Private Security Services in Spain

The professional security guard license is granted by the Ministry of the Interior, as in the rest of Spain. The Generalitat’s Departament d’Interior i Seguretat Pública (Department of the Interior and Public Security) authorizes companies whose headquarters and area of operation are limited to Catalonia and enters them in the Catalonia Private Security Register.

Competent Authority

Departament d’Interior i Seguretat Pública (Generalitat de Catalunya) for companies; Directorate General of the Police for personnel licensing tramits.gencat.cat

Applicable Law

Law 5/2014 of April 4 on Private Security, and Order INT/318/2011 of February 1 on private security personnel.

Licenses and Authorizations

• Security guard license, with a professional identity card (tarjeta de identidad profesional, TIP) issued by the Ministry of the Interior.
• Private bodyguard license, a specialty of the security guard.
• Explosives guard license, which requires being a licensed security guard.
• Private security company authorization, with entry in the Catalonia Private Security Register.
• Responsible declaration for companies engaged only in the installation and maintenance of security systems.

Requirements

• Being of legal age.
• Holding the nationality of a European Union state, a European Economic Area state or a country with a bilateral agreement.
• No criminal record for intentional offenses.
• Proof of the necessary physical capacity and psychological fitness.
• Passing the qualifying tests set by the Ministry of the Interior.
• For companies, a registered office and area of operation limited to Catalonia.

Training

• Initial security guard training of at least 180 teaching hours and six weeks at a training center.
• Specific modules of 60 teaching hours for private bodyguards.
• Specific modules of 30 teaching hours for explosives guards.
• Ongoing training of at least 20 teaching hours per year.

Application Steps

1. Complete the initial training at an accredited training center.
2. Pass the selection tests called by the Secretary of State for Security.
3. Apply for the license to the National Police with fee form 790, code 015, an identity document and photographs.
4. Receive the TIP and the professional record book.
5. For companies, submit the authorization application to the Departament d’Interior i Seguretat Pública through Tràmits Gencat.

Validity and Renewal

The TIP is valid for ten years from issue and is renewed with the same license number, with a medical certificate of physical and psychological fitness. Ongoing training of at least 20 teaching hours per year is required.

Regional or Local Rules

The Generalitat implements national legislation for companies headquartered and operating in Catalonia. Companies that operate outside Catalonia fall under national authority.

Official Sources

• Authorization of private security companies, Tràmits Gencat
• Law 5/2014 of April 4 on Private Security (BOE)
• Order INT/318/2011 of February 1 on private security personnel (BOE)
• Licensing of private security personnel, Police online office

The professional security guard license is granted by the Ministry of the Interior. The Basque Government Department of Security (Departamento de Seguridad del Gobierno Vasco), through the Deputy Ministry of Security and the Ertzaintza Private Security Unit, authorizes companies headquartered and operating in the Basque Country (Euskadi).

Competent Authority

Basque Government Department of Security, Deputy Ministry of Security and Ertzaintza Private Security Unit, for companies; Directorate General of the Police for personnel licensing euskadi.eus

Applicable Law

Law 5/2014 of April 4 on Private Security; Decree 207/2014 of October 21 regulating the exercise of the powers of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country in private security matters; Order INT/318/2011 of February 1.

Licenses and Authorizations

• Security guard license, with a TIP issued by the Ministry of the Interior.
• Private bodyguard license, a specialty of the security guard.
• Rural guard license, granted by the Directorate General of the Guardia Civil.
• Private security company authorization for the activities in Article 5 a), b), c), d) and g) of Law 5/2014, with automatic entry in the register.
• Responsible declaration for companies engaged only in installation and maintenance.
• Responsible declaration for training centers.

Requirements

• Being of legal age.
• Holding the nationality of a European Union state, a European Economic Area state or a country with a bilateral agreement.
• No criminal record for intentional offenses.
• Proof of the necessary physical capacity and psychological fitness.
• Passing the qualifying tests set by the Ministry of the Interior.
• For companies, proof of legal incorporation, the identity of the representative and the representative’s power of representation.

Training

• Initial security guard training of at least 180 teaching hours and six weeks at a training center.
• Specific modules of 60 teaching hours for private bodyguards.
• Specific modules of 30 teaching hours for explosives guards.
• Ongoing training of at least 20 teaching hours per year.

Application Steps

1. Complete the initial training at an accredited training center.
2. Pass the selection tests called by the Secretary of State for Security.
3. Apply for the license to the National Police with fee form 790, code 015, an identity document and photographs.
4. Receive the TIP and the professional record book.
5. For companies, submit the electronic application at euskadi.eus with electronic identification and the documentation in digital format.
6. Track the case file through Mi carpeta.

Armed Services

Guarding services are provided by security guards or rural guards, and armed guarding may be authorized case by case. Private bodyguard services require prior authorization from the Ministry of the Interior or the competent regional body.

Validity and Renewal

The TIP is valid for ten years from issue and is renewed with the same license number, with a medical certificate of physical and psychological fitness. Ongoing training of at least 20 teaching hours per year is required.

Regional or Local Rules

Decree 207/2014 regulates the exercise of regional powers in the Basque Country. Company applications are processed by the Ertzaintza Private Security Unit.

Official Sources

• Private security procedures, Basque Government
• Law 5/2014 of April 4 on Private Security (BOE)
• Order INT/318/2011 of February 1 on private security personnel (BOE)
• Licensing of private security personnel, Police online office

The license for security guards and their specialties is granted by the Ministry of the Interior through the Directorate General of the Police, which issues the professional identity card (TIP). The authorization of private security companies also falls to the Ministry of the Interior, except in autonomous communities with their own powers.

Competent Authority

Ministry of the Interior, Directorate General of the Police, Central Private Security Unit (Unidad Central de Seguridad Privada); Directorate General of the Guardia Civil for rural guards sede.policia.gob.es

Applicable Law

Law 5/2014 of April 4 on Private Security; Private Security Regulation (Reglamento de Seguridad Privada); Order INT/318/2011 of February 1 on private security personnel.

Licenses and Authorizations

• Security guard license, evidenced by the TIP.
• Private bodyguard license, a specialty of the security guard.
• Explosives guard license, which requires being a licensed security guard.
• Rural guard license and its specialties, handled by the Guardia Civil.
• Licenses for security manager, security director and private detective.
• Administrative authorization of private security companies, with automatic entry in the register.
• Responsible declaration for companies engaged only in installation and maintenance.

Requirements

• Being of legal age.
• Holding the nationality of a European Union state, a European Economic Area state or a country with a bilateral agreement.
• No criminal record for intentional offenses.
• Proof of the necessary physical capacity and psychological fitness.
• Passing the qualifying tests set by the Ministry of the Interior.
• For companies, being legally incorporated and taking out civil liability insurance or other financial guarantees.

Training

• Initial security guard training of at least 180 teaching hours and six weeks at a training center.
• Up to 50% may be completed remotely, except the technical and professional part, firearms practice and laboratory practice.
• Specific modules of 60 teaching hours for private bodyguards.
• Specific modules of 30 teaching hours for explosives guards.
• Ongoing training of at least 20 teaching hours per year.
• After more than two years of inactivity, specific tests or a refresher course of at least 40 teaching hours.

Application Steps

1. Complete the initial training at an accredited training center.
2. Pass the selection tests called by the Secretary of State for Security.
3. Submit the license application on the official form, with fee form 790, code 015, an identity document and photographs.
4. Submit it by appointment at the Central Private Security Unit in Madrid, at the regional private security units or by mail.
5. Wait for the decision, which has a maximum period of three months; if no decision is issued within that period, the application is deemed refused.
6. Receive the TIP and the professional record book.

Validity and Renewal

The TIP is valid for ten years from issue. It is renewed on expiry, loss, theft or damage with the same license number, with a medical certificate of physical and psychological fitness. Ongoing training of at least 20 teaching hours per year is required.

Official Sources

• Licensing of private security personnel, Police online office
• Renewal and replacement of the TIP, Police online office
• Law 5/2014 of April 4 on Private Security (BOE)
• Order INT/318/2011 of February 1 on private security personnel (BOE)