Security Guard Services in Cabo Verde

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in Cabo Verde

In Cabo Verde, private security is governed by Law No. 50/VII/2009 of December 30 and by the Statute of Private Security Personnel, approved by Decree-Law No. 21/2026 of April 6, which enters into force on July 1, 2026. Guards hold a professional card issued by the DGAI and must meet entry requirements, including a clean criminal record, physical and psychological fitness and completion of mandatory training.

Regulator and legislation: Direção-Geral da Administração Interna (General Directorate of Internal Administration, DGAI). Legislation: Law No. 50/VII/2009 of December 30 (Lei n.º 50/VII/2009, legal framework for private security); Decree-Law No. 21/2026 of April 6 (Decreto-Lei n.º 21/2026), which approves the Statute of Private Security Personnel (Estatuto do Pessoal da Segurança Privada), in force from July 1, 2026; Regulatory Decree No. 15/2012 of June 21 (Decreto Regulamentar n.º 15/2012), cited in Decree-Law No. 21/2026 on training matters. boe.incv.cv/Bulletins/DownloadAct?id=100675

Requirements for Guards

• Be of legal age; the decree-law does not set a specific age
• Have the physical fitness and psychological profile suited to the role, proven by a physical fitness certificate and a psychological examination certificate
• Have the minimum schooling required for the category: 6th grade for entry as a Level I Guard (Vigilante de nível I) and at least 9th grade for specialty roles
• Have no conviction for an intentional crime, proven by a criminal record certificate, and no penalty of suspension or expulsion from security or defense services
• Not be barred, disqualified or prevented from performing the role
• Have professional capacity and good moral and civic conduct
• Complete the required training courses, or equivalent foreign courses recognized in Cabo Verde
• Complete a six-month probationary period after Level I Guard training
• Decree-Law No. 21/2026 does not set nationality or residence requirements

Application Steps

1. Meet the entry requirements of Article 42 of Decree-Law No. 21/2026 (legal age, physical fitness and psychological certificates, schooling, criminal record certificate and good conduct)
2. Complete the required training courses, including specialty training where applicable
3. Be hired by an entity holding a permit (alvará) or license; personnel not employed by an employing entity may not use or display the professional card
4. Complete the six-month probationary period as a Level I Guard
5. Obtain the professional card issued by the DGAI, which follows a single model approved by ministerial order (portaria)

Agency Licensing

Companies operate under a permit (alvará) or license, under Law No. 50/VII/2009. Under Decree-Law No. 21/2026, employing entities must send staff charts every six months and submit staff lists to the DGAI by January 30 and July 30 of each year. Article 110 of the decree-law refers to Article 40 of Law No. 50/VII/2009 for the immediate suspension of the permit or license.

Article 20 of Decree-Law No. 21/2026 allows four specialties (personal protection assistants (APP), cash-in-transit guards (VTV), financial, judicial and tourism security assistants (AIFJST) and patrol and building protection guards (VPPE)) to be authorized to carry firearms of a caliber up to 7.65 mm or .32, only while on duty at the assigned post. Personnel may only use firearms supplied and authorized by the employing entity, and carrying a firearm outside the permitted circumstances results in seizure of the weapon. Licensed entities must request authorization from the National Directorate of the National Police (Direção Nacional da Polícia Nacional) to acquire or import protective equipment, weapons and ammunition.

The validity periods of the permit, the license and the professional card are not stated in the source consulted.

Sources

• Boletim Oficial de Cabo Verde: Decree-Law No. 21/2026 of April 6 (Statute of Private Security Personnel)
• Boletim Oficial de Cabo Verde, Series I No. 24, April 14, 2015 (Law No. 86/VIII/2015 on video surveillance, applying to private security alvará holders)
• Boletim Oficial de Cabo Verde, Series I No. 30, May 16, 2018 (Resolution 42/2018 and Joint Order 15/2018, civil requisition of private security staff)

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