Security guard services
Security Guard Services in Timor-Leste
Business activity in Timor-Leste is concentrated in Dili, with offices, embassies, hotels and retail along Avenida de Portugal and in the Colmera area, and Timor Plaza as the main shopping center. ASEAN membership, the new Tibar Bay Port and energy and infrastructure projects are bringing more and more international companies to the country.
Security Considerations in Timor-Leste
Programs in Timor-Leste mainly cover offices, residences, hotels, retail spaces and project facilities in Dili, with occasional needs in Baucau or other municipalities. A security program applies the same Post Orders, the same supervision and the same reporting format at every site. Tetum is the working language most used by officers, Portuguese is an official language, and English and Indonesian are common in the business community.
The rainy season generally runs from November to April and can affect roads outside Dili, which calls for planning of supervisor travel and relief. National celebrations and major events in Dili increase demand for officers at hotels and public venues. Coverage plans should include relief officers, clear access control procedures and coordination with the management of each building.
- Avenida de Portugal
- Colmera
- Timor Plaza
- Port of Dili
- Tibar Bay Port
- Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport
- Cristo Rei
How Coverage Works in Timor-Leste
McCray designs the program, and officers follow McCray Post Orders.
How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in Timor-Leste
Private security in Timor-Leste is regulated by the Ministry of the Interior, which regulates, oversees and controls the activity. The detailed requirements for security guards in the 2014 decree-law could not be confirmed from an official text.
Regulator: Ministério do Interior (Ministry of the Interior). Its organic laws (Decree-Law No. 35/2015 and Decree-Law No. 14/2019) give it responsibility for regulating, overseeing and controlling private security activity. Inspections of private security companies are carried out by its Inspection and Audit Office. mj.gov.tl/jornal/public/docs/2019/serie_1/SERIE_I_NO_27.pdf
Agency Licensing
Private security companies operate under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior (Decree-Law No. 14/2019). A temporary regime for private security activity was adopted in 2010, and on 8 July 2014 the Council of Ministers approved the Decree-Law approving the Legal Regime of Private Security, which covers the obligations and duties of operators and security personnel, oversight and penalties. The 2015 organic law assigned control of the activity to the Directorate-General of Operational Services and the tasks relating to private security companies to the National Directorate of Public Property Security. The 2019 organic law (Article 28) assigns inspection of companies to the Inspection and Audit Office. The licensing details (type of license, fees, validity) and the publication number of the 2014 decree-law have not been confirmed.
A Small Arms Survey assessment, based on research carried out between about 2009 and 2010, indicated that private security personnel were not authorized to carry firearms, and that some carried batons and tasers. The current rules under the 2014 decree-law have not been confirmed.
Sources
- Meeting of the Council of Ministers of 8 July 2014 (approval of the Legal Regime of Private Security)
- Decree-Law No. 14/2019, Organic Law of the Ministry of the Interior (Jornal da República, Series I, No. 27, 2019)
- Decree-Law No. 35/2015, Organic Law of the Ministry of the Interior (Jornal da República, Series I, No. 35, 2015)
- Private Security Companies, Timor-Leste Armed Violence Assessment (Small Arms Survey)
Requirements change. Confirm current rules with the official regulator before applying. This summary is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed November 2026.
Cities in Timor-Leste
- Dili
- Baucau
- Maliana
- Suai
- Lospalos
- Pante Macassar
Coverage in other municipalities and at project sites is arranged on request.
Municipalities and Special Administrative Region of Timor-Leste
- Aileu
- Ainaro
- Atauro
- Baucau
- Bobonaro
- Covalima
- Dili
- Ermera
- Lautém
- Liquiçá
- Manatuto
- Manufahi
- Viqueque
- Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno
Frequently Asked Questions
What Languages Do the Officers Speak?
Officers work in Tetum, and many also speak Indonesian or Portuguese. Officers with working English can be assigned to international offices, embassies and hotels, and the language requirements for each post are written into the Post Orders.
See the Asia overview for other countries.
Talk to Us About Coverage in Timor-Leste
Call (833) 832-6647 or request an assessment online.