Security Guard Services in Sweden

How to Become an Approved Security Guard in Sweden

In Sweden, security companies must be authorized by the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen), and companies that train security personnel also need authorization. All personnel in a security company, including those who are not security guards, must be approved by the County Administrative Board before starting work.

Supervisory authority: County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen). Rules: Private Security Companies Act (1974:191) (Lag (1974:191) om bevakningsföretag), Ordinance (1989:149) on Private Security Companies, etc. (Förordning (1989:149) om bevakningsföretag m.m.) and the Swedish Police Authority’s regulations PMFS 2017:10 (FAP 573-1). lansstyrelsen.se

Requirements

• All personnel in a security company, including those who are not security guards, must be approved by the County Administrative Board before starting work.
• Personnel are assessed with regard to law-abidingness, civic reliability and general suitability.
• The County Administrative Board checks the criminal records register or the register of suspected offenses, and the case is referred to the Swedish Security Service.
• Protective security officers (skyddsvakter) guarding protected sites need a separate approval from the County Administrative Board in the county where they are registered as residents. The approval is time-limited and tied to a specific employer or client or to a specific protected site.

Application Steps

1. Obtain a job offer from an authorized security company.
2. The company applies to the County Administrative Board for approval of the employee, for example through the County Administrative Board’s e-service.
3. The County Administrative Board checks the criminal records register or the register of suspected offenses and refers the case to the Swedish Security Service.
4. Start work once the approval has been granted.
5. The company reports personnel who start or leave through the e-service.

Agency Licensing

Security companies must be authorized by the County Administrative Board. Companies that train protective security officers, security guards and other security personnel also need authorization. Authorized companies must submit an annual activity report no later than March 31 each year, and the company’s manager is responsible for it. A change of manager must be reported so that the County Administrative Board can assess the new manager. The County Administrative Board also approves dogs used in security work.

The approval as a protective security officer is time-limited. The period is not stated in the source reviewed. Companies submit an annual activity report no later than March 31.

Sources

• Bevakningsföretag (Security companies), Länsstyrelsen (County Administrative Board)

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