Overview

To apply for an agency corporation licence, you must be an authorized representative of the corporation.

A corporation is a legal entity that keeps the business separate from the business owner. An agency corporation is a business that is licenced to sell the services of:

  • security guards: a person who performs work, for pay, that consists primarily of guarding or patrolling for the purpose of protecting persons or property
  • private investigator: a person who performs work, for pay, that consists primarily of conducting investigations to provide information
  • security guard and private investigator (Dual): an individual may hold both a SG and PI licence. However, they cannot work as both SG and PI at the same time

Requirements

In order to complete your agency corporation application you will be required to provide the following:

  • Articles of Incorporation document:
    • for all new agency applicants: an articles of incorporation document that includes a list of all company director(s) and/or officer(s) is required
    • for all renewing agency applicants: you are not required to provide an articles of Incorporation document
  • corporation number:
    • for all new agency applicants: please record this number as listed on your articles of incorporation
    • for all renewing agency applicants: you are not required to provide a corporation number
  • legal name:
    • for all new agency applicants: please use the name listed on your articles of incorporation document
    • for all renewing agency applicants: if you have changed your legal name, a government issued document showing the name change is required
  • business name/registration (if applicable):
    • for new applicants: if you have a business name that differs from the legal name, a valid Business name registration document is required
    • for renewing applicants: If you are adding or changing a business name, or if your current business name registration document is expired, you will be required to submit a valid Business name registration document
    • for a corporation that is provincially incorporated for a province/territory outside of Ontario, you must provide a business registration document to support that you have registered in Ontario

You will also be asked to provide the following for each existing and new partner, officer or director:

If you are adding or removing an officer partner or director, you will be required to provide:

  • a Notice of Change in Officer, Director or Partner form for the individual being added or removed
  • an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or other government-issued report which lists all active officer(s)/director(s) and where applicable, a company resolution document showing the individual has been added or removed

How to apply

Apply online

To apply online for a new agency corporation licence or to renew your existing licence you will need:

Once your application is approved you will receive your digital licence by email. You can also download or print your digital licence by logging into your My Ontario Account.

Your agency licence must be posted in a clearly visible location within your business office.

Apply/renew online

Apply by mail

To apply by mail for a new Agency Corporation licence or to renew your existing licence you will need to:

  • provide the payment for your licence type in the form of a bank draft, money order, or certified cheque made payable to the Minister of Finance

Mail your completed application package to:

ServiceOntario
Occupational Licensing Services Office
P.O. Box 4500     
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 0E1

Once your application is approved, you will receive your digital licence by email. You will be able to download and print your licence.

Change information on your current agency licence

You can update information on your licence during your licensing term if your:

  • current licence is not expired
  • licence is not within 90 days of its expiry date

Changes that can be made online or by mail include:

  • insurance information
  • head office and mailing addresses
  • branch office(s) information
  • branch name(s)
  • legal name (for corporation, partnership and/or partner(s), officer(s), or director(s)
  • criminal offences (for corporation, partnership and/or partner(s), officer(s), or director(s))
  • adding/removing partner(s), officer(s) or director(s)
  • declaration of the use of a:
    • firearm
    • baton
    • handcuff
    • guard dog
    • marked vehicle(s)
  • uniform and/or marked vehicle changes

Depending on what change you are making you may need to provide specific information.

There is no fee to change your information.

Change by mail

Print and complete a Change of Information Application Form for Security Guard and/or Private Investigator Agency Licence - Corporation or Partnership.

Mail your completed change of licence type form and required information to:

ServiceOntario
Occupational Licensing Services Office
P.O. Box 4500     
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 0E1

Change your licence type

You can change your licence type during your licensing term, as long as your current licence is not expired and your current licence is not within 90 days of its expiry date.

If you currently hold a Security Guard Licence you can change to either:

  • Private Investigator Licence
  • Dual Licence

If you currently hold a Private Investigator Licence you can change to either:

  • Security Guard Licence
  • Dual Licence

If you currently hold a Dual Licence and wish to change to a either a Security Guard or Private Investigator, please contact the ServiceOntario Contact Centre to assist with your application Toll-free 1-866-767-7454.

To change your licence type you will need:

  • an updated insurance document:
  • photographs of the agency’s uniforms (if applicable)
  • payment of $700.00 in the applicable format

When changing your licence type please note:

  • the expiry date will remain the same as the original licence issued to you

Change by mail

ServiceOntario
Occupational Licensing Services Office
P.O. Box 4500     
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 0E1

Cost

To apply or renew:

  • $700 for a private investigator or security guard licence
  • $1,400 for a dual licence

To change your licence type:

  • $700

If you are applying online, you can pay with:

  • Credit card (VISA® or MasterCard®)
  • Debit card (VISA® or MasterCard®)

If you are applying by mail, choose one of these forms of payment made payable to the Minister of Finance:

  • bank draft
  • money order (postal or bank)
  • certified cheque

Note: Credit cards, cash and personal cheques are not accepted by mail.

Payments are non-refundable. This applies to applications that are withdrawn, denied due to ineligibility, or returned due to errors or incomplete information where the information is not submitted within 90 calendar days will be retained as a processing fee.

Returned applications

If your application is returned because of an error or missing information, you have 90 calendar days to respond. If we do not receive the requested information from you within 90 calendar days, your application will be closed and your payment will be retained as a processing fee. A new application and payment will be required.

Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC)

As per section 11(2)(c) of the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005 (PSISA), each officer, director, partner and/or sole proprietor must provide a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC) with their application.

A CRJMC includes:

  • applicable criminal convictions
  • findings of guilt under the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act
  • absolute and conditional discharges
  • outstanding charges, arrest warrants, and certain judicial orders

In Ontario, you must request a CRJMC from an:

  • Ontario municipal police service
  • Ontario First Nations police service
  • Ontario Provincial Police
  • a private business that is authorized to provide police record checks

All CRJMCs must be issued within the last six months to be considered valid for your application and include accurate and complete information.

If you are applying online, your CRJMC must be the original format (digital PDF file) that you obtained online from the police record check provider.

If you are applying by mail, your CRJMC must be the original paper document you obtained from the police record check provider. Photocopies will not be accepted.

Out of province police record checks may be accepted for applicants who are unable to get a CRJMC because they reside outside of Ontario. The out of province police check must be equivalent to a CRJMC. An out of province police record check is considered equivalent to a CRJMC if it contains a search of records as specified in Column 3 (criminal record and judicial matters check) of the Schedule of the Police Record Reform Act, 2015.

Learn more about requesting a police record check.

Notice of collection

In order to process your request, ServiceOntario will collect some personal information on behalf of the Ministry of the Solicitor General under the authority of Section 11 of the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005. This information will be used for identification purposes and to issue and administer licences under the Act.

If you have any questions about the collection and use of your personal information, please contact the ServiceOntario Contact Centre at:

By mail:

ServiceOntario
Occupational Licensing Services Office
P.O. Box 4500     
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 0E1

Contact Us

Email your questions to privatesecurity@ontario.ca or call Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm: