Security Guard Services in Ecuador

How to Become an Accredited Security Guard in Ecuador

Ecuador regulates private security through the Organic Law on Private Surveillance and Security (Ley Orgánica de Vigilancia y Seguridad Privada), published in Supplement 496 of the Official Register (Registro Oficial) on February 9, 2024. The Ministry of the Interior issues operating permits to companies and accredits guards, and the Joint Command of the Armed Forces (Comando Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas) authorizes the possession of weapons.

Regulators: Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio del Interior; Private Security Regulation Directorate, Dirección de Regulación de Seguridad Privada); weapons: Joint Command of the Armed Forces. Applicable law: Organic Law on Private Surveillance and Security (LOVSP), Official Register Supplement No. 496, February 9, 2024 (with a correction notice in Official Register Supplement 507, February 28, 2024); Ministerial Agreement No. 0091 (August 30, 2023) on training centers. gob.ec

Requirements for Guards

• Ecuadorian nationality, legal age and full legal capacity (Arts. 50 and 62)
• High school diploma (título de bachiller) (Arts. 50 and 62)
• To enter Level I: a certificate of physical and psychological fitness issued by a public health center, a confidence test certificate and passing toxicology test results (Art. 50)
• Favorable medical and psychological examinations in order to be hired (Art. 62)
• Pass the Level I course (unarmed guard); Level II is mandatory for armed service (Arts. 50 and 51)
• Pass the evaluation and hold the accreditation issued by the Ministry of the Interior (Arts. 59 and 62)
• Not be disqualified: active members of the Armed Forces, the National Police or the complementary security entities; certain public servants of the defense and security bodies; former members discharged for crimes or misconduct; persons with a final criminal conviction; persons declared legally incapacitated (Art. 63)

Application Steps

1. Meet the Level I entry requirements: nationality, age, high school diploma, fitness certificate, confidence test and toxicology tests
2. Take and pass Level I at a training center authorized by the Ministry of the Interior
3. For armed service, take Level II, which includes live-fire practice at authorized shooting ranges (Art. 51)
4. Pass the evaluation and obtain the accreditation certificate generated by the Ministry of the Interior in its private security information system (Art. 59)
5. Be hired by a company with an operating permit; the company gives the guard a non-transferable work ID card, which must be carried during working hours (Art. 60)

Company Operating Permit

Companies must obtain an operating permit from the Ministry of the Interior before starting operations; it is the only enabling document, is valid for two years and is subject to random inspections (Art. 38). The minimum subscribed and paid-in capital is 75 unified basic salaries, contributed in cash (Art. 34). The online procedure on gob.ec is carried out through the SICOSEP system and requires, among other things, a limited liability company with at least two partners, civil liability insurance, a registration certificate from the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and a favorable inspection of the premises by the National Police (COSP). The stated cost is USD 180.

Armed service requires the Level II course, which in turn requires Level I, a fitness certificate, a confidence test, toxicology tests and no sanctions for offenses of violence against women or members of the family unit (Art. 51). Live-fire practice takes place at shooting ranges authorized by the competent authority (Art. 51). Armed service must meet the requirements set by the governing body for national defense (Art. 24), and the Joint Command of the Armed Forces authorizes security providers to possess weapons (Art. 22).

Level II guards must pass a retraining program every two years; Level I guards must retrain every two years or take a specialization course that does not involve the use of firearms; the company covers the cost of retraining its contracted guards (Art. 52). The company’s operating permit is valid for two years (Art. 38).

Sources

• gob.ec: Organic Law on Private Surveillance and Security, Official Register Supplement 496 (official PDF)
• gob.ec: Organic Law on Private Surveillance and Security (regulation record)
• Official Register Supplement 496 (copy hosted by Asobanca)
• gob.ec MDI: Issuance of operating permits for private surveillance and security companies
• gob.ec MDI: Operating permits for training centers
• gob.ec: Ministerial Agreement No. 0091

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