The Licence granted to engage or provide Private Security Guard under The Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 is valid for five years in most of the states. However, in the states like Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand it is valid for one year. The renewal for the Licence can be filed 90 days before the expiry of the Licence.

Every state grants this Licence after the agency fulfils the requirements raised by the authority. An agency can not work in the state where it does not have PSARA Licence. It merely means that the said Licence is state specific and to work/operate in other states, one is supposed to apply for PSARA Licence at respective State controlling authority.

For instance, if an agency has a PSARA Licence in DELHI, then it is supposed to work in the districts of Delhi only, and if it wants to operate in NCR region such as NOIDA, Gurugram, then it has to apply for a Licence in the states of U.P and Haryana respectively

Yes, Though the Indian Parliament passes the main Law regulating the private security business as The Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005. However, it provides that every state or union territory shall appoint its controlling authority and frame rules and procedure for making application for the grant of the PSARA Licence

No, it is not a mandatory requirement and a widespread myth. Anyone can apply for this Licence, subject to fulfilling some criterion as laid by the state Controlling Authority. For imparting training to security guards, applicant agency can enter into an MoU with a recognised security guard training institute.

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The fees payable can be divided into the following categories:

1. For one district -- Rs. 5,000/-
2. For 2 to 5 districts in a state -- Rs. 10,000/-.
3. For the entire state -- Rs. 25,000/-.

The above-said fees are identical throughout India, except for the state of Karnataka, where the government fee for the entire state is Rs. 50,000/-. The government fee can be paid by way of Demand Draft or through cash challan at designated banks.

It is crucial to understand that each Controlling authority has its own set of requirements which can be met with proper consultation at the time of filing of the application. However, the following are common List of documents required at the time of filing of the application for PSARA Licence at State Controlling Authority.

1. Certificate of Incorporation & MOA
2. Address proof of the registered address.
3. PAN Card of Company and all its director
4. Registration under GST
5. PF and ESIC Registration
6. Registration of establishment under Shops & Establishment
7. ITR of the applicant and of all its directors,
8. Educational qualification,
9. Logo and badge of the firm,
10. MoU with a training institute etc.
11. Details of arme licenses
12. The Uniform pattern (Photographs of guards in uniform)
13. Police verification report

The foreign direct investment in a Private Security Agency business is allowed up to 49% in a Company or LLP under the approval route. The applications for the FDI is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the union government. Hence before an application for grant of PSARA Licence is moved by a company having foreign investment, it is a prerequisite to have the Prior Approval of the FDI and all relevant reports like FC-GPR is duly filed and approved.

This is a process of obtaining a No Objection from the office of the Deputy Police Commissioner Office for Issuing the Licence to operate a Private Security Licence. The major checkpoints while considering the application for police verification are as under.
1. General police record pertaining to the applicant
2. Any pending case or complaint
3. That the applicant or its owners is/was not indulging in activities which are prejudicial to national security or public order.
4. Details of earlier operated security agency by the applicant either individually or in a partnership.