Overview

You must have a valid licence to work as a security guard, private investigator or both in Ontario. You can apply for the following:

  • security guard: 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 security guard and private investigator licence. However, they cannot work as both security guard and private investigator at the same time

Once you receive your security guard, private investigator or dual licence the expiry date is linked to your date of birth and will expire two birthdays after the day it is issued. For example, if your birthday is December 15 and your first licence was issued on October 1, 2019, your licence will expire on December 15, 2020.

When your valid licence is renewed prior to the expiry date, the renewal date will always be two years in the future and linked to your date of birth.

You must carry a digital version or a printed copy of your licence at all times and be prepared to show it upon request.

Requirements

To be eligible for a licence, you must:

1. Prove that you:

  • are 18 years old or older
  • are legally entitled to work in Canada
  • have a clean criminal record, meaning you:
  • have a valid Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check

2. Complete the mandatory basic training for security guards, private investigators or both:

3. Complete the mandatory test for security guards, private investigators or both:

An Ontario training completion number is required to book the mandatory test for the licence you are applying. Once you have successfully passed the test, you will be issued an Ontario testing completion number that is required for the licence type you will be applying for. This is not required if you hold a valid (not expired, suspended or revoked) equivalent out of province security guard or private investigator licence issued from a regulatory authority in another Canadian province or territory.

You are required to provide the following with your application if you have an out of province licence:

  • Licence Number
  • Licence Type
  • Licence Expiry Date
  • Province/Territory of Issue
  • a photocopy of the front and back of your valid Licence

4. Submit the following items with your application:

  • your Ontario testing completion number or out of province licence information
  • your Ontario mailing address
  • your Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check in its official format
  • a quality photo that meets the photo requirements
  • the front and back of two different valid (non-expired) government issued identification documents
    • If your name has changed and is different from the identification documents you are providing, you must include a government issued name change document.
  • the appropriate payment for your licence type

How to apply

Apply online

A correctly completed online application can take up to 15 calendar days to be processed and approved.

Note that online applications can only be submitted by individuals who receive and submit an original, unaltered, digital PDF file of their Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check.

Once your application is approved you will receive your digital licence by email. You will not be issued a physical licence but you can download or print your digital licence by logging into your My Ontario Account.

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

Note: If you are renewing an existing licence, you may renew up to 90 calendar days before your licence expires.

Apply or renew online

Apply by mail

A correctly completed mail-in application can take up to 30 calendar days to be processed and approved.

To apply by mail for a new 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

If applying by mail you can also provide an email address. Once your application is approved, you will receive your digital licence by email and able to download and print your licence.

If you did not provide an email, a paper copy of your licence will be sent to your mailing address.

Change your information

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

You must notify the ministry if:

  • your personal information changes (name, address or contact information)
  • you have been convicted or found guilty of an offence listed under Ontario Regulation 37/08 (Eligibility to Hold a Licence – Clean Criminal Record) within 5 days of a conviction or findings of guilt

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

You must provide one of the following to update your name:

  • Change of Name Certificate: if your name has been legally changed under the Change of Name Act, you must provide a government-issued Change of Name Certificate
  • Certificate of Marriage: if you assumed your married name, you must provide a copy of your government-issued certificate of marriage (Records of Marriage, marriage extracts, Records of Solemnization of Marriage, or church issued certificates are not acceptable)
  • if you wish to go back to your maiden name, you must provide your government-issued marriage certificate and birth certificate

There is no fee to change your information.

Change your information online

Change by mail

You will need to print and complete a Change of Information form for Security Guard ,Private Investigator or a Security Guard and Private Investigator Licence.

Mail your completed change of information 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, as long as your current licence is not:

  • expired
  • within 90 days of its expiry date.

Note: An $80 fee applies when changing licence types, including from a:

  • security guard to a private investigator licence
  • private investigator to a security guard licence
  • private investigator or security guard to a security guard and private investigator licence.

If you currently hold both a security guard and private investigator licence and wish to change to either a security guard or private investigator licence, contact the ServiceOntario Contact Centre to assist with your application Toll-free at 1-866-767-7454.

To change your licence type you will need:

  • your Ontario Testing Completion Number for the licence type you are now applying for. If you were licensed as a security guard or private investigator in a different province you can provide your out of province licence details and a copy of the front and back of your OOP licence
  • a photograph that meets the photo requirements
  • your Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check in its official format
  • the front and back of two different valid (non-expired) government issued identification documents
    • If your name has changed and is different from the identification documents you are providing, you must include a government issued name change document.

When changing your licence type please note the expiry date will remain the same as your original licence issued to you.

Change licence type online

Change by mail

You will need to print and complete a Change of Licence Type form for Security Guard or Private Investigator Licence.

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 change of information form and required information to:

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

Replace a lost, stolen or damaged licence card or access your digital licence

Physical licence cards are no longer being issued and have become digital only.

If your physical licence card has been stolen, lost or damaged, you can replace it with a digital licence.

Sign up or log into your My Ontario account to download a digital copy of your licence. You may also choose to print a paper copy.

Cost

To apply or renew:

  • $80 - private investigator licence
  • $80 - security guard licence
  • $160 for both licences (dual licence)

To change your licence type:

  • $80

If you are applying online, you can pay with:

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

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

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 required information is not resubmitted within 90 calendar days. Payment will be retained as a processing fee.

Note: Payment is a prerequisite for licensure. If for any reason your fee is disputed and returned to you following licensure, the registrar may propose to revoke your licence until payment has been received.

Returned applications

If your application is returned to you 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.

If you applied online and your application is returned to you, you will receive an email notification. You must access your My Ontario account to check the status of your application and update and resubmit your application.

It may take up to 15 calendar days to process an application that has been resubmitted online.

Preparing your photograph and supporting documents

Photo requirements

If you are applying for your licence for the first time, you will need to submit a photograph that meets the requirements listed below.

Typically, photos are valid for six years. If you are renewing, restoring or changing the category of your licence online, you may have to submit a new photograph if the photo on file has expired. If you are renewing, restoring or changing the category of your licence by mail, you may contact ServiceOntario to check the validity of your photo.

Here is an example of an acceptable photograph.

Your photo must be:

  • an original photo that is not altered in any way or taken from an existing photo (for example, photos of passports or other identification documents are not accepted)
  • not a ‘selfie’
  • 50 mm wide by 70 mm high (2 inches wide by 2 3/4 inches long)
    • the height of the face should measure between 31 mm (1 1/4 inches) and 36 mm (1 7/16 inches) from your chin to the natural top of your head
  • less than 950kb in size
  • clear, sharp and in focus
  • taken in front of a plain white background showing a clear difference between your face, clothing, and the background
  • visible, appropriate clothing
  • taken within the last 6 months
  • display your natural skin tones
  • avoid shadows across your face, shoulders, around your ears, or in the background
  • taken straight on, with your face and shoulders centered and squared to the camera
  • taken with your eyes open and clearly visible, and with your mouth closed in a neutral position (for example no smiling)
  • photos with a red-eye effect will not be accepted
  • Image of a person the shows the appropriate sizing of photograph.

Glasses: You can wear prescription glasses if your eyes are clearly visible and there is no reflection or glare in the lenses. Sunglasses cannot be worn.

Hats and head coverings: You cannot wear hats and head coverings unless it is worn daily for religious or medical reasons. Your full face must still be clearly visible in your photo and your head covering must not cast a shadow on your face.

Examples of unacceptable photos

Here are some examples of images that will not be accepted:

Acceptable identification documents

You must provide copies of the front and back of two different government-issued identification documents (IDs):

  1. One piece of ID that proves your identity (including your name, photo, signature and date of birth).
  2. A second piece of ID that proves your eligibility to work in Canada (including your full legal name and date of birth). You cannot submit the same piece of ID for both.

Even if you have 1 ID that satisfies all the requirements, you must provide 2 different government issued IDs.

When preparing to submit your IDs, remember:

  • choose two different IDs from the acceptable documents list: one from List 1 and one from List 2
  • your IDs must be current and valid (not expired, suspended or revoked) at the time of submitting your application
  • the first and last names on both IDs must match, and should be the same full name as stated on your Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check
  • your IDs must be in English or French, or translated by a certified translator if in another language
  • you must submit high-quality, clearly visible copies (front and back) of your original identification documents
  • if your name has changed and is different from the IDs you are providing, you must include a government issued name change document

Acceptable documents

List 1 – choose one

Choose one ID from the following list (which includes your name, date of birth, signature and photo) to prove your identity:

Note: the same ID cannot be used to prove your eligibility to work in Canada.

  • valid Driver's licence
  • any valid Passport (showing photo and signature page)
  • Ontario Photo Card
  • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (card with photo)
  • Canadian Department of National Defence Identification Card (issued within the last five years)
  • Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) Canadian Forces Card
  • Canadian Travel Document
  • Refugee Protection Claimant Document (must have photo)
  • Certificate of Indian Status Card
List 2 – choose one

Choose one ID from the following list to prove your eligibility to work in Canada:

  • Canadian birth certificate
  • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
  • Canadian Citizenship Card
  • Canadian passport (photo and signature page)
  • Permanent Resident Card
  • Confirmation of Permanent Residence
  • Naturalization card (issued before January 1, 1974)
  • valid work permit or study permit
  • Record of Landing (IMM 1000)
  • Certificate of Indian Status Card
  • Retention Certificate
  • Certificate of Registration of Birth Abroad
  • Department of National Defence (DND) Services Card
  • Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) Canadian Forces Card
  • Verification of Landing
  • Verification of Status / Notice of Status Verification
  • Canadian Immigrants Identification card (IMM183)

Unacceptable documents

The following documents will not be accepted:

  • health card
  • Social Insurance Number (SIN) card
  • Firearms Possession and Acquisition (PAL) or Possession-Only (POL) licence
  • PSIS licence
  • Notice of Birth, Notice of Live Birth, Certificate of Registration of Birth
  • Quebec birth certificates pre-dating 1994
  • Canadian Identity card
  • Metis Nation cards

If you do not have valid government issued IDs, please contact the ServiceOntario Contact Centre at 416-212-1650 or toll free at 1-866-767-7454 to determine the validity of other type of ID.

Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check 

All applicants 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 (i.e., no distinct first or last name) should confirm that their 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 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.

All Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Checks 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 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.

Declaration of Offences

You are ineligible to hold an individual security guard, private investigator or both licences if you have been convicted of any offences listed on the Eligibility to Hold a Licence – Clean Criminal Record Regulation and have not received a pardon/record suspension.

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 ON      
K7L 0E1

Contact us

Email your questions to privatesecurity@ontario.ca or call Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.: