Security Guard Services in Vietnam

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in Vietnam

In Vietnam, security services are a conditional business line under Decree 96/2016/ND-CP on security and order conditions, as amended, most recently by Decree 58/2026/ND-CP of 13 February 2026. Businesses must hold a Certificate of Satisfaction of Security and Order Conditions issued by the police, and each security guard must be trained and pass a police examination to receive a Security Professional Certificate.

Regulator: Bộ Công an (Ministry of Public Security), through the Cục Cảnh sát quản lý hành chính về trật tự xã hội (Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order) at central level and the provincial police. The Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order is responsible for businesses with foreign elements and businesses that train security guards; the provincial police are responsible for all other businesses. bocongan.gov.vn

Requirements

• At least 18 years of age and full civil act capacity (Clause 9, Article 25 of Decree 96/2016, as amended by Decree 58/2026)
• Not addicted to drugs; not under investigation, prosecution or trial; not serving a sentence of non-custodial reform or certain other penalties (Clause 9, Article 25, as amended)
• No criminal record for murder, intentional infliction of injury or crimes against property (Article 32)
• A clear personal background, certified by the commune-level People’s Committee (Article 32)
• A health certificate issued by a district-level or higher medical facility (Article 32)
• A lower secondary school diploma or higher (Article 32)
• Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese may not work as security service staff (Article 32)
• Must be trained and hold a Security Professional Certificate (Article 32); training courses organized by security service businesses last at least 30 days (Article 12)

Application Steps

1. Complete a security guard training course at an authorized training facility, using a curriculum approved by the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order; theory may be taken in person or online, while practical training must be in person (Clause 5, Article 12, added by Decree 58/2026)
2. Pass the police examination and receive the Security Professional Certificate: the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order examines trainees of licensed training businesses, police vocational training centers and central training units under the Ministry; the provincial police examine trainees of training centers under the provincial police (Article 24, replaced by Decree 58/2026)
3. Work for a licensed security services business

Agency Licensing

Security services businesses must hold a Certificate of Satisfaction of Security and Order Conditions. The Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order issues it to businesses with foreign elements or businesses permitted to train security guards; the provincial police issue it to other security services businesses (Article 24 of Decree 96/2016, replaced by Decree 58/2026, applicable from 15 March 2026). The person responsible for security and order must hold a college degree or higher (Article 11). For joint ventures with foreign parties, the foreign investor must have conducted security services business continuously for at least 5 years and contribute at least USD 1,000,000, which may be used only to purchase equipment for security services (Article 11). A business may train its own security guards only if it has at least 300 security guards and has operated for at least three years (Article 12).

Under Decree 58/2026, the Security Professional Certificate is valid for 5 years from the date of issue (Clause 4, Article 12, as amended).

Sources

• Can Tho City legal education portal: competent authorities under Decree 58/2026, which amends Decree 96/2016
• Decree 96/2016/ND-CP (full text, Thu Vien Phap Luat)
• Decree 58/2026/ND-CP (English translation, LuatVietnam)
• Government policy portal (chinhphu.vn): the 34 provincial-level administrative units from 12 June 2025

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