What is a PSARA licence?
PSARA is the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005. Section 4 says no one may carry on or start a private security agency business without a licence under the Act. This licence, often searched as "PSARA license", is issued by the Controlling Authority of each state. Under Section 3, the state designates an officer not below Joint Secretary rank in its Home Department, or an equivalent officer. In states such as Gujarat, Haryana and Karnataka, it is a senior police officer.
The Act covers any non-government person or body in the business of private security services, including supplying guards, training guards or supervisors, and armoured car service.
The Central Government has notified the Private Security Agencies Central Model Rules, 2020 (G.S.R. 776(E), dated 15 December 2020). They give states a template, and each state makes its own rules, so forms and charges can differ.
Who needs a PSARA licence
- Any person, partnership firm or company that supplies security guards or security services to clients for a fee, or runs a business training security guards or supervisors.
- An agency working in several states needs a licence in each. Licences are issued for one district, two to five districts or the whole state; if you need more than five districts, apply for the whole state.
- Providing security abroad also needs the Controlling Authority's permission.
Guarding only your own premises with your own staff, or supplying only non-security manpower such as housekeeping, generally falls outside PSARA. See does every security agency need a PSARA licence. PSARA also does not replace the labour law licence, so check whether you need a contractor licence too.
PSARA licence eligibility: who cannot get one
Section 5 says an application is considered only after the applicant's antecedents are verified. Under Section 6, a person cannot get a licence if he or she:
- was convicted of an offence connected with promoting, forming or managing a company (fraud or misfeasance), or is an undischarged insolvent;
- was convicted of an offence whose prescribed punishment is imprisonment of not less than two years;
- keeps links with an organisation banned for threatening national security or public order, or is reported to be involved in such activities;
- was dismissed or removed from government service for misconduct or moral turpitude.
A company, firm or association is not eligible if it is not registered in India, or if its proprietor, majority shareholder, partner or director is not an Indian citizen. Under the Model Rules, every proprietor, majority shareholder, partner and director is verified as if he or she were the applicant, using crime databases such as CCTNS and ICJS.
Documents required for a PSARA licence
The Model Rules use three forms: Form I (application for grant or renewal), Form II (antecedent verification, one for each proprietor, majority shareholder, partner or director) and Form III (the affidavit required by Section 7(2)). You will also need:
- Registration numbers and documents, where applicable: CIN, EPF, ESI, GST, labour licence and labour registration.
- Identity proof of every person in management, with DIN where held.
- For each Form II: Aadhaar and PAN numbers, five years of address history and income tax returns for the last three years.
- A copy of a current income tax clearance certificate.
- A photo of the agency premises and its address.
- Your training arrangement: your own recognised facility, or a current memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a training institute.
- Colour photos of the guard and supervisor uniforms.
- The equipment you will use (metal detectors, wireless sets, alarms, armoured vehicles or arms) and your instruction staff.
- FDI details and approval, if any.
- The affidavit covering eligibility, training, licence conditions and any police or court cases against you.
Use our free PSARA application checklist to track each item, one copy per state. Your state may ask for more, so check its notified rules.
How to apply for a PSARA licence online: step by step
- Register. On psara.gov.in, click Login, choose Agency and register. Verify the OTP, set your password from the email link, and add details of the director, proprietor or major shareholder starting the agency.
- Start the application. On the agency dashboard, click Apply for License for Private Security Agency, choose new or renewal, and enter the agency name.
- Fill applicant and agency details with the premises photo and location.
- Add management. Add each proprietor, partner, director or majority shareholder, fill Form II for each, upload three years of ITR, then print, sign and upload Form II.
- Add operations. Enter instruction staff, arms and equipment, uniform photos and the operational area: chosen districts or the entire state.
- Add training. State whether the institute is recognised and whether training is your own or outsourced, and upload the current MoU.
- Add registrations and FDI. Enter numbers such as EPF, ESI and GST with documents, your facilities and any FDI approval.
- Upload the Section 7(2) affidavit, preview the full application and pay the fee online.
- Track and respond. After payment the application moves to the Under Process tab with its status. If the authority sends it back, answer through Submit Clarification; the agency name and operational area cannot be changed then.
- Download the licence from the dashboard once it is granted. Under the Model Rules a physical copy is also posted to your principal office within 15 days.
Meanwhile the Controlling Authority makes inquiries, takes a police no objection certificate and verifies your premises. The portal marks each licence as issued online or offline, so confirm your state's route.
PSARA licence fees by area of operation
| Area of operation | Licence fee (Section 7(3)) |
|---|---|
| One district of a state | Rs 5,000 |
| More than one and up to five districts | Rs 10,000 |
| Whole state | Rs 25,000 |
These grant fees are fixed in the Act. The Model Rules make the renewal fee the same and the licence fee non-refundable, but renewal fees and other charges, such as antecedent verification fees, come from state rules, so your state may differ. The portal takes net banking, debit card or credit card.
Time to grant, validity and PSARA renewal
- Time to grant: the Controlling Authority must grant or refuse the licence within 60 days of receiving a complete application with the fee. A refusal needs a hearing and written reasons.
- Validity: five years, unless the licence is cancelled.
- When to renew: not less than 45 days before expiry, with Forms I, II and III, the fee and the documents again. On the portal, choose renewal and add the old licence number, expiry date and a copy.
- Renewal decision: within 30 days of a complete renewal application.
- Late filing: under the Model Rules, an application filed inside the last 45 days is not processed for renewal. Apply for a fresh licence at once instead; after expiry the agency is treated as unlicensed and cannot keep supplying guards until a new licence is granted.
- New validity: a renewed licence runs five years from the old expiry date, whatever the date of renewal. If you filed on time and the authority decides after expiry, the gap is treated as licensed.
Many licences run out: on 17 October 2026 the portal showed 57,922 licences issued, of which 31,256 were active and 26,666 had expired. Diary the 45-day deadline the day your licence arrives.
After licensing: training and guard verification duties
- Start within six months. Under the Model Rules this includes setting up the office and engaging supervisors.
- Engage supervisors within 60 days. The Model Rules set one supervisor per 15 guards, or one per six guards where sites are too spread out.
- Owner training. The licensee must complete training set by the Controlling Authority, at least six working days, unless already licensed in another state.
- Report changes. Send details of each person forming the agency within 15 days of the licence, address or management changes within 30 days (use the portal's Change Request), and any criminal charge against your people or guards at once.
Every guard you deploy must:
- be an Indian citizen (or of a country the Centre notifies), aged at least 18 and below 65;
- pass character and antecedent verification, by a valid certificate or a check through the Controlling Authority or police. The guard gives Form V and a Form VI affidavit; the report is due within 15 days and stays valid for five years, even after a change of employer;
- complete training: under the Model Rules, at least 100 classroom hours and 60 field hours over at least 20 working days at entry level. Ex-servicemen and former police take a condensed course of 40 classroom hours and 16 field hours over at least seven working days. Training certificates from one state are accepted in others;
- meet the Model Rules physical standards, including height of 160 cm (150 cm for women), set eyesight and hearing levels and a one kilometre run in six minutes, with a medical check every 12 months.
Your state's rules set the final syllabus and standards, so check them. No one convicted by a competent court, or dismissed for misconduct or moral turpitude from the armed forces, police, government or another security agency, can work as a guard or supervisor. The portal lists registered training institutes under Know your Institution.
Records to keep and inspections
Section 15 and Model Rule 12 require a register kept electronically in Form X, in four parts:
- Register A: people managing the agency, with addresses, nationality and joining or leaving dates.
- Register B: every guard and supervisor, with address, photo, fingerprints, employee number, salary with date, ESI and EPF numbers, and the bank through which salary is paid.
- Register C: customers, site address, number and ranks of guards, and start and end dates.
- Register D: duty roster, with place of duty, whether arms were issued and the start and end time of each duty.
Issue every guard a photo identity card in Form XI and take it back when the guard leaves. On duty, guards wear the card visibly with an agency arm badge, a whistle and headgear. Never use army or police uniforms or ranks. The Controlling Authority can inspect your office, records and accounts at any reasonable time. The Model Rules also ask you to display the licence at your office; Section 12 of the Act, which said the same, was omitted in 2026, so follow your state's rules.
PSARA penalties, cancellation and appeals
- Running without a licence: imprisonment up to one year, a fine up to Rs 25,000, or both.
- Wrong uniform: if a guard or supervisor wears an armed forces or police uniform, or a look-alike, the guard and the proprietor face imprisonment up to one year, a fine up to Rs 5,000, or both.
- Cancellation and suspension: grounds include misrepresentation, false documents, breaking the Act, rules or licence conditions, not starting work or engaging supervisors on time, and repeated failures or crimes by guards. The authority can suspend a licence for up to 30 days and ask you to show cause within 15 days.
- Companies: people in charge can be held guilty with the company, unless they prove they did not know of the offence or used due diligence to prevent it.
What changed in 2026: the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 omitted Section 12 and Section 20(2) of PSARA from 15 May 2026. Section 20(2) had a fine of up to Rs 25,000 for breaching Sections 9, 10 and 12. The duties in Sections 9 and 10 remain, and breaching them can still cost you the licence under Section 13.
Appeals: against a refusal, non-renewal, suspension or cancellation, you can appeal to the state Home Secretary within 60 days of the order. A late appeal can be admitted for sufficient cause.
How to check PSARA licence status
- Your own application: log in as Agency. The Under Process tab shows its status, and a granted licence downloads from the dashboard.
- Any agency: open a state in the portal's state-wise licence table to see each agency's name, district, licence number and validity dates, filtered as active, expired, or cancelled and suspended.
Clients can use it to vet a security vendor before signing.
State controlling authorities: check your own state
PSARA is run by the states. psara.gov.in lists every State and UT Controlling Authority with contact details, and the rules each state has notified under the Act. Before you apply, read your state's rules for the form, extra charges, training conditions and documents. If you work in several states, apply in each; antecedents already verified for a valid licence elsewhere need not be checked again.
This guide explains the Act and the Central Model Rules as of 17 October 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your Controlling Authority before you act.
How ZeniaHR helps security agencies stay licensed
ZeniaHR is payroll, attendance and compliance software for manpower and security agencies. It tracks each state PSARA licence with renewal alerts, holds every guard's police verification and training records with expiry tracking, and keeps the guard and deployment records an inspection asks for. These sit on the same record that runs guard rostering, attendance and security guard payroll, with PF, ESI, PT and LWF worked out per guard.
See PSARA compliance software and ZeniaHR for security agencies. ZeniaHR is free for up to 50 users. Paid plans cost Rs 15 to Rs 25 per user per month depending on team size, with 20% off on yearly billing. Details are on the pricing page. To compare tools, read our guide to payroll software for security agencies.
Key points
- A PSARA licence is mandatory to run a private security agency in India and is issued state by state by the Controlling Authority.
- Apply online on psara.gov.in with Form I, a Form II for every proprietor, partner, majority shareholder or director, and the Section 7(2) affidavit.
- Fees under Section 7(3): Rs 5,000 for one district, Rs 10,000 for two to five districts and Rs 25,000 for the whole state; renewal and verification charges follow state rules.
- The authority must decide within 60 days of a complete application, and the licence is valid for five years.
- Renew not less than 45 days before expiry; under the Model Rules a later application is not processed for renewal.
- Guards must be aged 18 to below 65 and verified; under the Model Rules they also need entry training of 100 classroom and 60 field hours and a medical check every 12 months.
- Keep the Form X electronic register (management, guards, customers, duty roster) and issue Form XI photo ID cards.
- From 15 May 2026 the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026 omitted Sections 12 and 20(2); running without a licence still carries up to one year in jail, a fine up to Rs 25,000, or both.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PSARA licence?
It is the licence a private security agency needs under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 to supply guards or security services in India. The Controlling Authority of each state issues it, for one district, two to five districts or the whole state.
What is the PSARA licence fee?
Rs 5,000 for one district, Rs 10,000 for more than one and up to five districts, and Rs 25,000 for the whole state, under Section 7(3) of the Act. The Central Model Rules make the renewal fee the same as the grant fee, but renewal and verification charges follow your state's rules, so check them.
How long is a PSARA licence valid?
Five years, unless it is cancelled. Apply for renewal not less than 45 days before expiry, and the renewed licence will run five years from the old expiry date.
How long does it take to get a PSARA licence?
The Act gives the Controlling Authority 60 days from receipt of a complete application with the fee to grant or refuse it. The clock starts only once the application is complete, so file every form, affidavit and document together.
Do I need a separate PSARA licence for each state?
Yes. Each state's Controlling Authority issues its own licence. Under the Model Rules, a state need not repeat antecedent checks where you already hold a valid licence in another state, and owner training is not needed again once you are licensed elsewhere.
How do I check PSARA licence status?
For your own application, log in to the agency dashboard on psara.gov.in, where a submitted application shows its status under the Under Process tab. To check any agency, open the state in the portal's state-wise list, which shows the licence number, area and validity dates.
What is the penalty for running a security agency without a PSARA licence?
Imprisonment up to one year, a fine up to Rs 25,000, or both, under Section 20(1) of the Act. Where the agency is a company, firm or association, the people in charge of its business, including partners, can also be held liable.
Keep every guard licence and record current
ZeniaHR keeps PSARA, guard verification and training records with payroll, attendance and client billing for your security agency. Free for up to 50 users.
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