Security Guard Services in Nicaragua

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in Nicaragua

In Nicaragua, private security is regulated by Law No. 903 of 2015, and the enforcement authority is the National Police through its Public Security Specialty. Each security guard must meet the general requirements of Article 40 and receive an accreditation card; first-time entrants must first pass an authorized training course.

Regulator: National Police, Public Security Specialty (Policía Nacional, Especialidad de Seguridad Pública), enforcement authority for Law No. 903. Firearms licenses are issued by the Directorate of Registration and Control of Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Related Materials (Dirección de Registro y Control de Armas de Fuego, Municiones, Explosivos y Materiales Relacionados, DAEM), a specialty of the National Police. Legal framework: Law No. 903, Private Security Services Law (Ley de Servicios de Seguridad Privada), published in La Gaceta, Diario Oficial No. 141, on July 29, 2015. Firearms: Law No. 510, Special Law for the Control and Regulation of Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials, approved by the National Assembly on November 18, 2004. policia.gob.ni

Requirements for Security Personnel

• Be Nicaraguan, or a foreign national with residence or a valid work permit granted by the national authorities (Law No. 903, Art. 40, item 1).
• Identity card (cédula de identidad), proof that it is being processed, or a residence card or work permit for foreign nationals (Art. 40, item 2).
• Criminal and police record certificate (Art. 40, item 3).
• Firearms carry license issued by the DAEM in the corresponding category, if the guard uses a firearm (Art. 40, item 4).
• Identification card issued by the security services provider that employs the guard (Art. 40, item 5).
• Completion of sixth grade of primary school; guards already working without meeting this requirement may continue while the employer provides the means to complete it (Art. 40, item 6).
• Health certificate issued by the Ministry of Health (Art. 40, item 7).
• First-time entrants must complete and pass the training course and meet the other theoretical and practical training requirements set by law before accreditation (Art. 40).
• Training delivered through INATEC (National Technological Institute, Instituto Nacional Tecnológico) and courses at licensed training centers must be approved by INATEC (Arts. 26 and 27).
• The law does not set a minimum number of training hours or a minimum age.

Steps to Obtain Accreditation

1. Obtain a job offer from a provider holding an operating license under Law No. 903.
2. Gather the identity card (or the residence card or work permit), the criminal and police record certificate, proof of completing sixth grade of primary school and the Ministry of Health certificate.
3. Complete and pass the private security training course (mandatory for first-time entrants).
4. Receive the identification card from the employer.
5. Obtain accreditation as private security personnel and the accreditation card provided for in Article 40.
6. If the post is armed, obtain the personal firearms carry license from the DAEM under Law No. 510.

Operating Licenses for Companies

Providers must obtain an operating license from the National Police, Public Security Specialty, before offering services (Art. 13). There are four types of service: physical security and personal protection, protection of valuables, non-lethal electronic security, and private security training (Art. 10). Legal entities submit a letter and the Police application form, incorporation documents registered with the Public Commercial Registry (Registro Público Mercantil), the composition of the board of directors, the identity cards and criminal and police record certificates of partners, directors and managers (with apostilled or authenticated certificates from the country of origin for foreign managers), registration with the INSS and INATEC, the proposed logo and name, the legal representative’s power of attorney, tax registration (RUC) and municipal registration, third-party civil liability insurance and proof of payment of police fees (Art. 14). The process has four stages: application, prequalification, qualification and authorization (Art. 15), and the license must be issued within 30 days (Art. 13). Licenses are granted for five years and may be national, regional or departmental in scope (Arts. 13 and 28). Fees are set in Article 28 according to the type of service and the number of guards; in-house security with 1 to 10 guards is exempt. Fees are updated every two fiscal years by Ministerial Agreement of the Ministry of Finance, so the amounts printed in the law may no longer be current.

All private security personnel who use firearms must hold a personal license from the DAEM and be accredited by the enforcement authority (Law No. 903, Art. 11; Art. 40, item 4). Guards must carry the DAEM license while on duty (Art. 41, item 2). Weapons, ammunition and their storage are governed by Law No. 510, which contains a chapter on private security and guard services.

Company operating licenses are valid for five years. Renewal must be requested 90 days before expiration, with updated general and specific requirements, including the current payroll, INSS and tax clearance certificates, renewal of the municipal business registration, proof of the 2% contribution to INATEC, the municipal income tax receipt and the list of guards and other personnel (Art. 29). The law does not set a separate renewal period for individual accreditation cards.

Sources

• National Police of Nicaragua, Legal Framework (Marco Legal, list of laws)
• Law No. 903, Private Security Services Law (Ley de Servicios de Seguridad Privada), La Gaceta No. 141, July 29, 2015 (PDF hosted by the National Police)
• Law No. 510, Special Law for the Control and Regulation of Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials (PDF hosted by the National Police)

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