Private security contractors in Ireland require the correct Private Security Authority licence for the services they provide. A licence for guarding does not automatically cover CCTV installation, locksmith work, private investigation or door supervision. Before hiring, search the PSA contractor register and match the exact category, legal business, dates and location to the proposal.
Direct answer
Search the PSA Registered Contractors register by contractor name, trading name or licence number. Check the licence categories, issue and expiry dates, address and contractor details. Match the result to the CRO company, quote, invoice and bank account. Where staff require individual licences, verify them in the separate employee register too.
Identify the security provider
Obtain the contractor’s legal name, trading name, PSA number, CRO or business-name number, registered address and the exact services proposed. Security brands may be shared across group companies or franchise-style arrangements, so the entity signing the contract matters.
Search the company to compare directors, status and filings. A normal CRO record does not grant a security licence. Read how to check whether an Irish company is legitimate for the wider identity workflow.
Licence categories matter
| Example PSA sector | Service to match | Common error |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | Static or event guarding as listed | Assuming it covers door supervision |
| Door Supervisor | Licensed premises or event categories as listed | Relying on a general guarding licence |
| Installer of Security Equipment | CCTV, access control or intruder alarms by sub-sector | Assuming one installation category covers all systems |
| Private Investigator | Licensable investigation services | Using an unrelated consultancy registration |
| Locksmith | Licensable locksmith service | Checking only a company or trade listing |
| Enforcement Guard | The relevant enforcement activity | Confusing it with ordinary security guarding |
The PSA publishes the live category attached to each contractor. Use the official wording rather than accepting “fully licensed” as a complete answer.
How to check the PSA register
- Open the PSA Registered Contractors page.
- Search the legal and trading names and supplied licence number.
- Match address and contractor details.
- Read every listed licence category.
- Check issue and expiry dates.
- Save the result and date, and repeat before renewal or material work.
The PSA also maintains a registered-employee search. Check individual licensing where the role requires it. A contractor record and an employee record answer different questions.
Expiry, renewal and temporary licences
Check the live expiry date rather than relying on when a certificate was first issued. For a contract that runs beyond expiry, require evidence of timely renewal, continued authorisation and immediate notification of any refusal, suspension or restriction. Schedule a repeat register check before the expiry date and before allowing a new category of work.
The PSA explains that temporary contractor licences are available only for specified security-equipment sectors and for the purpose described in its guidance. A temporary licence should not be treated as an unrestricted full licence. Read the actual category, conditions and dates, and confirm uncertainty with the PSA.
Contractor and employee checks are separate
The contractor register identifies the business authorised to provide licensable services. The employee register concerns licensed individuals. A licensed contractor should still deploy appropriately licensed people where required, while an employee licence does not authorise an unrelated business to contract for every service. Record both checks for guarding, door supervision or other work where individual licensing applies.
Ask how replacements, agency staff and subcontractors are controlled. Your contract should prevent unverified personnel from being substituted simply because the prime contractor holds a valid company-level licence.
Match the licensed contractor to the company
Compare the PSA name with the contract, CRO record, insurance policy and invoice. If a group sales company contracts while another company holds the licence, obtain a clear explanation and contract with the entity actually providing the regulated service.
Check former names and trading names where spelling differs. Never send payment to an unrelated party without verified legal and commercial reasons.
Technical standards and competence
The PSA’s contractor application guidance refers to standards and evidence of competence for relevant sectors. A current licence is the primary register check, but the project may also require technical design, manufacturer accreditation, fire or building compliance, Garda vetting, data-protection safeguards and trained personnel.
For CCTV or access control, define system design, cybersecurity, retention, access, maintenance, response and ownership of credentials. Licensing does not by itself make the proposed system suitable for your risk or lawful in every deployment.
Insurance and financial checks
Request current public liability, employer liability, professional indemnity and other relevant cover, matching the legal contractor and service. Confirm important limits and exclusions independently when exposure is material.
A PSA licence does not prove solvency or service continuity. Review accounts, filing behaviour, charges and status for large installations, long guarding contracts or advance payments. Use the supplier due-diligence checklist alongside the licence search.
Worked verification example
A company quotes for CCTV, intruder-alarm installation and event security. Its PSA register result lists only CCTV installation. The salesperson says one licence covers the rest. The live register contradicts that broad claim.
Ask which licensed contractor and employees will deliver each service. Verify each required category, rewrite the scope and do not permit an unverified subcontractor to fill the gap. Confirm insurance and data responsibilities for the CCTV work separately.
Contract controls
- Legal contractor, PSA number and each required category.
- Named locations, hours, response levels and staffing.
- Employee-licence verification and substitution controls.
- Approved subcontracting only.
- Insurance, incidents, complaints and regulatory notification.
- Data protection, CCTV access and cybersecurity.
- Equipment ownership, maintenance and exit support.
- Continuous licensing and termination if authorisation lapses.
Red flags
- No contractor result or expired dates.
- Missing category for the proposed service.
- Licence holder differs from the invoice company.
- Refusal to identify staff or subcontractors.
- Copied certificate but no matching live entry.
- Personal bank account or urgent cash request.
- Insurance does not name the provider or cover the work.
- Company status or filings indicate unresolved continuity risk.
Sources and editorial review
This guide was reviewed on 20 September 2026 using the Private Security Authority’s registered-contractor search, its contractor sector guidance and licence application requirements. Categories and status can change, so use the live register. This is general information, not security, legal, insurance, data-protection or financial advice.