How to establish a security company in Vietnam

The security service industry plays an important role in maintaining security, order, and ensuring safety for people and property in today’s social life.However, due to the specific nature directly related to security work, this is a field under strict legal management. Therefore, establishing a security service business company not only requires organizational capacity but must also fully meet certain legal conditions. To support customers in understanding legal regulations and preparing correct and sufficient dossiers, Viet An Law shares the content of the article below on conditions for establishing a security company, helping enterprises have the right orientation from the very first step when participating in this field.

What is security service business?

Security service business is a business activity in the field of security aiming to generate profit from that activity.

According to the provisions of Clause 7, Article 3 of Decree 96/2016/ND-CP, security service business includes: Services for protecting people, property, targets, and lawful activities of agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Note: Security activities within the scope of this article do not include: Security activities for objects and targets under the State-regulated List for which the People’s Public Security and the People’s Army are responsible for armed guarding and protection; and security activities of agencies and enterprises according to Decree No. 06/2013/ND-CP dated January 9, 2013, regulating the protection of agencies and enterprises, are not within the scope of this Decree.

Market access conditions for foreign investors

Vietnam does not regulate market access conditions for foreign investors regarding security services in the Schedule of Specific Commitments in Services in the WTO or any other FTAs.

Therefore, regulations applicable to foreign investors are prescribed directly in domestic specialized laws.

Specifically, according to Article 11 of Decree 96/2016/ND-CP, foreign investors are allowed to conduct security service business activities in Vietnam in the following 02 forms:

• Joint venture with a Vietnamese security service business establishment;
• Investment contributing capital to a Vietnamese security service business establishment.

General conditions to establish a security company

Conditions for establishing a security company

According to Article 7 and Article 11 of Decree 96/2016/ND-CP, for an enterprise to conduct security service business legally, it must meet the conditions on security and order (be granted a Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions).

Specifically, the conditions are as follows:

Conditions for the business entity

The security service business unit must be an enterprise established in accordance with the law.

Accordingly, the investor chooses one of the forms of enterprise prescribed in the Enterprise Law 2020 and registers at the Business Registration Authority.

Current types of enterprises include:

• Private enterprise;
• Partnership company;
• Single-member limited liability company;
• Multi-member limited liability company (two or more members);
• Joint-stock company.

Person responsible for security and order

The person responsible for security and order of the security service business establishment must ensure the following conditions:

• Have a diploma from college level or higher;
• Not be a person responsible for security and order of a security service business establishment that has had its Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions revoked indefinitely in the preceding 24 months.

Not falling into one of the following cases:

• For Vietnamese citizens:
  • Being prosecuted for criminal liability where Vietnamese or foreign procedural agencies are conducting investigations, prosecutions, or trials.
  • Having a criminal record for crimes infringing upon national security or other crimes due to intentional fault sentenced to imprisonment of over 03 years which has not been remitted;
  • Being during the time of suspension of serving a prison sentence;
  • Serving a non-custodial reform penalty;
  • Being under probation, banned from residence, banned from holding office, banned from doing business in conditional business investment lines regarding security and order under a Court decision.
  • Being subject to educational measures at the commune, ward, or township level;
  • Having a decision to apply administrative handling measures while waiting for the execution of the decision;
  • Being a drug addict; being suspended or temporarily suspended from serving a decision to be sent to a compulsory educational institution or a compulsory detoxification establishment;
  • Having been subject to administrative handling measures but not yet enough time to be considered as not having been subject to administrative handling measures;
• For Vietnamese residing abroad holding foreign passports and foreigners:
  • Not yet granted a residence permit by the competent authority of Vietnam.

Conditions regarding necessary licenses

To establish a security company, the enterprise needs to apply for a Fire Prevention and Fighting (FPF) License and a Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions.

These are two mandatory documents required if one wants to establish a security service business company.

Conditions for foreign investors

• Vietnamese security service business establishment joint venturing with a foreign business establishment: The Vietnamese security service business establishment is only allowed to joint venture with a foreign security service business establishment in case it is necessary to invest in machinery and technical means serving security work and is only performed in the form of the foreign business establishment contributing capital to purchase machinery and technical means serving security work.
• Foreign business establishment investing capital with a Vietnamese security service business establishment:
  • Must be an enterprise that has been operating security service business continuously for at least 05 years;
  • The representative for the capital contribution of the foreign business establishment is a person who has not been handled by the legal authority of the foreign country where they operate business for violations related to security service business activities from warning level or higher;
  • The capital contribution of the foreign business establishment may only be used to purchase machinery and technical equipment serving security work.
  • The investment capital contribution of the foreign business establishment must be at least 1,000,000 USD (one million US dollars).
  • The valuation of machinery and technical equipment is performed by a competent state management agency on price at the provincial level or higher;
  • Valuation costs are paid by the security service business establishment.

How to establish a security company in Vietnam with Vietnamese-owned

Process of establishing a security service business company

As analyzed above, for an enterprise to perform security service business activities legally, it must ensure conditions on security and order and be granted a Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions by the competent authority.

Accordingly, the procedure for establishing a security service business company includes 02 main stages:

• Establishing the company;
• Applying for the Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions.

Procedure for establishing a security company

Step 1: Select business lines and industry codes

According to Decision No. 36/2025/QD-TTg, effective from November 15, 2025, the code for security service business is regulated as follows:

• 80110 – Private investigation and security activities (Note: Standard code is usually 8010/8011, check current laws).
• 80190 – Other safety assurance services.

Step 2: Prepare and submit the dossier

The composition of the enterprise registration dossier includes:

• Application for enterprise registration;
• Company Charter (except for private enterprises);
• List of members/shareholders;
• Copies of legal papers of relevant individuals/organizations;
• Investment Registration Certificate (if applicable);

Afterward, the applicant submits the dossier online at the National Business Registration Portal.

Step 3: Pay fees

The applicant pays the fee for publishing enterprise information: 100,000 VND/time (refunded if the dossier is rejected).

Step 4: Reception and processing of dossier

The Business Registration Office enters dossier information into the National Information System when conditions are met (complete dossier, valid name, contact phone number provided, fees paid). Then, issues a Receipt and appointment for result return.

Step 5: Notification of results

Invalid dossier case: Within 03 working days, the registration authority issues a notice requesting modification or supplementation. The enterprise has 60 days to complete the dossier.

Valid dossier case: Issue the Enterprise Registration Certificate within 03 working days.

Note: Currently, specifically in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the competent authority will issue the Electronic Enterprise Registration Certificate (paper version not issued).

Step 6: Publishing enterprise registration contents

After being granted the Certificate, the registration authority publishes enterprise information on the National Business Registration Portal, including: the certificate, business lines, and list of founding shareholders (if any). Publication period: 30 days.

Step 7: Perform post-establishment procedures

The enterprise needs to:

• Carve and use the seal;
• Hang the signboard at the headquarters;
• Register digital signature and bank account;
• Register for tax declaration and use electronic invoices.

Procedure for applying for the Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions

Step 1: Prepare the dossier

Based on the provisions of Article 19 of Decree No. 96/2016/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 56/2023/ND-CP), the enterprise needs to prepare fully the following dossier components:

• Written request for the Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions of the business establishment.
• Legal documents:
  • Certified copy: Business Registration/Enterprise/Investment Certificate (or equivalent).
  • If the business line is missing: Provide proof of supplementation.
• Fire Prevention and Fighting (FPF):
  • Appendix V (Decree 136/2020/ND-CP): FPF Acceptance.
  • Appendix I (Decree 136): FPF Inspection Minutes.
  • FPF Exemption: Certain specific sectors (seals, security, flags, jamming equipment…).
  • No warehouse: Warehouse lease contract + Warehouse FPF.
  • Explosive materials: FPF for explosive material warehouse.
• Curriculum Vitae accompanied by Judicial Record Card or Personnel Declaration of the person responsible for security and order of the business establishment, specifically:
  • Vietnamese: Curriculum Vitae + Judicial Record Card (except for those in armed forces).
    • If in armed forces/state agency/political organization: Confirmation from the management agency.
    • If not in the above categories: Confirmation from the People’s Committee of the commune/ward/township of permanent residence.
  • Foreigners/Overseas Vietnamese: Personnel Declaration + Certified copy of Passport/Permanent Resident Card/Temporary Resident Card/Visa (valid).
  • Multiple representatives: Applicable to the person named on the Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions.

Step 2: Submit the dossier

Based on Article 23, Article 24 of Decree 96/2016/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Clause 6 Article 1 of Decree 56/2023/ND-CP), the applicant submits at the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order of the Police of provinces/centrally-run cities via the following forms:

• Submit directly to the competent Police agency;
• Submit via public postal service;
• Submit via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security’s Public Service Portal (except for documents not allowed to be uploaded via the network according to legal regulations).

Note:

• If one business location has multiple different business lines belonging to the same establishment but under the authority of multiple Police levels, submit one dossier set to the highest competent Police agency to be granted one common Certificate.
• If one location has multiple business lines belonging to many different business establishments and under the authority of multiple Police levels, each establishment must submit a separate dossier set to the highest competent Police agency to be granted a separate Certificate.
• If a branch or affiliated business establishment is located outside the main facility and not under the authority of the Police where the main facility is located, submit the dossier to the Police agency where the branch or establishment is located for the Certificate issuance and direct management.

Step 3: Competent authority reviews and issues the Certificate

• Within a period not exceeding 05 working days, if the dossier is complete and valid, the competent authority proceeds to issue the Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions to the enterprise.
• In case of refusal to issue the Certificate, the competent authority must reply in writing clearly stating the reason to the enterprise within 04 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier.

Responsibilities of the security service business establishment

• Within 5 days from the date of commencing business operations, must have a written notification accompanied by a copy of the Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions sent to the Commune/Ward/Township Police where the establishment operates.
• Do not use the business establishment to perform activities contrary to legal regulations.
• In case of loss of the Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions, within 03 working days, must have a written notification to the competent Police agency.
• Implement the periodic quarterly or ad-hoc reporting regime on the security and order situation according to the guidance of the Ministry of Public Security.
• Recruit and use security staff who must be 18 years of age or older, have full civil act capacity, clear background, no criminal record for crimes of murder, intentional injury, crimes infringing upon property, and have a junior high school diploma or higher.
• Only use security staff who have been trained and granted a Security Professional Certificate.
• Have a labor contract with security staff according to legal regulations.
• Issue badges and uniforms (registered with the competent Police agency) to staff.
• Must not perform security services for subjects operating contrary to legal regulations.
• If performing security activities in a locality other than where the headquarters is located, within 05 days from the date of deploying the security target, must have a written notification accompanied by a valid copy of the Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions; list of staff performing tasks and send to the Commune/Ward Police where the security target is deployed.
• For security companies with foreign investment capital, within 20 days from the date of business operation, must provide the competent Police agency with the list and valuation documents of machinery and technical means serving the security work of their establishment.

What types of licenses are needed to be eligible to operate a security company? To be eligible for security service business operations, the enterprise needs to have the following licenses:

• Enterprise Registration Certificate;
• Fire Prevention and Fighting License;
• Certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions.

Is there any way for a person without a college degree or higher to become the legal representative of the company?

Yes. You can hire or ask a person who fully meets the conditions to become the legal representative of the company, and you will be the co-representative. Vietnamese law does not require a company to strictly have only 1 representative, and the law also only requires the company to have 01 representative with a college degree or higher.

If you have any questions related to the conditions for establishing a security company or any other service industry, please contact Viet An Law for the most specific and detailed advice!