Security Agency Licence in Singapore: Setting Up, Directors’ Suitability and Progressive Wages

Short answer: A security agency in Singapore needs a licence from the Police Regulatory Department under section 15 of the Private Security Industry Act 2007. First-time applicants need an ACRA-registered entity with at least two fit and proper directors (one a citizen or PR), S$500,000 paid-up capital, a physical office and a SACE pass.

A security agency licence in Singapore shapes the company itself: how many directors you appoint, who they are, how much capital you put in, where you operate and whom you can deploy. This guide covers what the Private Security Industry Act 2007 (PSIA) requires, how the Police Regulatory Department (PRD) assesses applicants, what the security Progressive Wage Model (PWM) means for payroll, and the order of steps to start a security company in Singapore without rework.

Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of experienced Singapore law firms who offer cost-effective and efficient legal service and advice. This article is general information only and is not legal advice.

When does a business need a security agency licence in Singapore?

You need a security agency licence if your business supplies, for reward, the services of security officers to other persons, or advertises or holds itself out as willing to do so. That is the test in section 15(1) of the Private Security Industry Act 2007.

Under section 13, a “security officer” is an individual who, for reward, guards or patrols another person’s property (including cash in transit), keeps it under surveillance, acts as a bodyguard or bouncer, screens people entering premises as a regular duty, or regulates traffic under the Road Traffic Act 1961.

Each officer you deploy also needs a security officer’s licence (section 14), and section 16 makes it an offence to employ an unlicensed security officer. Installing or selling security equipment and systems is a separate “security service” under section 18 with its own licence.

Who can apply? The PRD licensing criteria for a new security agency

The applicant must be a business entity registered with ACRA that meets every criterion PRD publishes. Many operators still search for this as a “PLRD licence”, after the department’s earlier name, but applications now go to the PRD through the GoBusiness licensing portal.

According to the Singapore Police Force security agency licence page, the entity must have:

Security is one of several licensed, PWM-covered service trades; our guide on starting a cleaning business in Singapore walks through a similar set-up.

How does PRD decide whether directors and shareholders are fit and proper?

Under section 21(5) of the PSIA, the Licensing Officer can refuse a licence if any officer of the entity is not fit and proper, or if granting it is against the public interest or may threaten national security.

Section 21(8) lists matters the Licensing Officer may treat as indicating that a person is not fit and proper:

• associating with a criminal in a way that indicates involvement in an unlawful activity;
• having shown dishonesty or lack of integrity, or used harassing tactics, in past dealings;
• suffering, or having suffered, from a mental disorder;
• being an undischarged bankrupt or having entered into a composition with debtors.

Section 21(9) makes clear this list is not exhaustive. The scrutiny also goes beyond the directors named on the ACRA profile. PRD’s definition of “officer” includes a chief executive, manager or secretary, and any person who can control or substantially influence the conduct of the entity’s affairs. In practice, a controlling shareholder who is not on the board can still be assessed.

Making a false statement or suppressing a material fact in the application is an offence under section 21(7), with a fine of up to S$10,000, imprisonment of up to 2 years, or both.

What is the step-by-step process to start a security company in Singapore?

Incorporate a company built to meet the licensing criteria, then apply for the licence through GoBusiness and go through SACE. A sensible order is:

1. Incorporate a private limited company with ACRA, with at least two directors (one a citizen or PR) and the correct business activity code. SSIC 2025 code 80100, “Private security activities”, covers guard, security and patrol services. Our guide on choosing primary and secondary SSIC codes explains how the codes work.
2. Pay up S$500,000 of share capital and keep evidence of the capital injection.
3. Secure a physical office and set up CorpPass, which you need to log in to GoBusiness.
4. Gather director documents, including Certificates of Non-Criminal Conviction for non-citizen, non-PR directors and work passes for foreign directors based in Singapore.
5. Submit the new licence application on GoBusiness and pay the S$355 fee.
6. Prepare for SACE, which starts once you apply. You must pass core competencies C1, C2 and C6. The Licensing Officer may also ask you to attend an interview.
7. On approval, receive the softcopy licence and licensing conditions by email, then meet the post-licence conditions below.

How long does it take, and what does a security agency licence cost?

PRD states a processing time of about 4 to 6 weeks from receipt of a complete application, while the SACE assessment takes about four months. Plan for several months from application to licence, with the S$500,000 capital already committed.

SACE replaced the former Security Agencies Grading Exercise from 1 January 2022. For a wider view of first-year company costs, see how much it costs to set up and run a Singapore company in year one, and try our free business tools for budgeting and compliance planning.

What licence conditions apply once you are licensed?

A licensed agency must meet ongoing conditions on training, safety certification and staffing. Under PRD’s licensing conditions effective from July 2026, the directors or partners are jointly and severally responsible for the agency’s compliance with the PSIA.

• At least one director or partner must be certified in the WSQ module “Manage Security Agency within Legal Framework”.
• Within six months of the licence being granted, at least one director, partner or employee must be certified in “Manage Security Operations” and “Manage Security Emergencies”.
• Within six months of the grant, a new agency must hold bizSAFE Level 2 certification. Renewals require bizSAFE Level 3.
• Before employing a licensed security officer, and within 14 days after terminating one, you must inform the Licensing Officer (section 16(3)). Non-security staff such as clerical employees must be notified within 14 days of hiring or termination (section 17(1)).
• From 15 September 2025, changes of directors or business name only need to be updated with ACRA within 14 days. There is no separate requirement to inform PRD if ACRA has been updated.

How does the security Progressive Wage Model affect your payroll?

The security PWM is a licensing condition, not a voluntary guideline. Your agency must pay its Singapore Citizen and Permanent Resident security officers at least the PWM wage for their grade, and must make sure they complete the required training before deployment.

The current schedule published by the Ministry of Manpower for the security sector sets these minimum monthly basic wages for full-time outsourced officers (35 to 44 hours a week):

Part-time outsourced officers have hourly minimums, which for a security officer are S$11.80 in 2026 and S$12.65 in 2027. PRD’s conditions also cap extra hours at 72 a month, counting every hour beyond 44 in a week, and officers must not need to work mandatory overtime to reach the basic wage. An entry-level security officer must also complete 4 approved training modules.

Price multi-year contracts with the 1 January 2027 and 2028 increases in mind. MOM has also announced that minimum annual leave for outsourced PWM workers will rise from 7 to 10 days from 2029, in phases. Our employer’s guide to the Progressive Wage Model covers the wider PWM framework and payroll records.

Can a security agency hire foreign security officers?

Only partly. PRD will license a security officer only if they are a Singapore Citizen, a Permanent Resident, or a Malaysian citizen with a valid work pass, so other nationalities cannot be deployed in security officer roles.

Malaysian officers need MOM work pass approval (an in-principle approval is not accepted) and a Certificate of Non-Criminal Conviction issued within six months. Your Work Permit quota depends on your local headcount, and MOM assigns your sector from your registered principal activity. For services sector employers, the dependency ratio ceiling is 35% of the total workforce, with monthly levies tiered from S$300 to S$800 a worker. MOM plans to merge the two lower tiers from 2028.

Our associated MOM-licensed agency, Little Big Employment Agency, handles work pass applications; you can read more at Singapore Employment Agency. For upcoming levy changes, see our note on MOM’s 2028 foreign worker levy framework.

Frequently asked questions

Is a “PLRD licence” the same as a security agency licence?

Yes, in everyday usage. Operators often call it a PLRD licence after the department’s earlier name. The licence is now issued by the Police Regulatory Department under the Private Security Industry Act 2007, and you apply through GoBusiness.

Can a foreigner own and run a security agency in Singapore?

A foreign shareholder is not barred by the published criteria, but the company needs at least two directors, one of whom must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident. Foreign directors based in Singapore need an Employment Pass or S Pass, and every officer and controller must be fit and proper.

Does the S$500,000 paid-up capital requirement apply on renewal?

No. PRD states the initial paid-up capital requirement applies only to first-time applicants, not to existing licensed agencies renewing their licences.

Do in-house security teams follow the same PWM wages?

No. In-house security officers have a separate ladder based on gross wages, which applies to employers that hire foreign workers. For example, the minimum for an in-house security officer is S$2,475 in 2026 and S$2,635 in 2027.

Last reviewed: 25 October 2026. The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services.