Security Guard Services in Croatia

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in Croatia

Private security in Croatia is governed by the Private Security Act, and oversight is carried out by the Ministry of the Interior. Companies and sole traders need approval from the Ministry to provide services, and every worker needs a permit from the Ministry, for example as a watchman, security guard or specialist security guard, after training and a professional examination.

Regulator: Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova (Ministry of the Interior, MUP) mup.gov.hr

Requirements

• Permanent residence or approved stay in the Republic of Croatia (Art. 18)
• At least 18 years of age (Art. 18)
• No final conviction and no pending criminal proceedings for a criminal offense prosecuted ex officio (except minor negligent traffic offenses), and no misdemeanor proceedings or sanctions for misdemeanors involving elements of violence (Art. 15(1), items 6 and 7, in conjunction with Art. 18)
• Active knowledge of the Croatian language and the Latin script (Art. 15(1), item 9, in conjunction with Art. 18)
• The Ministry may request an operational check by the police administration for the applicant’s place of residence (Art. 18(2))
• Watchman: at least completed primary school, a certificate of medical fitness and a passed professional examination after training (Art. 19)
• Security guard: three-year or four-year secondary education, a certificate of special medical fitness, meeting the conditions for possessing and carrying weapons under the firearms regulations, and a passed security guard examination after training (Art. 20)
• Specialist security guard: at least 2 years of work experience as a security guard, special medical fitness, the firearms conditions, specialist training and a passed specialist examination (Art. 21)
• Training has a theoretical and a practical part and is delivered by the Ministry or by institutions approved by the Ministry; the program and examination rules are set by an ordinance of the minister (Art. 28 to 30)
• Work under an employment contract with an approved company or sole trader (Art. 10)

Application Steps

1. Complete training for the chosen category at the Ministry or an institution approved by the Ministry and obtain a certificate of completed training (Art. 30)
2. Pass the professional examination at the Ministry of the Interior (Art. 30)
3. Obtain the certificate of medical fitness prescribed for the category
4. Submit an application for a permit to the Ministry of the Interior with proof that the conditions are met
5. Work under an employment contract with an approved private security company or sole trader (Art. 10)

Agency Licensing

Companies and sole traders need approval from the Ministry of the Interior (Art. 12). The conditions include registration of the business activity, an appointed responsible person who meets the conditions of Art. 15 (including secondary education and full-time employment), and internal rules on job classification, the company emblem and the uniform. Only approved providers may offer and contract security services, and contracts with clients must be in writing (Art. 6). Liability insurance is mandatory (Art. 8). If certain approval conditions are no longer met, this must be reported to the Ministry within 8 days (Art. 12(7)). Protection of cash and valuables in transit requires a separate approval (Art. 65).

Security guards and specialist security guards must carry a short firearm when escorting cash, securities and valuables, when protecting financial institutions and when responding to certain alarm calls; for some other duties they may carry one, in some cases only with the Ministry’s prior approval (Art. 36(1) and (2)). The firearm must be owned by the legal entity and be at least 9 mm caliber for pistols or .38 Special for revolvers (Art. 36(3)), and a legal entity may acquire no more short firearms than the number of security guards and specialist security guards it employs (Art. 38(2)). Verbal warnings must be given before a firearm is used (Art. 56). Any use of force is reported immediately to the police operations center, and the employer submits a written report to the Ministry within 3 days (Art. 58). Employers must organize shooting proficiency checks at least once a year for security guards and twice a year for specialist security guards (Art. 33).

Regular medical examinations are mandatory every 5 years for watchmen and every 3 years for security guards and specialist security guards (Art. 26). Periodic shooting checks are carried out for the armed categories (Art. 33). The 2020 text reviewed does not set a fixed period of validity for provider approvals or individual permits.

Sources

• Private Security Act (Zakon o privatnoj zaštiti), Narodne novine 16/2020 (official gazette)
• Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia

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