PSARA License for Security Agencies
The license no security agency can operate without.
Running a private security agency in India without a PSARA license is a criminal offence. The license is issued by your state's controlling authority under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005, and the application involves considerably more than paperwork — training tie-ups, police verification and antecedent checks all form part of it.
- Government fee
- ₹5,000 to ₹25,000 depending on districts covered and state
- Timeline
- 60–90 working days
Get started with PSARA License
Free eligibility check · No obligation
What PSARA License is, and who it applies to
PSARA governs every agency that supplies private security guards or provides security services. The license is granted by the state controlling authority, usually an officer of the Home Department, and it is issued separately for a single district, for up to five districts, or for the entire state — with the fee scaling accordingly.
The application is demanding by design. You must have a memorandum of understanding with a state-approved training institute, because guards must complete prescribed training before deployment. Every director and the principal officer undergoes police verification of antecedents. Ex-servicemen are given preference for the principal officer role, and the agency must satisfy the authority about its financial standing and management.
Directors must be Indian citizens, and the Act disqualifies anyone convicted of offences involving moral turpitude, anyone dismissed from government service, and anyone with links to organisations banned for national security reasons. These are verified, not merely declared.
The license runs for five years and is renewable. Operating without one attracts imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to ₹25,000, or both — and unlicensed agencies are routinely shut down following complaints from clients or rival agencies.
Who needs PSARA License
- Private security agencies supplying guards
- Manpower companies providing security personnel
- Facility management firms with a security division
- Cash-in-transit and armoured vehicle operators
- Event security service providers
- Businesses expanding an existing agency into new districts or states
Why it matters
Operate lawfully
Without the license, operating is a criminal offence carrying imprisonment and fines, and clients are exposed too.
Win corporate contracts
No serious corporate or government client engages an unlicensed security agency — it is the first document asked for in any tender.
Credibility with clients
The license signals verified antecedents, trained guards and state oversight, which is exactly what buyers are assessing.
Multi-district expansion
Licenses can be structured for one district, five districts or an entire state as the agency grows.
Documents required
Scans on WhatsApp are fine. We check every document against the officer's checklist before filing.
Company documents
- Certificate of Incorporation, partnership deed or proprietorship proof
- Memorandum and Articles of Association
- PAN and GST registration of the agency
- Shop and Establishment registration
- PF and ESIC registration
- Registered office address proof
- Audited financial statements or bank statements showing financial standing
Director and principal officer documents
- PAN, Aadhaar and photographs of all directors
- Character and antecedent verification from the police
- Affidavit of eligibility under the PSARA Act
- Educational qualification certificates
- Ex-serviceman discharge certificate for the principal officer, where applicable
Operational documents
- Memorandum of understanding with a state-approved security training institute
- Proposed uniform pattern and logo, for approval
- List of districts to be covered
- Details of arms, where an arms license is held
How we do it
- 1
Eligibility review
We check director eligibility, entity structure and prerequisite registrations before anything is filed — a disqualified director sinks the whole application.
- 2
Prerequisites arranged
Shop and Establishment, PF, ESIC and GST registrations are put in place where missing, and the training institute MoU is executed.
- 3
Police verification
Antecedent verification is initiated for all directors and the principal officer, and we track it through the police department.
- 4
Application filing
Form I is filed with the state controlling authority along with the prescribed fee and complete annexures.
- 5
Follow-up and license
We pursue the file through verification and inspection until the license is granted, then brief you on the renewal timeline and record-keeping obligations.
What it costs
We do not publish a rate card, because the right fee depends on your entity type, turnover and how much of the groundwork is already done. Tell us what your business does and we will quote a fixed figure for your case — before you commit to anything.
We quote a fixed professional fee for your case before any work begins, and it excludes GST. Government fees, where applicable, are shown separately and paid directly to the department. Statutory fees and thresholds change by notification — we confirm the current position for your case before you commit.
What non-compliance costs
- Operating without a license: imprisonment up to one year, fine up to ₹25,000, or both
- Supplying untrained guards breaches license conditions and can lead to cancellation
- Failure to maintain prescribed registers attracts penalties under the Act
- Licenses can be revoked for employing persons with adverse antecedent records
PSARA License — frequently asked questions
How long does a PSARA license take?
Realistically sixty to ninety working days, and sometimes longer. The bottleneck is police verification of directors' antecedents, which runs on the police department's timeline rather than ours. Anyone promising a PSARA license in two weeks is not being straight with you.
Can a foreign national be a director of a security agency?
No. The PSARA Act requires that the agency not be owned or controlled by a person who is not a citizen of India. Directors must be Indian citizens.
Do I need the training institute tie-up before applying?
Yes. A memorandum of understanding with a state-approved training institute is a prerequisite, not something arranged afterwards. Guards must complete prescribed training before deployment, and the authority verifies the tie-up exists. We arrange this as part of the engagement.
How long is the license valid?
Five years, renewable. Renewal should be applied for well before expiry, since processing takes time and operating on a lapsed license carries the same consequences as never having had one.
I already operate in one district and want to expand. What is involved?
You apply to have the license extended to additional districts, paying the differential fee. It is generally faster than a fresh application since antecedent verification is already on record, but it is still a formal application with the controlling authority.
Is a separate license needed for each state?
Yes. PSARA licenses are granted by state controlling authorities and are valid only within that state. An agency operating in Gujarat and Maharashtra needs a license from each.
PSARA License by state
This license is granted by the state, not centrally — an agency operating in two states needs one from each. Each page covers that state's Controlling Authority, fee bands and realistic timeline.
PSARA License by city
Local fees, the specific authority handling your application and city-level timelines.
Ready to start your PSARA License?
Send us a message and we will confirm what you need, what it costs and how long it takes — before you pay anything.
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