Learn about private security, including information about registration, licence activities and contacting the Licensing and Regulation Division.
Last updated 03 September 2024
| Application type | Processing applications submitted |
|---|---|
| New private security licence/registration applications | 11 June 2024 |
| Private security licence/registration renewals | 01 August 2024 |
| Mutual recognition applications | 07 August 2024 |
| Applications to vary | 12 August 2024 |
| Private security business licence applications | 09 July 2024 |
| Private security business registration applications | 09 July 2024 |
| Private security business renewals | 06 August 2024 |
Please note that the application processing times outlined above are indicative only.
Complex applications, or those with suitability concerns, may take longer to process. In addition, private security business licence applications require thorough review before approval.
Phone services temporarily unavailable
The Licensing and Regulation Division (LRD) phone services will be unavailable from Monday 02 September to Friday 13 September.
Normal phone services will resume at 10:00am on Tuesday 17 September.
Any urgent enquiries during this period should be directed to LRD via our online enquiry form .
Get in touch about private security licensing through our online enquiry form.
For enquires requesting application processing updates and approval time frames, please review the Status of current applications on this page.
For general information, please refer to the Firearms and Private Security webpages. Our webpages contain information on topics relating to licensing requirements, access to application forms and guides.
The Licensing and Regulation Division (LRD) have been informed of suspicious phishing emails which are attempting to steal the personal and/or financial information of licence holders.
Please note that LRD never request payment via email, seek information about other licence holders, or communicate via Gmail.
To safeguard your information, you should never:
Note the phishing email address and do not follow any instructions the email contains.
Visit Scamwatch to report a scam or find out what to do if you’ve been scammed . Or, if you receive a suspicious emailing claiming to be from LRD, please report it or reach out with questions and concerns via LRD’s online contact form .
The public register for Register of Licence, Registration and Permit Holders allows businesses and individuals to ensure that their employees are appropriately licensed.
All current holders of a Victorian private security individual or business licence or registration will appear on the Victoria Police public register, regardless of the documented expiry date. Sections 36 (4) and 92 (4) of the Private Security Act 2004, allow that a licence or registration, in respect of a renewal application, is deemed to continue in force, after the expiry of the licence period, until the Chief Commissioner makes a decision in relation to the application.
Under sections 36(4) and 92(4) of the Private Security Act 2004, if you are renewing your private security licence or registration, you can still continue to work while awaiting your licence renewal to be processed and finalised.
You or your employer can check the validity of your licence by checking the public register of licence, registration and permit holders.
If you have completed your renewal application and are still waiting to receive your new plastic licence card you should carry your expired licence together with your receipted payment notice.
To learn more about private security legislation, you can access the Private Security Act 2004. You can also view our most recent Statement of Expectations, privacy statements and compliance principles on our Licensing and Regulation Division page. Private security licence and registration fees can be found on our Service fees and penalties page.
There are a number of activities and security guard sub-activities you can undertake under a private security licence or registration. Private security licence activities and their definitions are outlined below.
For information concerning private security registration activities, see Applying for a new private security licence or registration.
A security guard may be licensed to perform up to six-sub activities. Each sub-activity requires training qualifications and a person may be licensed for more than one sub-activity depending on their training.
For more information on the qualification requirements for each security guard sub-activity, you can read our guide.
Security guard sub-activities are defined below:
An unarmed guard is a person who is employed or retained to protect, watch or guard any property while unarmed.
An armed guard is a person who is employed or retained to protect, watch or guard any property while being armed with a firearm.
A cash-in-transit guard is a person employed to collect, transfer and/or deliver cash or other valuables while being armed with a firearm.
WorkSafe has developed some practical occupational health and safety guides for cash-in-transit operators which may be helpful to those working in the industry: Cash-in-transit: A guide to managing OHS in the cash-in-transit industry (opens in a new window)
A control room operator monitors activity – via CCTV monitors or similar means – and may be required to respond in person and/or conduct guarding duties such as patrolling. A control room is usually on site but may be off site as part of a remote-monitoring centre.
A monitoring centre operator is employed to work in a centre monitoring intruder alarm systems. A monitoring centre operator may be required to interpret signals from alarms transmitted to the centre and take appropriate action, or relay and receive situation reports to and from other personnel.
A person employed to protect, watch or guard any property may patrol with a dog. They can’t be used for any other security licence activity such as crowd control.
Note: Commercial yard dogs that are left on their own at premises as a deterrent are not regulated by Victoria Police.
The Licensing and Regulation Division does not provide information about animal training. Information regarding dog training and industry laws and standards can be found via Agriculture Victoria (opens in a new window) .
It is a condition of any security guard licence endorsed for guard with dog that any dogs used for security purposes are trained to the minimum obedience level as defined by the Domestic Animals Regulations 2015.
Crowd controllers may otherwise be engaged in maintaining order in any such place, unless that person is doing nothing more than securing or:
WorkSafe has developed some practical occupational health and safety guides for crowd controllers a which may be helpful to those working in the industry: Crowd control at venues and events: A practical occupational health and safety guide (opens in a new window)
Temporary overseas bodyguard permits can be obtained by submitting a temporary overseas bodyguard visitor permit.
An investigator is a person who, on behalf of another person, is employed or retained to obtain and provide information regarding the personal character, actions or location of any person. This includes investigations in the following areas: fraud and risk management, aviation accidents and losses, marine losses, occupational health and safety, family law, criminal law, consumer law, and intellectual property.
People performing duties as an armed guard or cash-in-transit firearm must be the holder of a current firearms licence in addition to their private security licence.
There are restrictions about the type of ammunition permitted for use in handguns used in the private security industry. Only manufacturer recommended ammunition should be used in these handguns.
All other types of ammunition are not permitted, unless they are solely used for training purposes.
Victoria Police determines that there are no exceptional or legitimate circumstances for the carriage of handguns or ammunition outside of these specifications for use in the private security industry.
Handguns used in the private security industry must be registered to a cash-in-transit or armed guard security business. Employees may not register a handgun against their individual firearm licence unless they hold the licence for an additional reason, such as sport/target shooting. In those cases those firearm may not, under any circumstances be used for employment purposes. Employers are responsible for storage and the day-to-day management of firearms possessed under the licence. Employees may not keep a firearm at home for work purposes unless required to do so by the employer and specific authorisation has been granted by the Licensing and Regulation Division. Contact us for more information about how to apply for a keep at home endorsement.
Failure to complete re-qualification requirement by the end of each financial year (30 June) means that:
In circumstances where a licence holder may not be able to complete re-qualification by June 30, they must notify Licensing and Regulation Division in writing before this date.
When a licence holder completes handgun re-qualification training after the expiry date of 30 June, their re-qualification document will be backdated for that financial year. This however, does not cover the licence holder’s re-qualification training for the new financial year. It is the sole responsibility of the licence holder to ensure re-qualification is undertaken annually within the financial year. Failure to comply with the re-qualification requirement by the end of each financial year (30 June) may result in the immediate suspension of the firearms licence under Section 47 of the Firearms Act 1996.
Applicants for a private security licence for the purpose of armed guard and/or cash-in-transit are strongly advised to submit their applications for a private security licence and firearm licence at the same time if possible. Applicants should also state the two reasons (private security and firearms licensing) on their National Police Check application. Taking these actions will minimise waiting times and avoid the need to provide evidence twice and pay multiple fees for the taking of fingerprints.
Updated 3 September 2024