Card applications

What is a guard?

A guard means a person who carries out guard duties in the service of a security sector business. However, anyone who has completed the required training may apply for a guard licence. 

Applying for a guard licence

You can submit your application via the police e-service portal. For certain specific reasons, you may have to visit the police department in person. In that case, the police will contact you to make an appointment. You can also fill in the application form personally at the police station or at a police service point. 

Attach the following to your application:

• proof (copy of the certificate) of the satisfactory completion of basic guard training (a minimum of 120 lessons - the temporary guard training comprising a minimum of 40 lessons forms a component of guard training) 
  • temporary guard training and guard training completed after 1 October 2002 and before 1 January 2017 and confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior are deemed equivalent to the training courses specified above. These training courses deemed equivalent include: 
    • basic guard training (a minimum of 100 lessons which may comprise a separately completed temporary guard training course with a minimum of 40 lessons and a basic guard training course with a minimum of 60 lessons) or
    • a further vocational qualification for guards (VAT), which includes basic guard training (a minimum of 100 lessons) or
    • an initial vocational qualification in safety and security (security officer), which includes basic guard training (a minimum of 100 lessons)
• proof (copy of the certificate) of the satisfactory completion of forcible means equipment user training and the obedience test of a dog accompanying the guard during assignments (if completed prior to applying for the first licence; otherwise, include a duplicate in the application)
• photograph meeting the requirements specified in the Passports Act.

The police department may ask the applicant to present additional documentation related to the licencing requirements.

Validity of guard training

A basic guard training course completed after 1 October 2002 will not expire. If you have satisfactorily completed the above-mentioned courses, you may apply for a new guard licence at practically any time.

If you have satisfactorily completed the basic guard training course before 1 October 2002, you may be relicensed as a guard if you apply for a guard licence during the validity of your existing guard licence. 

If your guard licence expires before you have applied for a new licence, in order to receive a guard licence you must complete the basic guard training referred to in the current Private Security Services Act (a minimum of 120 lessons) again.

Validity of guard licence

The guard licence remains in effect for five years or until the holder turns 68. 

The police department may place terms and limitations on the guard licence for reasons of: 

• training
• personal qualities
• other such circumstances

Any such terms and limitations will be time-specific and regional or guarding-duty specific. If there are any changes in the above reasons, the police department may also amend the terms and limitations of licensing. 

If the applicant fulfils the criteria, the police department will issue a guard licence to the applicant and, upon request, a certificate indicating that the applicant has been granted a guard licence. The certificate serves as a guard licence until the actual guard licence has been delivered to the applicant.

Duplicate copy of guard licence

The police department will issue a guard licence to the approved applicant.  The guard must carry the licence during guarding duties and present it upon request to the subject of the guard's actions, a representative of the client, the guard's employer and a representative of the supervisory authority. Information shown on the licence must be kept up to date.

You must immediately apply for a duplicate copy of your guard licence:

• if your personal information has changed
• if your licence is missing or has been damaged or stolen
• after the first successful completion of training in the use of forcible means equipment (chemical sprays, expandable batons or firearms), and this information is not shown on the guard licence
• after the first successful completion of an obedience test by a dog under the guard's control, and this information is not shown on the guard licence.

The duplicate will remain in effect for as long as the original licence. Instead of a duplicate, you can also apply for a new licence. 

The guard licence must be handed over to the police immediately if the licence is cancelled or the guard is issued with a new licence while the previous licence is still in effect.

The guard's annual firearms competence test or the forcible means equipment use refresher training are not marked on the duplicate guard licence. The holder of a security sector business licence is responsible for the completion of the refresher training. The certificate of refresher training is only delivered to the employer.

Cancelling a guard or temporary guard licence

A police department must cancel a guard licence, if the guard so requests.

The police department may cancel or suspend a licence if:

• the guard no longer meets the stipulated licensing requirements on honesty, reliability or personal qualities, or
• the guard has been sentenced, under a final decision, for an offence that proves him or her unsuitable for the job, or has intentionally committed material misconduct as a guard, or
• the guard has materially violated the key terms and limitations of guard licensing.

What is a temporary guard?

Temporary guard means a person carrying out guard duties in the service of a holder of a security sector business licence for a period of no more than four (4) months. 

As of 1 January 2017, a person who has satisfactorily completed the temporary guard training (a minimum of 40 lessons) can be licensed as a temporary guard as a one-time occurrence. The applicant does not need to be in the service of a holder of a security sector business licence.
A temporary guard licence may be granted to a person who is at least 18 but no more than 68 years old, honest and reliable, and otherwise suitable for the job. To obtain the licence, the applicant must have satisfactorily completed the training for temporary guards.

The police department grants the temporary guard licences.

Applying for a temporary guard licence

You can submit your application via the police e-service portal. For certain specific reasons, you may have to visit the police department in person. In that case, the police will contact you to make an appointment. You can also fill in the application form personally at the police station or at a police service point. 

Attach the following to your application:

• proof (copy of the certificate) of the satisfactory completion of temporary guard training (a minimum of 40 lessons) 
  • temporary guard training and guard training completed after 1 October 2002 and before 1 January 2017 and confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior – Basics of guard work (a minimum of 40 lessons) – are deemed equivalent to the training courses specified above
• photograph meeting the requirements specified in the Passports Act

The police department may ask the applicant to present additional documentation related to the licencing requirements.

The temporary guard training (a minimum of 40 lessons) is included in basic guard training (a minimum of 120 lessons). If you have completed the Basics of Guard Work course (a minimum of 40 lessons) between 2 October 2002 and 31 December 2016, you can be granted a temporary guard licence.

The licence can be granted only once and for no more than 4 months

The licence period for a temporary guard (no more than four months) is of a one-time nature and is not tied to the calendar year. During the licence period of no more than four months, or after it has ended, the temporary guard must complete the training required for a guard licence, if he or she intends to continue working as a guard. If the licence applied for is for a period shorter than four months, it will be of a one-time nature in that case as well.

The police department may place terms and limitations on the temporary guard licence for reasons of: 

• training
• personal qualities
• other such circumstances

Any such terms and limitations will be time-specific and regional or guarding-duty specific. If there are any changes in the above reasons, the police department may also amend the terms and limitations of licensing. 

Exemptions from the training requirement

A person who has not completed temporary guard training can also be issued a temporary guard licence, if the person has been transferred into the employment of a holder of a security sector business licence during the transfer of a business. In such a case, the person will have the right to act as a temporary guard only in duties related to the assignment concerning the transfer of the business.

While performing guarding work, a person licensed as a temporary guard on the above-mentioned grounds will not have:

• the right to prevent access to the area being guarded
• the right to remove persons from the area being guarded 
• the guard's right to apprehend people
• the right to perform security checks
• the right to use force.

A temporary guard may not carry forcible means equipment during his or her work. A temporary guard does not have the right to be accompanied by a dog during his or her guard duties.

If the applicant fulfils the criteria, the police department will issue a temporary guard licence to the applicant and, upon request, a certificate indicating that the applicant has been granted a temporary guard licence.

Duplicate copy of temporary guard licence

The police department will issue a temporary guard licence to the approved applicant. The guard must carry the licence during guarding duties and present it upon request to the subject of the guard's actions, a representative of the client, the guard's employer and a representative of the supervisory authority. Information shown on the licence must be kept up to date.

You must immediately apply for a duplicate copy of your temporary guard licence:

• if your personal information has changed
• if your licence is missing or has been damaged or stolen

A temporary guard licence does not include information on the forcible means equipment user training or the obedience test of a dog. A temporary guard may not carry forcible means equipment during his or her work and does not have the right to be accompanied by a dog during his or her guard duties.

The duplicate will remain in effect for as long as the original licence. The temporary guard licence must be handed over to the police immediately if the licence is cancelled or the temporary guard is issued with a new temporary licence.

Cancelling a guard or temporary guard licence

A police department must cancel a guard licence, if the guard so requests.

The police department may cancel or suspend a licence if:

• the guard no longer meets the stipulated licensing requirements on honesty, reliability or personal qualities, or
• the guard has been sentenced, under a final decision, for an offence that proves him or her unsuitable for the job, or has intentionally committed material misconduct as a guard, or
• the guard has materially violated the key terms and limitations of guard licensing.

Read more about a transfer of a business in chapter 1, section 10 of the Employment Contracts Act (55/2001) on Finlex (only in Finnish)

What is a security officer?

Security officer means a person carrying out security tasks requiring certification. A security officer is always in the service of a holder of a security sector business licence or a security protection supplier.

A security officer licence may be granted to a person who is at least 18 years old, honest and reliable, and otherwise suitable for the job, and who is performing security assignments.
The police department grants the security officer licences.

Applying for a security officer licence

You can submit your application via the police e-service portal. For certain specific reasons, you may have to visit the police department in person. In that case, the police will contact you to make an appointment. You can also fill in the application form personally at the police station or at a police service point. 

Attach the following to your application:

• proof of performing security assignments
• proof of whether you work as an employee or as a self-employed person
• proof of your employer, if you work as an employee
• employer's name and business ID
• photograph meeting the requirements specified in the Passports Act.

You can also include proof of your tax number in the application.

The police department may ask the applicant to present additional documentation related to the licencing requirements.

What are the grounds for the application?

The grounds for the application may be the applicant's own or his or her employer's proof of the performance of security assignments requiring authorisation. A security officer licence may not be applied for merely on the grounds of the applicant intending to begin security work in the future. If necessary, a more detailed report may be requested on how the company in question / the applicant's employer is engaged in security work requiring certification.

What does “being in service” mean?

Being in service primarily means that the security officer is employed by a holder of a security sector business licence. A student who is completing practical training in the security sector as part of his or her studies may also be considered to be in an employment relationship. In this case, the student may be licenced as a security officer for the duration of the practical training. However, studies in the security sector alone are not enough to justify licencing as a security officer. The decisions on the matter are made by the police on a case-by-case basis. 

No special training requirements for security officers

No special training requirements have been laid down for security officers as a condition for their licencing. In this, licencing as security guard differs from security officers and security stewards. 

Security officer licence remains in effect for five years

The security officer licence remains in effect for five years. The police department may place terms and limitations on the security officer licence for reasons of: 

• personal qualities
• other such circumstances

Any such terms and limitations will be time-specific and regional or duty specific. If there are any changes in the above reasons, the police department may also amend the terms and limitations of licensing. 

If the applicant fulfils the criteria, the police department will issue a security officer licence to the applicant and, upon request, a certificate indicating that the applicant has been granted a security officer licence. The certificate serves as a security officer licence until the actual security officer licence has been delivered to the applicant.

The security officer's employer is marked on the security officer licence. If the security officer has more than one employer, he or she may have several valid security officer licences at the same time.

Renewing a security officer licence

The procedure of renewing a security officer licence is the same as the original security officer licensing procedure. If the information marked on the security officer licence remains unchanged, the previous security officer licence is cancelled. 

When applying for a new licence, the applicant must always present up-to-date grounds for the application. In practice, the applicant must present new proof of the performance of security work requiring authorisation and of other requirements specified for the application.

Duplicate copy of security officer licence

The police department will issue a security officer licence to the approved applicant. The security officer must carry the licence during security work requiring certification and present it upon request to the representative of the client, the security officer’s employer, any other person related to the security officer’s work and a representative of the supervisory authority. Information shown on the licence must be kept up to date.

You must immediately apply for a duplicate copy of your security officer licence:

• if your personal information has changed
• if your licence is missing or has been damaged or stolen

The duplicate will remain in effect for as long as the original licence. Instead of a duplicate, you can also apply for a new licence.

The security officer licence must be handed over to the police immediately if the licence is cancelled or the security officer is issued with a new licence while the previous licence is still in effect and the information in the licence has not change. 

Cancelling a security officer licence

A police department must cancel a security officer licence, if the security officer so requests. The security officer licence must also be cancelled if the security officer’s employment has ended or if the security officer no longer carries out security work requiring certification on self-employed basis.

The police department may cancel or suspend a licence if:

• the security officer no longer meets the requirements laid down for licensing on honesty, reliability or personal qualities, or
• the security officer has been sentenced, under a final decision, for an offence that proves him or her unsuitable for the job, or has intentionally committed material misconduct as a security officer, or
• the security officer has materially violated the key terms and limitations of security officer licensing.

What is a security steward?

Security steward means a person who performs security stewarding assignments. A security steward can work in service of a holder of a security sector business licence or on self-employed basis.

A security steward licence may be granted to a person who is at least 18 years old, honest and reliable, and otherwise suitable for the job. To obtain the licence, the applicant must have satisfactorily completed the basic training for security stewards. The police department grants the security steward licences.

You can submit your application via the police e-service portal. For certain specific reasons, you may have to visit the police department in person. In that case, the police will contact you to make an appointment. You can also fill in the application form personally at the police station or at a police service point. 

Attach the following to your application:

• proof (copy of the certificate) of the satisfactory completion of basic security steward training (a minimum of 40 lessons) 
  • training meeting the requirements laid down in the Ministry of the Interior decree (209/2007) (a minimum of 32 lessons) and completed after 1 March 2007 and before 1 January 2017 is deemed equivalent to the training course specified above
  • the 24-lesson security steward courses completed before 1 March 2007 have expired on 1 March 2007, if the security steward licence has not been kept constantly valid
• when applying for a renewal of a security steward licence, proof (copy of the certificate) of the satisfactory completion of a security steward's refresher training course
• proof (copy of the certificate) of the satisfactory completion of a security steward's additional use-of-force training course (meeting the requirements laid down by the National Police Board and comprising a minimum of 16 lessons)
• photograph meeting the requirements specified in the Passports Act
• proof (copy of the certificate) of the satisfactory completion of a basic guard training course, if the applicant does not have a valid guard licence and is seeking to work in security stewarding assignments in assistance to the police or the Finnish Border Guard
• proof (copy of the certificate) of the satisfactory completion of forcible means equipment user training (if completed prior to applying for the first licence; otherwise, include a duplicate in the application)
• copy of the certificate on the obedience test of a dog accompanying the security steward during assignments (if completed prior to applying for the first licence; otherwise, include a duplicate in the application)

The police department may ask the applicant to present additional documentation related to the licencing requirements.

In order to renew your security steward licence, you must complete the refresher course

If you want to renew your security steward licence, you must satisfactorily complete the statutory security steward's refresher training course. 

If you have completed the basic security steward training after 1 March 2007 or after 1 January 2017, you must complete the refresher training no more than 6 months prior to applying for a new licence. 

If you have completed the earlier basic security steward training course before 1 March 2007, you must also complete the statutory refresher training. In addition, you must apply for the new security steward licence while your earlier security steward licence is still valid. If your previous licence has expired, you must complete the statutory basic security steward training in accordance with the current legislation.

Security steward licence remains in effect for five years

The security steward licence remains in effect for five years. The police department may place terms and limitations on the security steward licence for reasons of: 

• training
• personal qualities
• other such circumstances

Any such terms and limitations will be time-specific and regional or guarding-duty specific. If there are any changes to the above reasons, the police department may also amend the terms and limitations of licensing.

If the applicant fulfils the criteria, the police department will issue a security steward licence to the applicant and, upon request, a certificate indicating that the applicant has been granted a security steward licence. The certificate serves as a security steward licence until the actual security steward licence has been delivered to the applicant.

Temporary security steward licence

Temporary security stewards are often needed at public events and meetings. Temporary security stewards are not required to complete the security steward training. 

The police department may grant a security steward licence to an untrained person who is at least 18 years of age and meets the requirements on honesty, reliability and personal qualities.

How to arrange security stewards for a public event?

• The organiser of the event must submit a notification of a public event. 
• In this notification, the organiser requests that an untrained person who is willing and able to act as a security steward be licensed to act as a temporary security steward at the event. 
• By signing the request, the organiser can confirm that the persons in question have consented to acting as temporary security stewards at the event. 
• If necessary, the police in charge will ask each person separately for their consent in writing. 
• Information to be provided of the person to be licensed as a temporary security steward include name and personal identification number.
• A certificate of authorisation to act as a security steward issued by the police acts as the security steward licence for temporary security stewards.

Duplicate security steward licence

The police department will issue a security steward licence to the approved applicant. The security steward must carry the licence during security stewarding duties and present it upon request to the subject of the security steward’s actions, a representative of the client, the security steward’s employer and a representative of the supervisory authority. Information shown on the licence must be kept up to date.

You must immediately apply for a duplicate copy of your security steward licence:

• if your personal information has changed
• if your licence is missing or has been damaged or stolen
• if you have satisfactorily completed additional security steward's use-of-force training, basic guard training, or user training for a gas spray or an expandable baton, or a dog has completed an obedience test under your control, and this information is not shown on the security steward licence.

The duplicate will remain in effect for as long as the original licence. You can also apply for a new licence instead of a duplicate, if you have completed the security steward's refresher training course.

The security steward licence must be handed over to the police immediately if the licence is cancelled or the security steward is issued a new licence while the previous licence is still in effect.

Cancelling a security steward licence

A police department must cancel a security steward licence, if the security steward so requests.
The police department may cancel or suspend a licence if:

• the security steward no longer meets the requirements laid down for licensing on honesty, reliability or personal qualities, or
• the security steward has been sentenced, under a final decision, for an offence that proves him or her unsuitable for the job, or has intentionally committed material misconduct as a security steward, or
• the security steward has materially violated the key terms and limitations of security steward licensing.