Security Guard Services in Colombia

How to Become an Accredited Security Guard in Colombia

Private security in Colombia is supervised by the Superintendence of Private Surveillance and Security (Superintendencia de Vigilancia y Seguridad Privada, Supervigilancia) under Decree-Law 356 of 1994. Operational personnel work under their employer’s operating license and carry a credential issued by the holder of that license.

Regulator: Superintendence of Private Surveillance and Security (Superintendencia de Vigilancia y Seguridad Privada, Supervigilancia). Applicable law: Decree-Law 356 of 1994 (Private Surveillance and Security Statute, Estatuto de Vigilancia y Seguridad Privada), as amended by, among others, Decree 19 of 2012 and Decree-Law 2106 of 2019. Rules on weapons refer to Decree 2535 of 1993. supervigilancia.gov.co

Requirements for Operational Personnel

• Carry the credential issued by the holder of the operating license, which requires meeting the training requirements for the type of service and proving competence in handling firearms (Art. 87, as amended by Decree 19 of 2012)
• The employer must carry out a selection process that ensures trained, reliable personnel who are competent in handling weapons, and keep them trained at a security training school holding an operating license (Art. 87, Par. 2)
• Services may train in-house through a training department or require courses at schools approved by Supervigilancia (Art. 64)
• The employer must register all personnel, with photographs and fingerprints, and keep the register available to Supervigilancia (Art. 87, Par. 1)
• Personnel are accredited through Supervigilancia’s online Operational Personnel Accreditation (Acreditación de Personal Operativo, APO) system

Application Steps

1. Be hired by a company or other security service holding an operating license from Supervigilancia
2. Pass the employer’s selection process
3. Complete training at a licensed security school or in the employer’s training department, according to the type of service
4. The employer registers the guard with photographs and fingerprints and accredits the guard in Supervigilancia’s APO system
5. The employer issues the identification credential, which must be carried while on duty

Agency Licensing

Supervigilancia issues an operating license with national scope on application, accompanied by, among other documents, a copy of the articles of incorporation and a non-contractual civil liability insurance policy of no less than 400 monthly minimum wages covering the improper use of firearms or other surveillance and security equipment (Art. 11, as amended by Decree-Law 2106 of 2019). The license is granted for ten years; in-house security departments, special services and community services receive it for five years (Art. 85, as amended by Decree-Law 2106 of 2019). Partners in surveillance companies and members of surveillance cooperatives must be natural persons of Colombian nationality (Arts. 12 and 25).

Surveillance companies may only use firearms classified as personal defense weapons under Art. 11 of Decree 2535 of 1993 (Art. 96), and the weapons must be owned exclusively by the surveillance service (Art. 95). Armed personnel must wear the uniform (except bodyguards) and carry a valid identification credential and an authenticated copy of the permit to possess or carry the weapon; possessing or carrying the weapon outside the contracted locations or duties results in confiscation (Art. 97). The transfer of weapons permits to a surveillance service requires authorization from Supervigilancia (Art. 98).

Renewal of the company license must be requested at least 60 calendar days before expiration (Art. 85, Par. 2), together with a general report on the company (guarded posts, personnel by type of service, weapons, vehicles, communications equipment and security equipment) and proof of payment of payroll contributions (aportes parafiscales) (Art. 14, as amended). The sources consulted do not confirm a fixed period of validity for the individual credential.

Sources

• Decree 356 of 1994 (compiled text with amendments, Colpensiones normative portal)
• Supervigilancia official site
• Supervigilancia: Operational Personnel Accreditation (APO)

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