Security Guard Services in Brunei Darussalam

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in Brunei

Brunei regulates private security through the Security Agencies Act (Chapter 187) and the Security Agencies Regulations, with the Commissioner of Police as the Licensing Officer. Security guard agencies must hold a license, but there is no separate license for individual guards.

Regulator: Pesuruhjaya Polis (Commissioner of Police, Royal Brunei Police Force), acting as Licensing Officer under section 4(1) of the Security Agencies Act (GN 243/2000). The relevant laws are the Security Agencies Act (Chapter 187, Revised Edition 2000, in force 1 June 2000 under S 34/2000) and the Security Agencies Regulations (Chapter 187, Rg 1, in force 1 June 2000). police.gov.bn

Requirements for Individuals

• No individual guard license: before starting work, each employee must submit a statement of personal particulars to the Licensing Officer (Act s.12; Regulations reg. 5, Form C)
• Form C is submitted in triplicate with two passport-size photographs and asks for personal particulars, nationality, previous employment, previous convictions and two referees who can vouch for the applicant over approximately the past five years
• A licensee may not employ as a guard a person convicted of an offense involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, or a person the Licensing Officer considers not fit and proper (Act s.11(2))
• The Licensing Officer may require photographs and fingerprints of applicants and employees at any time (Regulations reg. 22)
• Employers must submit full particulars of each employee, including identity card number, race, sex and date of birth, to the Licensing Officer within 14 days of the start of employment (reg. 9)
• The Act and Regulations do not set a minimum age, training hours, an exam or a citizenship requirement

Steps

1. Obtain employment with a security guard agency licensed under the Security Agencies Act
2. Complete the statement of personal particulars (Form C) in triplicate with two photographs, previous employment, convictions and two referees
3. The employer submits the employee’s particulars to the Licensing Officer within 14 days of the start of employment; photographs and fingerprints may be required
4. The agency issues an identification paper (Form D) bearing the employee’s photograph, which must be carried at all times during employment and shown to the Licensing Officer or the police on request (Act s.13)
5. On leaving the job, the employee returns the identification paper and the agency notifies the Licensing Officer within 14 days (Act s.13(2); reg. 10)

Agency Licensing

Carrying on the business of a security guard agency without a license is an offense (s.5), punishable by a fine of up to B$10,000, imprisonment of up to 2 years, or both. Applications are made on Form A (in triplicate, with three passport-size photographs) to the Commissioner of Police as Licensing Officer. An application must be refused if good character, or fitness and propriety, is not established, or if the applicant (or, for a company, a managing or executive officer) has a conviction involving fraud or moral turpitude (s.6(3)). The license fee is B$500 per year or part of a year (reg. 4(1)). Licensees must keep an up-to-date register of employees (reg. 11) and submit an annual return of employees on Form E at the time set by the Licensing Officer (reg. 8). A person who carries out guarding work for one employer only is exempt (s.3(2)).

The Act does not mention firearms. Carrying a baton, handcuffs or any other weapon or equipment prescribed by the Minister in a public place is an offense (s.16(1)), punishable by a fine of up to B$1,000, imprisonment of up to one month, or both. A licensee may not issue uniforms, two-way radios, handcuffs or similar equipment to employees without the prior written approval of the Licensing Officer (reg. 18).

The agency license fee is charged for each year (s.7; reg. 4(1)) and the license form has a space for an expiry date, but the Act and Regulations do not set a renewal procedure. There is no renewal for individual guards because there is no individual license.

Sources

• Security Agencies Act (Chapter 187) page, Attorney General’s Chambers
• Security Agencies Act, Chapter 187, 2000 Edition (PDF)
• Security Agencies Regulations, Chapter 187 Rg 1, 2000 Edition (PDF)

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