Commercial security services require a license. “Security services,” as defined in Section 34a of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO), refer to activities aimed at protecting the lives or property of others from interference by third parties. The specific activities falling under the term “security services” are wide-ranging. These include, among other things,

• traditional bicycle, motor vehicle, and building security,
• event security,
• passenger screening,
• the transport of cash and valuables,
• personal protection, or
• the security of industrial and military facilities as well as nuclear power plants.

Security guard services require active custodial duties (e.g., supervision or inspections). Such custodial duties must be performed by human personnel.

A security service provider may be a natural person or a legal entity. In the case of partnerships (e.g., OHG, KG), each managing partner is considered a business operator. In the case of legal entities (e.g., GmbH, AG), the permit is issued to the legal entity.

• A copy of the identity card or another official identification document for all natural persons authorized to manage the business
• Proof of personal integrity
  • If residing in Germany:
    • Extract from the Central Trade Register
    • Certificate of Good Conduct for all natural persons authorized to manage the business
  • If residing abroad: Documents from the home country that prove personal reliability
• Proof of the company’s legal form
  • If the company is headquartered in Germany:
    • For companies registered in a registry: an extract from the commercial register or the partnership register
    • otherwise, a copy of the articles of association (e.g., for a civil law partnership (GbR))
  • If the company is headquartered abroad: Documents from the country of incorporation that verify the legal form.
• Proof of sound financial standing
  • A current tax clearance certificate from the competent tax office (original must be submitted); if applicable, a tax clearance certificate from the municipal tax office
  • Extract from the debtor registry of the central enforcement court
  • Submission of a statement of assets
  • Information from the insolvency court as to whether insolvency proceedings have been initiated (so-called “negative certificate”)
  • Proof of the funds required to operate the business or corresponding collateral
• Proof of personal professional competence for all natural persons authorized to manage the business: Submission of proof of the required training, successful completion of the professional competence examination, or a certificate recognized as equivalent
• Proof of the required liability insurance
• To verify that the necessary requirements are met (in particular, your personal reliability), the competent authority may request additional documents and seek opinions from other agencies (e.g., the police, State Criminal Police Office, or Office for the Protection of the Constitution).

"The trade authorities in Lower Saxony levy corresponding fees in accordance with the Ordinance on Fees and Expenses for Official Acts and Services (General Schedule of Fees - AllGO). For the security industry, the amount of fees is based on "time spent" in accordance with tariff number 40.1.12 of the Annex to Section 1 (1) AllGO.

not specified