PSIRA Registration for Security Tenders: How to Register
How to register your security business and officers with PSIRA, the documents and fees required, renewals, and why every security tender asks for your PSIRA certificate.
If you bid on guarding, armed response, monitoring or any private security work for government, you must be registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA). The business needs a PSIRA registration and every officer you deploy needs their own. An unregistered bidder is disqualified.
Register the business
- Register the company with CIPC first (you need the registration documents)
- Apply for business registration on the PSIRA portal or at a PSIRA office
- Submit CIPC documents, directors' IDs and fingerprints, proof of address and the prescribed fee
- PSIRA vets directors for a clean criminal record before issuing the certificate
Register your security officers
Each officer must complete accredited training (grades E to A), then register individually with PSIRA with their ID, fingerprints and training certificates. Only registered officers may be deployed on a contract, and tenders often ask for proof per officer.
Keep it valid
- Pay the annual PSIRA renewal fees for the business and each officer
- Keep proof of sectoral minimum-wage compliance (tenders check this)
- Have your PSIRA certificate ready as a returnable document at bid time
Frequently asked questions
Do both my business and my guards need PSIRA registration?+
Yes. The security business registers as an entity, and every security officer you deploy must be individually registered with PSIRA. Bids frequently ask for both.
How long does PSIRA business registration take?+
Allow several weeks. PSIRA vets directors for a clean criminal record and verifies your documents before issuing the certificate, so apply well before you need it for a tender.
Is PSIRA registration a once-off?+
No. Registration must be renewed annually for the business and for each officer, with the prescribed fees paid, to stay valid and tender-eligible.
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