Security Guard Services in Austria

How to Become a Security Guard in Austria

In Austria, security guarding (Bewachungsgewerbe) is a regulated trade under sections 129 and 130 of the Trade Regulation Act 1994 (Gewerbeordnung 1994, GewO 1994). The law does not prescribe specific training for individual security guards, but the security authority checks the reliability of the employees deployed.

Competent authorities: Trade authority (Gewerbebehörde) (registration of the trade); security authority (Sicherheitsbehörde) (reliability check of employees). Legal basis: Trade Regulation Act 1994 (Gewerbeordnung 1994, GewO 1994), sections 129 and 130; Security Trade Ordinance (Sicherheitsgewerbe-Verordnung), BGBl. II No. 82/2003. wko.at/ktn/gewerbe-handwerk/gewerbliche-dienstleister/allgemeine-informationen-zum-sicherheitsgewerbe-in-oesterrei.pdf

Requirements for Employees

• The law does not prescribe any specific training or continuing education for employees in the security trade
• Employees must have full legal capacity and the reliability and suitability required for the work (section 130(8) GewO 1994)
• The security authority checks the criminal record and other security-related criteria; whether an employee is suitable is largely at the employer’s discretion and risk

Reliability Check Process

1. When it begins operating, the company sends the competent security authority a list of all persons it deploys in its business
2. The security authority checks the criminal record and other security-related criteria for each person
3. If the authority considers an employee unreliable, it notifies the employer, who may no longer employ that person in the business

Agency Licensing

Security guarding is a regulated trade. Registration of the trade therefore requires proof of qualification, and the trade authority checks the applicant’s reliability. Under the Security Trade Ordinance (BGBl. II No. 82/2003), qualification is shown either by a passed qualifying examination together with school certificates and relevant professional experience (1.5 years after a commercial academy (Handelsakademie); 2 years after another higher vocational school, a commercial school, an academic secondary school or an intermediate vocational school; or 7 years of relevant work), or by a university degree in one of the listed fields (such as law or business administration) and 1 year of relevant work. Wearing a uniform requires approval from the competent federal minister (section 129(6) GewO 1994). Anyone who deploys staff who do not meet the requirements of section 130(8) GewO 1994 may be subject to an administrative fine of up to EUR 2,180.

Acquiring, possessing and carrying weapons generally requires official authorization (firearms license, Waffenpass). According to the Austrian Economic Chamber (Wirtschaftskammer Österreich), security personnel are issued a firearms license under sections 20 et seq. of the Weapons Act (Waffengesetz) only if the company demonstrates a justification and a need to carry category B firearms, for example to guard embassies or for cash and valuables transport.

Sources

• WKO Carinthia: General information on the security trade in Austria
• Security Trade Ordinance, BGBl. II No. 82/2003 (provided by WKO Vienna)

Requirements can change. Confirm current rules with the competent authority before applying. This summary is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed November 2026.