination (Section 15(1)).
Professional competence: education, experience and a type P card
Professional competence requires the prescribed education and competence card (Section 16). For guarding, qualifications include completed secondary education with at least five years’ security experience, secondary vocational education in security services with two years’ experience, or university education under Section 17(2), such as law (Section 17(1)). Operators and statutory representatives need a type P card (Section 19(1)(b)). It is obtained through an Interior Ministry test after training by an accredited provider, which must register the candidate within three months of training completion (Section 19(6)). An unsuccessful candidate has two resits (Section 19(2)), and the card lasts ten years (Section 20(1)).
The application and common obstacles
The application states the business name and registered office, statutory representatives, activities under Sections 3 to 5 and establishments (Section 23(1)). Attach the founding deed, fee payment evidence, illustrations of the uniform and insignia, and documents for each statutory representative under Section 22(2): details for a criminal record extract, a medical assessment no more than three months old, education evidence and the type P card. For members holding at least 15%, attach good-character and reliability documents (Section 23(2)). File in person (Section 26(1)). The authority requests the Ministry’s opinion (Section 27(1)) and issues the licence within 30 days after the decision becomes final (Section 27(2)). Common failures concern personal reliability, insufficient experience, an undisclosed procuration holder, a name suggesting public administration (Section 12(1)(c)), and Section 37 obstacles, including bankruptcy in the preceding three years and a silent partnership agreement.
Duties after licensing
Notify changes to application details within 15 days (Section 29(1)), provide updated management documents every two years (Section 29(4)), make client contracts in writing and retain them for five years (Section 38), and submit an activity report by 31 January (Section 39). Guards must be at least 18, of good character, reliable, medically fit and card holders (Section 48(1)). Failure to maintain the conditions risks suspension and licence withdrawal (Sections 31 and 33). Unlicensed activity carries a fine of EUR 3,319 to EUR 66,387 and an activity ban of up to five years (Section 91(2)).
How we can help
We check the company and individuals before filing, address competence requirements, prepare the application and attachments and conduct the regional directorate proceedings through private security licences. We prepare contracts and employee records through employment contracts and documentation, while our external legal department can monitor reporting and document renewals. If you already provide guarding under another label, such as reception duties, contact us before an inspection identifies it.
This answer provides general information on the law as at 5 September 2026. It does not constitute legal services or replace an assessment of an individual case. The details of your situation may differ. Book a consultation to discuss them.
