Security Company Registration
and Licensing
A security services business provides licensed security personnel to protect people and property. Operators must meet the applicable company registration and licensing requirements before providing regulated services. In particular, they must be a limited company or a public limited company and must obtain a security business licence from the registrar before accepting any work. Under the Security Business Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the licence is valid for 4 years, the fee is 5,000–30,000 baht depending on the company’s number of security guards, and every security guard must also hold their own licence.
Content reviewed by Surapa Jamjang, Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Last reviewed November 2026
Over 30 Years of Experience
More Than 700 Clients Served
Service fee starting at 20,000 baht
(excluding government fees)
Company name, shareholders and directors structured
to meet the conditions from the time of company registration
Opening a security company differs from opening an ordinary company, because the law sets conditions covering matters from the company name to the shareholding proportions and the directors. If you register the company first without reviewing these conditions, you may have to amend the registration before applying for the licence. Greenpro KSP registers security companies in compliance with these conditions from the outset, prepares the documents and files the licence application with the registrar, follows up until the licence is issued, and advises each security guard on the steps for subsequently applying for their guard licence.
What Licences Does a Security Business Need?
The Security Business Act B.E. 2558 (2015) establishes 2 levels of licence: the company’s licence and each security guard’s licence. A licensed company may send only licensed security guards to work for its clients. Both types of licence are issued by the same registrar: in Bangkok, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB); in other provinces, the Provincial Police Commander.
| Security business licence | Licensed security guard licence | |
|---|---|---|
|
Licence holder |
A limited company or a public limited company |
Each security guard |
|
Application form / Licence |
Application: Form Tor.Por.1 (security business licence application) |
Application: Form Tor.Por.6 (security guard licence application) · Licence: Form Tor.Por.7 (security guard licence) |
|
Licence validity |
4 years |
3 years |
|
Fee |
5,000–30,000 baht, depending on the company’s number of security guards |
300 baht |
|
If working without a licence |
Imprisonment of up to 1 year, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both |
Imprisonment of up to 3 months, a fine of up to 5,000 baht, or both |
A company that sends unlicensed security guards to provide services faces a fine of up to 10,000 baht, and if this results from an order by a director or manager, that person may also face imprisonment of up to 6 months, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both.
Qualifications of a Company Applying for a Security Business Licence
- Must be a limited company or a public limited company. Partnerships and individuals cannot apply.
- The company name must begin with the words “Security Company” and end with “Limited” or “Limited (Public)”
- Thai nationals hold more than half of the registered capital (for public limited companies, counted from paid-up capital)
- Directors of Thai nationality make up more than half of all directors
- No director may ever have been a director of, or a person with authority to manage on behalf of, a company whose security business licence was revoked
- The company must never have had a security business licence revoked
The shareholding and director conditions must be maintained throughout the term of the licence. If the proportion of Thai nationals later falls below the threshold, the registrar will order it to be corrected within 90 days, and if it is not corrected, the licence will be revoked. You should therefore verify this proportion each time before registering a change of directors or transferring shares.
Qualifications of Security Guards Applying for a Guard Licence
- Thai nationality, at least 18 full years of age
- Completed compulsory education under the curriculum in use at the time of completion
- Passed a security training course at a training institution certified by the central registrar
- Not a chronic alcoholic, not addicted to drugs, not suffering from a communicable disease specified by the Committee, and not a person of unsound mind, an incompetent person or a quasi-incompetent person
- Never sentenced to imprisonment by a final judgment for an offence relating to life and body, property, sex, gambling or drugs, unless the offence was committed through negligence or was a petty offence, or at least 3 years have passed since completing the sentence (the exception for completed sentences does not apply to sexual offences)
- If a security guard licence was previously revoked, at least 2 years must have passed since the revocation
Security guards file the application on Form Tor.Por.6 with the registrar, together with a training completion certificate, proof of education, a medical certificate and a fingerprint-based criminal record check. The Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Citizen’s Manual sets a total processing time of 68 business days. To renew the licence, a security guard must hold a competency certificate from the company with which they are affiliated, or a certificate of completion of refresher training.
Security Business Licence Application Steps, Documents and Timeline
File the application on Form Tor.Por.1 with the registrar for the area where the business premises are located: in Bangkok, at the Metropolitan Police Bureau; in other provinces, at the Provincial Police headquarters. The registrar must notify its order granting or refusing the licence in writing within 60 days of receiving the application.
1.
Verify the name, the proportion of Thai shareholders and the Thai directors against the legal conditions
2.
Reserve a name beginning with “Security Company,” specify objectives that cover the security business, and then register the company
3.
Company affidavit, list of shareholders, proof of the right to use the premises, map, photos of the premises, and directors’ documents
4.
File with the registrar. If the documents are incomplete, the registrar will notify you in writing to correct them.
Timeline: Filing date
5.
The registrar verifies the company’s qualifications and documents, then gives written notice of its order
Timeline: Within 60 days of receiving the application
6.
Pay the fee based on the company’s number of security guards, then receive the licence
Timeline: Pay within 60 days of being notified
7.
Submit the list of licensed security guards to the registrar
Timeline: Within 30 days of obtaining the licence
The entire process generally takes 3–4 months, depending on whether a new company must be registered and the readiness of the premises and director documents. While the decision is pending, the company cannot yet accept security work.
Security Business Licence Documents
- Juristic person registration certificate (company affidavit) with objectives, certified no more than 30 days earlier
- List of shareholders (Form B.O.J.5), certified no more than 30 days earlier
- Names and nationalities of all directors
- Letter appointing a representative of the juristic person
- Specimen of the company seal impression (if any)
- Sketch map showing the location of the business premises
- Proof of ownership or right of possession, or a letter of consent to use the premises
- Photos of the inside and outside of the business premises
- Copy of the ID card and copy of the house registration
- Half-length, front-facing photo without a hat, 4 x 6 centimeters
In addition, you must state the company’s number of security guards, because it determines the licence fee rate.
Obligations of a Security Company After Obtaining the Licence
- Display the licence openly in a clearly visible place at the business premises specified in the licence
- Submit the list of licensed security guards to the registrar within 30 days of obtaining the licence, and submit an updated list within 15 days every time there is a change
- Enter into a written service contract with every client, stating at least the names and addresses of the parties, the contract date, the scope of work and term, the fees and payment, duties and liabilities, penalties, the determination of damages, and termination of the contract. If the contract is not in writing or any item is missing, the provision of that service is void.
- Provide supervision of security guards, a daily incident log system, a coordination centre, communication equipment and refresher training, in accordance with the standards set by the Security Business Supervisory Committee
- Submit a report on the previous year’s operations to the registrar within January of the following year
- If the licence is lost, destroyed or damaged, apply for a replacement within 30 days. To close the business during the term of the licence, apply to the registrar for permission to close.
- Renew the licence by filing an application before the expiry date. Once you have filed, you may continue operating until you are notified of an order refusing renewal.
If you fail to meet the standards or fail to submit the list of security guards correctly, the registrar will order you to correct this within 30 days. If you still do not make the correction, your licence may be suspended up to 2 times, for no more than 30 days each time, and you may not enter into new contracts while it is suspended.
Security Business Licence Service Fees and Government Fees
Security business licence service fees start at 20,000 baht, excluding government fees. The price depends on whether a new company must be registered or an existing company adjusted, and on the readiness of the premises and director documents. The entire process generally takes 3–4 months.
Excluding government fees
| Business licence fee (paid to the registrar) | Rate |
|---|---|
|
Company with fewer than 100 security guards |
5,000 baht |
|
100 or more but fewer than 500 |
10,000 baht |
|
500 or more but fewer than 1,000 |
20,000 baht |
|
1,000 or more |
30,000 baht |
The renewal fee is the same as the licence fee. The funds required to open a security company therefore consist of the service fee, the licence fee based on company size, the company registration fee with the Department of Business Development (DBD) (if you do not have a company yet), and the security guard licence fee of 300 baht per guard plus each security guard’s training fees.
Case Example: A Former Security Team Leader Sets Up a Company to Guard Condos and Housing Estates
A former leader of the security team at an office building wished to set up their own company to provide security for condominiums and housing estates.
We verified that the qualifications of the shareholders and directors complied with the Security Business Act B.E. 2558 (2015), prepared the documents and filed the application with the registrar, and outlined the steps for each security guard to subsequently apply for a security guard licence.
The company obtained a security business licence, along with guidance for each employee to apply for a security guard licence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Security Business Licences
Which agency issues the security business licence, and where do you apply?
It is issued by the registrar under the Security Business Act B.E. 2558 (2015). In Bangkok, this is the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, and you apply at the Metropolitan Police Bureau. In other provinces, it is the Provincial Police Commander, and you apply at the Provincial Police headquarters of the province where the business premises are located.
How much money is required to open a security company?
The business licence fee is 5,000 baht if you have fewer than 100 security guards, up to a maximum of 30,000 baht if you have 1,000 or more, in addition to the company registration fee (if you do not have a company yet), the security guard licence fee of 300 baht per guard, and training fees. Greenpro KSP’s licence service fee starts at 20,000 baht.
Can a limited partnership apply for a security business licence?
No. The law requires a security business operator to be a limited company or a public limited company only. If you already have a partnership, you must register as a company before applying for the licence.
Does every security guard need a licence?
Yes. Each security guard must obtain their own licensed security guard licence (Form Tor.Por.7). The licence is valid for 3 years, the fee is 300 baht, and the guard must first pass training at a training institution certified by the central registrar. This licence is separate from the company’s business licence.
How long is a security business licence valid, and how do you renew it?
It is valid for 4 years from the date the licence is issued. You must file a renewal application before the expiry date, and once you have filed, you may continue operating until you are notified of an order refusing renewal. The registrar must notify the result within 60 days. The renewal fee is the same as the licence fee.
While the decision is pending, can the company accept security work before the licence is granted?
No. You must obtain the licence before you can operate the business. Operating a security business without a licence is punishable by imprisonment of up to 1 year, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both.
Can foreigners hold shares in a security company?
Yes, but Thai nationals must hold more than half of the registered capital, and directors of Thai nationality must make up more than half of all directors. If the proportions later fall below the threshold, the registrar will order them to be corrected within 90 days.
How long does it take to obtain a security business licence?
The registrar must notify its order within 60 days of receiving the application, and the applicant must pay the fee within 60 days of being notified. When company registration and document preparation are included, the entire process generally takes 3–4 months.
What must the company do after obtaining the licence?
Submit the list of security guards within 30 days and update it within 15 days whenever there is a change, enter into a written service contract with every client, display the licence at the business premises, comply with the security standards, and submit the annual operating report within January.
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Send Us Your Company Details for a Free Pre-Application Review
Please tell us whether you already have a company, your shareholders’ nationalities and shareholding proportions, the number of directors, the province where your office is located, and the number of security guards you have or plan to hire. Our registration team will reply with what must be corrected before applying, the documents you must prepare, and the estimated service fee.
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E-mail: surapa@greenproksp.com