Security Guard Services in Germany

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in Germany

Security guarding in Germany requires a permit under section 34a of the Trade Regulation Code (Gewerbeordnung, GewO). Security guards must be reliable and must show a Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) certificate of completion of the instruction course (Unterrichtung) or, for certain activities, a passed proficiency examination (Sachkundeprüfung).

Competent authority: Competent section 34a authorities (authorities at the place of residence and at the place of business); Security Guard Register (Bewacherregister), Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt, Destatis). The Security Guard Register has existed since June 1, 2019 and has been operated by Destatis since October 10, 2022. Legal basis: section 34a of the Trade Regulation Code (Gewerbeordnung, GewO) and the Security Guard Ordinance (Bewachungsverordnung, BewachV). info.bewacherregister.de

Requirements for Security Guards

• Reliability: the authority at the person’s main place of residence obtains at least an unrestricted extract from the Federal Central Criminal Register (Bundeszentralregister) and an opinion from the state police, a central police office or the State Criminal Police Office (Landeskriminalamt) (section 34a(1a) GewO)
• Reliability is generally lacking where, among other things, the person has been convicted in the last five years of certain offenses (such as felonies, bodily harm, theft, fraud, or offenses under weapons or narcotics law), has pursued or supported anti-constitutional activities in the last five years, or was a member of a banned association or an unconstitutional party less than ten years ago (section 34a(1) in conjunction with (1a) GewO)
• For work in refugee accommodation, at access-controlled large events or protecting sites where a criminal attack could pose a particular danger to the public, an opinion from the state Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Landesbehörde für Verfassungsschutz) is also required (section 34a(1a) GewO)
• If the person has not lived in Germany or another EU or EEA state for the last three years and reliability therefore cannot be properly checked, approval must be refused (section 34a(1) in conjunction with (1a) GewO)
• IHK certificate of instruction in the legal and technical basics of the security trade (section 34a(1a) GewO); at IHK Frankfurt am Main it covers 40 hours over 5 days
• A passed IHK proficiency examination is required for patrols in public traffic areas or in areas under domestic authority with actual public access, protection against shoplifters, door control in front of discotheques, and supervisory roles in guarding refugee accommodation or access-controlled large events (section 34a(1a) GewO)
• German language skills for the instruction course: a German school leaving certificate, a German language certificate at level B1 or higher, or a German identity card (IHK Frankfurt am Main, citing the Security Guard Ordinance)

Application Steps

1. Complete the IHK instruction course or, if the planned activities require it, pass the IHK proficiency examination
2. Find employment with a security company holding a permit under section 34a GewO
3. The company registers the security guard in the Security Guard Register and uploads the proof of qualification
4. The competent section 34a authority checks reliability and qualification and decides whether the security guard may be deployed

Agency Licensing

A permit under section 34a GewO from the competent authority is required, and it may be subject to conditions. It must be refused if the applicant or a person entrusted with managing the business is unreliable, if the applicant’s financial circumstances are disordered, if the applicant or a person entrusted with management cannot show a passed IHK proficiency examination, or if the applicant cannot show liability insurance (section 34a(1) GewO). Companies must keep the data on their business and on the guards they deploy up to date in the Security Guard Register.

A fixed period of validity for the permit has not been confirmed. The authority must recheck reliability at regular intervals, no later than every five years, for business owners and persons entrusted with management (section 34a(1) GewO) and, by reference, for guards (section 34a(1a) GewO).

Sources

• Section 34a GewO, official text (Federal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de)
• Security Guard Register: information portal (Destatis)
• Security Guard Register: transfer of the register (BWR)
• IHK Frankfurt am Main: Instruction course for the security trade under section 34a GewO

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