Obtaining a License for Security Activities

Security activities in Ukraine may be carried out only with the appropriate license. Such a license is required for companies and individual entrepreneurs planning to provide commercial services related to the protection of property or individuals.

For a business, a security license is not merely a formal permit. It confirms that the business entity has the required material and technical resources, personnel, internal documentation, and complies with the organizational, staffing, and technological requirements established by law.

VINCO’S Legal Company provides full support in obtaining a license for security activities — from the initial consultation and preliminary review of the applicant to document preparation, filing with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and obtaining the licensing decision.

A security license is required for business entities that plan to provide services for the protection of property and individuals. This may include the protection of facilities, premises, territories, offices, warehouses, retail premises, production sites, as well as personal security arrangements within the limits permitted by law.

The license may be obtained by legal entities and individual entrepreneurs registered in Ukraine, provided that they comply with the Licensing Conditions for Security Activities.

A license for security activities is usually required if you plan to:

• provide physical security services for facilities;
• protect property of legal entities or individuals;
• provide security services for offices, stores, warehouses, construction sites, or production facilities;
• organize response teams;
• use response vehicles;
• operate central monitoring stations;
• engage security personnel under service contracts;
• participate in tenders or enter into contracts with large corporate clients.

It is important to distinguish security activities from related services. For example, installation of technical systems, security consulting, or installation of video surveillance equipment may not always constitute security activities. However, if the company actually provides facility protection services or responds to alarm signals, the need for a license should be assessed separately.

The licensing authority for security activities is the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. The license is indefinite, and information on business entities that have obtained such a license is entered into the licensing register of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Applications and documents may be submitted through the relevant electronic services, including the business entity’s online licensing account.

Before filing the documents, it is necessary to check whether the company or individual entrepreneur complies with the legal requirements. Special attention should be paid to the following areas:

• proper registration of the business entity;
• relevant business activity codes and a compliant business model;
• availability of a specialist responsible for organizing security measures;
• compliance of security personnel with qualification requirements;
• availability of material and technical resources;
• documentary confirmation of special equipment, response vehicles, service dogs, or central monitoring stations, if used;
• absence of restrictions that may prevent the license from being issued;
• proper preparation of internal documents and information to be submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

A key issue is the specialist responsible for organizing security measures. Such a person must meet the applicable qualification requirements and have the relevant education, experience, or other confirmed grounds for performing these functions.

The package of documents for obtaining a security license may include:

• application for the license;
• information on security personnel;
• information on special equipment, if used;
• information on response vehicles, if used;
• information on central monitoring stations, service dogs, or technical means, if used in the business activity;
• information on accessibility of business premises for persons with disabilities and other low-mobility groups;
• information on the absence of control or trade relations with residents of an aggressor state in cases provided by the Licensing Conditions;
• description of documents submitted for obtaining the license;
• other documents or explanations that may be required depending on the specific business structure.

The exact list of documents depends on the security business model: physical guarding, response services, remote monitoring, use of special equipment, vehicles, or other resources.

The decision to issue a license for security activities is made within 10 business days from the date the licensing authority receives the application and documents.

The official fee for issuing the license equals one subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons applicable on the date of the licensing decision. Payment details are indicated in the decision of the licensing authority.

The licensing support procedure with VINCO’S may include the following stages:

1. Initial consultation and analysis of the client’s business model.
2. Review of the applicant’s compliance with the Licensing Conditions.
3. Analysis of staffing, organizational, and technological requirements.
4. Preparation of recommendations to eliminate possible inconsistencies.
5. Formation of the document package for submission to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
6. Preparation of the application and required information.
7. Filing documents with the licensing authority.
8. Communication with the licensing authority, if required.
9. Obtaining the licensing decision.
10. Consultation on further compliance with the Licensing Conditions.

In practice, refusals, applications being left without movement, or delays are often caused not by the absence of the right to obtain a license, but by mistakes in document preparation. The most common risks include:

• incorrectly completed application;
• incomplete document package;
• lack of confirmation of the qualification of the specialist responsible for security measures;
• errors in information about security personnel;
• mismatch between material and technical resources and the declared business model;
• failure to submit information on response vehicles, special equipment, or central monitoring stations if they are actually used;
• lack of internal control over compliance with the Licensing Conditions after the license is obtained.

Obtaining the license is only the first stage. After the license is issued, the licensee must continuously comply with the Licensing Conditions, timely notify the authority of changes in documents and information, and be prepared for state supervision measures.

VINCO’S Legal Company provides comprehensive support in obtaining a license for security activities. We help clients properly prepare for the procedure, minimize refusal risks, and build their operations in accordance with legal requirements.

We can assist with:

• consultation on the possibility of obtaining a security license;
• registration or adjustment of the company structure;
• selection of the required business activity codes;
• verification of compliance with staffing requirements;
• preparation of documents regarding security personnel;
• preparation of information on special equipment, response vehicles, and material and technical resources;
• filing documents with the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• support in communication with the licensing authority;
• re-issuance or updating of licensee information;
• further legal support for the security company.

If you plan to establish a security company or legalize an existing model of providing security services, the VINCO’S team will help you go through the licensing procedure professionally, efficiently, and in line with current legal requirements.