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

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, however if your corporation has changed and has a new corporation number you will be required to apply as a new agency
  • 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, unless the corporation number has changed
  • 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, an articles of amendment document showing the name change is required
  • colour photographs of the agency’s uniforms
  • colour photographs of the agency’s marked vehicles
    • for new security guard and dual agency applications: these must be submitted at the time of application and may be mock-ups

For renewing security guard and dual agency applications: these must be submitted if the photos currently on file are mock-ups or if changes have been made to the agency’s uniforms and marked vehicles. Mock-ups will not be accepted at renewal.

  • a valid Certificate of Commercial General Liability Insurance that includes:
    • a minimum of $2,000,000 per occurrence
    • a reference to the provision of security guard, private investigator or both services and indicates use of firearms, handcuffs, and batons (if applicable)
    • Note: new agency applicants are not required to submit proof of insurance with their initial application. However, they must provide a valid certificate before advancing to their final stages of the application process
  • a valid business firearms licence (if applicable)
  • business name or 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
  • payment of $700.00 for a private Investigator or security guard licence or $1400 for a dual licence in the applicable format

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:

Mail your completed application package to:

ServiceOntario
Private Security 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.

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

Change information on your current agency licence

You can update information on your licence during your licensing term as long as your current licence is not:

  • expired
  • 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)
  • uniform (all changes must include a complete list of uniform pieces currently in use, not just the specific changes requested)
  • marked vehicles (all changes must include a complete list of vehicles currently in use, not just the specific changes requested)
  • declaration of the use of a:
    • firearm
    • baton
    • handcuff
    • guard dog
    • marked vehicle(s)
    • uniform
    • uniform exemption

If the agency closes or suspends operation, the owner or operator must notify the ministry immediately in writing.

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, Private Investigator, or a Security Guard and Private Investigator Agency Licence - Corporation or Partnership.

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

ServiceOntario
Private Security 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 (e.g., change from a security guard agency to private investigative licence or dual) as long as your current licence is not:

  • expired
  • within 90 days of its expiry date.

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 Certificate of General Liability Insurance :
  • photographs of the agency’s uniforms (if applicable)
  • photographs of the agency’s marked vehicles (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
Private Security Licensing Services Office
P.O. Box 4500           
Kingston, Ontario K7L 0E1

Change of Business Entity

When an agency changes its type of business entity during the term of the licence, they must ask the registrar to continue operations during the transition.

The request must include:

  • a letterhead with the agency name
  • licence number
  • reason for the request
  • current director on file signature

The notification may be an email sent to PrivateSecurity@ontario.ca or by mailing a letter to:

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

Once the request to continue operation is approved, the new business entity must submit a new agency licence application.

Examples of change of business entities could include changing from a sole proprietor to corporation, a corporation to a partnership or where corporation has become a new corporation with a new corporation number.

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

Note: Once your payment is processed, SOLGEN – PSIS Fee will appear on your bank statement.

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 

Each officer, director, partner and sole proprietor must provide a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check with their application.

A Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check 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, a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check can be obtained 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

Record check providers across Ontario follow varying policies and procedures for issuing physical or digital copies of Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Checks. You are encouraged to check with providers regarding the options available to you.

All applicants must submit their Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check in the original, unaltered, format received from the police record check provider. Individuals with a single name (for example no distinct first or last name) should enter their name exactly as it appears on your ID and confirm that your name is captured in accordance with the record check provider’s naming policy.

  • Online applications: If you are issued a digital PDF file of your Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, you must apply online with the original digital PDF file obtained from the police record check provider. Scanned or altered copies will not be accepted.
  • Mail applications: If you are issued a physical copy of your Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, you must apply by mail with the original paper document obtained from the police record check provider. Photocopies will not be accepted.

Applications must be submitted in one format: either fully online or as a complete mail-in package.

If your agency includes multiple partners, officers, or directors who have received Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Checks (CRJMCs) in both digital and paper formats, you must contact us at 1-866-767-7454, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., for instructions on how to submit the documents for verification.

All Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check must be issued within six months from the application submission date to be considered valid for your application and include accurate and complete information. 

Out of province police record checks may be accepted for applicants who are unable to get a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check because they reside outside of Ontario. The out of province police check must be issued in Canada and be equivalent to a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check. An out of province police record check is considered equivalent to a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check 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

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
Private Security 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: