Security Guard Services in China

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in China

Security services in mainland China are governed by the Regulations on the Administration of Security Services (State Council Order No. 564), in force since 1 January 2010. Security guards must pass an examination and review organized by the public security authority of a municipal people’s government of a city divided into districts to obtain a security guard certificate. Security service companies are reviewed by the municipal public security authority, and the provincial public security authority then decides whether to grant a permit.

Regulator: Public security authorities. The Ministry of Public Security sets national rules; the public security authorities of municipal people’s governments of cities divided into districts handle security guard examinations and reviews and the review of company applications; and the public security authorities of provincial people’s governments decide on permits for security service companies. Legal basis: Regulations on the Administration of Security Services (State Council Order No. 564), in force since 1 January 2010.

Requirements

• Chinese citizen aged 18 or over (Article 16)
• Good health and good character (Article 16)
• Lower secondary (junior high school) education or higher (Article 16)
• Pass the examination and review organized by the municipal public security authority of a city divided into districts, and provide fingerprints and other biometric information (Article 16)
• Persons who have been subject to custody and education, compulsory isolated drug rehabilitation, reeducation through labor, or administrative detention 3 or more times may not serve as security guards (Article 17)
• Persons who have received a criminal penalty for an intentional crime may not serve as security guards (Article 17)
• Persons whose security guard certificate was revoked less than 3 years earlier, or whose certificate has been revoked twice, may not serve as security guards (Article 17)
• Employers may hire only security guards who meet the requirements, must sign labor contracts with them and must provide regular training in law and in security knowledge and skills (Article 18)
• Security training institutions must train according to the security guard training syllabus approved by the public security department of the State Council (Article 35)

Application Steps

1. Meet the basic requirements (Chinese citizen, aged 18 or over, good health, good character, lower secondary education or higher)
2. Apply to the municipal public security authority of a city divided into districts
3. Take the examination and review organized by that public security authority
4. Provide fingerprints and other biometric information
5. Receive the security guard certificate

Agency Licensing

A security service company must meet the following conditions: registered capital of at least RMB 1 million; a legal representative and key managers with relevant professional knowledge and no adverse record; qualified professional staff; suitable premises and facilities; and sound management systems (Article 8). The municipal public security authority must complete its review within 15 days of receiving the application and send its opinion to the provincial public security authority, which must decide within 15 days of receiving the opinion (Article 9). A permit becomes invalid if business registration is not completed within 6 months of obtaining it, and a branch must be filed with the municipal public security authority where the branch is located (Article 12). Organizations that recruit their own security guards must file with the municipal public security authority within 30 days of starting security services (Article 14). Key security units designated by local people’s governments at the level of a city divided into districts or above, such as those related to national security or involving state secrets, may not engage wholly foreign-owned, Sino-foreign equity joint venture or Sino-foreign cooperative security service companies (Article 22).

In addition to the conditions in Article 8, companies providing armed guarding and escort services must have registered capital of at least RMB 10 million; be wholly state-owned or have state capital of 51% or more of total registered capital; have security guards who meet firearms management rules; and have special vehicles and communications and alarm equipment that meet national or industry standards (Article 10). The use of firearms by armed guarding and escort staff on duty follows the Regulations on the Administration of the Use of Firearms by Full-time Guarding and Escort Personnel (Article 29), and their firearms training must be provided by people’s police academies or people’s police training institutions (Article 34).

Sources

• Regulations on the Administration of Security Services (State Council Order No. 564), gov.cn

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