Security Guard Services in Mayotte

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in Mayotte

As an overseas department, Mayotte falls under the national private security regime set out in Book VI of the Internal Security Code, administered by the Conseil national des activités privées de sécurité (National Council for Private Security Activities, CNAPS) through its Indian Ocean office (Antenne Océan Indien), based at the prefecture of Réunion. Officers must hold a CNAPS professional card for each activity, and companies must hold an operating authorization and have a manager who holds an approval.

Regulator: Conseil national des activités privées de sécurité (CNAPS), Indian Ocean office (Antenne Océan Indien), which covers Réunion (974) and Mayotte (976). Law: Internal Security Code (Code de la sécurité intérieure), Book VI (private security activities). cnaps.interieur.gouv.fr

Requirements

• A CNAPS professional card is required to work for a private security company or an in-house security service, including for sole operators and managers who work in the field.
• Before training, a prior authorization or a provisional authorization is required, each valid for 6 months. Neither one allows the holder to work as an officer.
• Demonstrate professional aptitude through a recognized certification (CQP or a qualification listed in the RNCP) or through an accepted equivalence for certain police officers, gendarmes, municipal police officers and military personnel.
• CNAPS administrative investigation of police and judicial files: TAJ (police criminal records database), FPR (wanted persons file) and bulletin no. 2 of the criminal record.
• Foreign nationals, including European Union nationals, provide the equivalent of a criminal record extract (bulletin no. 3) from their country of birth, dated less than 3 months earlier, with a sworn translation into French.
• CNAPS describes the path to the card for French and European nationals and for people who have lived in France for more than 5 years.
• Only a national identity card or a passport is accepted as proof of identity. No medical certificate is required.

Application Steps

1. Obtain a pre-registration certificate from a CNAPS-authorized training body (required for the prior authorization).
2. Apply to CNAPS for a prior authorization, or for a provisional authorization if the employer provides the training.
3. Complete the training and obtain the required certification.
4. Apply for the professional card on the CNAPS online portal (Dracar Ultimate) or by mail to the regional office. A separate application is required for each activity.
5. CNAPS carries out the administrative investigation. No response within 2 months counts as a refusal.
6. The card is issued in digital form, and the employer gives the officer a physical company badge.
7. A refusal can be challenged within 2 months, through an appeal to the director of CNAPS or before the administrative court.

Agency Licensing

An operating authorization issued by CNAPS is required for each activity before any work begins. The application is filed online from the company area of Dracar Ultimate, and the authorization is issued with no time limit. The application must be linked to a manager who holds a valid manager’s approval (agrément dirigeant). The documents required include the articles of association, proof of the establishment’s address, a valid professional insurance certificate, a declaration of financial interests and a list of the names of the founders, directors, managers and employees. Close protection of persons and private investigation each cannot be combined with any other private security activity.

Armed activities require a specific authorization and card: armed security (category D weapons), enhanced armed security (categories B and D), enhanced armed security of sensitive sites (categories B, D and A1) and armed close protection of persons. Weapons-related applications are handled by the CNAPS West regional office (délégation Ouest).

The professional card is valid for 5 years and must be renewed at least 3 months before it expires, activity by activity.

Sources

• CNAPS, Indian Ocean office (covers 974 Réunion and 976 Mayotte)
• CNAPS, Working as a private security officer
• CNAPS, Training for careers in private security
• CNAPS FAQ, Card applications and filing
• CNAPS FAQ, Becoming a private security officer
• CNAPS, Approval for a private security company

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