FAQ

To apply for a new agent licence, complete and submit to the Bureau the Agent licence application form.

 

Please note that it is important to complete all sections of the form and provide all required documents. Missing information or documents may result in significant delays in the processing of your application.

To obtain an agent licence, you must have completed the training as required by the regulation; to be of good moral character; to never have been convicted of a criminal offense in connection with the activity for which you are requesting a licence without having obtained a pardon; and to be more than 18 years old.

Providing incomplete answers may result in significant delays in the processing of your application, which could result in a denial of your application by the Bureau.

Also, providing false answers would likely cause the Bureau to deny your application. Failing to declare your criminal record or pending charges, if any, will be considered a false statement.

No. You are prohibited from carrying out any private security activities during the processing of your application, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act. Only an agent holding a valid licence can carry out such activities.

Consequently, if you are planning to work in the private security field, you must submit your application for a licence to the Bureau and wait for your licence to be issued before starting any security activity.

No. The agent licence is valid for a period of five years. Thereafter, you must apply for a renewal of your agent licence every five years by completing the appropriate form.

Please note that, for your agent licence to remain valid during the five years, you must pay the annual fee by no later than the anniversary date on which the licence was issued and continue to meet the general requirements as stipulated in the Act and its regulation.

A temporary agent licence is a licence that can be issued for a maximum period of 120 days to exercise a private security activity in the following cases:

i)      when you are in the process of receiving training that may qualify you for an agent licence, especially when you do an internship as part of this training;

ii)     for the purposes of a specific investigation; or

iii)    in the case of a special event that requires a temporary workforce, including a sporting or cultural event, labour dispute, etc.

The holder of a temporary agent licence cannot exercise a private security activity for a different purpose or a different event other than the one for which the licence was issued.

In addition, such agent must remain under the supervision of a regular licensed agent at all times when carrying on that temporary activity.

To apply for a temporary agent licence, complete and submit to the Bureau the TEMPORARY Agent Licence Application form.

The temporary agent licence may be renewed at no extra cost as long as the holder needs it for the same purpose for which it was obtained. If the temporary licence is renewed for a period exceeding one year, annual fees will be charged. For example, a temporary agent licence issued for the purposes of exercising private security activities during a labour dispute may be renewed if the same labour dispute is ongoing and the agent's services are required for a longer period.

However, the holder of the temporary agent licence cannot receive a licence renewal at no charge when the renewal is for the purpose of carrying on private security activities for an event different from the one for which the temporary licence was originally issued. For example, a temporary security guard licence issued to enforce private security activities during a cultural event does not allow the agent to provide services at another cultural or sporting event. In these cases, the agent must fill out a new application form.

In all cases, you must make sure to renew your temporary agent licence before it expires. Otherwise, your application will be considered a new application and you will have to submit all documents and payments required.

A temporary licence holder who has obtained it because he/she has completed a recognized training to qualify for a regular agent licence may have the temporary licence converted into a regular licence, without charge, by completing and submitting to the Bureau the Licence conversion form—Training and presenting proof that the training required by the Regulation on training was successfully completed.

Any other temporary licence holder can apply for the conversion of a temporary licence to a regular licence by completing and submitting to the Bureau the Licence conversion form—Special Event and paying the administrative fee of $35, subject to meeting all requirements as prescribed in the Act and its regulation to obtain an agent licence, including those related to training.

You must apply for your agent licence renewal by completing and submitting to the Bureau the Agent licence renewal application form.

Attention! Please note that the application for the renewal of an agent licence must be filed at least 45 days before the licence expires.

All sections of the application must be completed and all required documents must be provided. Missing information or documents may result in significant delays in the processing of your renewal application.

Yes. The Bureau can suspend, revoke or deny your application to renew your agent licence, particularly in cases where: you no longer meet the conditions as prescribed under the Private Security Act or its regulation for obtaining a licence; you have failed to pay the annual fees; you are working in an employment that is incompatible; you have been found guilty of an offense under the Private Security Act or its regulation; or you have violated the standards of conduct as prescribed in the regulation.

Yes. We invite you to send us any relevant documents or information that can enlighten us in the analysis of your application, and within the delay stipulated in the notice of denial, revocation or suspension sent to you by the Bureau.

If your licence is suspended or revoked, or if your renewal is denied, thereupon, you will be prohibited from exercising private security activities and the Bureau will notify your employer. In addition, in cases of revocation or non-renewal, you must return your licence to the Bureau within 15 days following the date of the decision, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act.

The Bureau may also require you to return your licence and any copies of it, if your licence is suspended.

You must return your licence to the Bureau within 15 days following the non-renewal or revocation of your licence, or termination of your private security activities, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act.

The Bureau may also require you to return your licence if it has been suspended.

You can contest any decision made by the Bureau to deny, revoke, suspend or not renew your agent licence by submitting a request to the Tribunal administratif du Québec within 30 days of receiving such decision.

For more information on how to contest a decision, visit the Tribunal administratif du Québec website at: http://www.taq.gouv.qc.ca/en/

Your agent licence will be suspended for a period of 30 days within which you will be required to pay the annual fee as well as an administrative fee of $35. Failing to do so will result in the revocation of your licence for non-payment of annual fees. Upon suspension of your licence, you will be prohibited from exercising private security activities. Upon revocation of your licence, you will also be required to return your licence to the Bureau within 15 days, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act.

Please note that your employer will be notified of the suspension and of the possibility of a revocation for non-payment of your licence annual fees.

Yes. To obtain a replacement licence, you must complete and submit to the Bureau the Agent licence replacement form. A fee of $25 plus taxes will apply.

No. The delays in processing your application remain the same, whether you submit your documents in person or send them by mail.

Yes. You can apply for an agent licence even if you are in the process of looking for a job in the private security field. Similarly, your licence will remain valid even if you quit or lose your security job.

Please note however that you will be required to inform the Bureau of the identity of your new employer within a maximum period of 30 days when you find a job in the private security field, otherwise you may be subject to penalty of penal sanctions as prescribed under the Act.

Yes. Under the Act, this information must appear on the Registry of Licence Holders. You must inform the Bureau of the identity of your new employer within a maximum period of 30 days, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act.

You need to hold an agent licence if your main activity in this business is to carry out private security activities. For example, you must have a security guarding licence if you work as a security guard in a shopping centre or for a major department store.

If you wish to cancel your agent licence application or cancel any of the categories for which you are requesting an agent licence, you must complete and submit to the Bureau the Agent application’s cancellation form.

Note that the fees paid for the verification of security conditions are non-refundable.

If you have failed to provide the documents required to process your agent licence application, we will contact you to advise you of the missing documents and give you a delay for providing them.

If you do not provide such missing documents within the time allotted, the Bureau may deny your application.

 

Note that it is important to read the licence application form carefully to ensure that you provide all necessary documents. A missing document will automatically result in an additional delay in the processing of your application.

If you have already applied for a licence in one category (e.g., security guard), and you wish to obtain an additional licence in another category (e.g., investigation), please complete and submit to the Bureau the Add a category—Agent form.

Please note that you can apply for a licence in different categories with your first application or with your licence renewal application.

Yes. You must have completed the training required by the Regulations respecting the training required to obtain an agent licence to carry on private security activities if you apply for a licence in security guarding, investigation, locksmith and transport of valuables.

For more information on the training requirements, visit www.bureausecuriteprivee.qc.ca/en/careers-in-private-securite/training-required/.

No. The Regulations respecting the training required to obtain an agent licence to carry on private security activities does not require mandatory training in order to obtain an agent licence from the Bureau in electronic security systems.

Attention! An agent licence issued by the Bureau does not replace the Competency certificates issued by the Commission de la construction du Québec. You may also be required to complete a compulsory training under the laws and regulations governing the construction industry in Quebec.

To determine whether you must obtain such training in addition to your agent's licence from the Bureau, consult the Commission de la construction du Québec website at http://www.ccq.org

To obtain a security guard licence, the Regulations respecting the training required to obtain an agent licence to carry on private security activities requires you to have successfully completed, in a private security guarding program, at least 70 hours of course for which a transcript of marks is issued by a school board.

To obtain an agent licence in investigation, the Regulations respecting the training required to obtain an agent licence to carry on private security activities requires you to have successfully completed the 135-hour course “Initiation aux techniques d'enquête et d'investigation” offered in a college-level educational institution, or to hold a diploma in college studies in Police Technology or a Bachelor's degree in Security and Police Studies obtained in the five years preceding the licence application, or their equivalent recognized by the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports.

To obtain an agent licence in locksmithing, the Regulations respecting the training required to obtain an agent licence to carry on private security activities requires you to hold a diploma of vocational studies in locksmithing or its equivalent recognized by the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports.

To obtain an agent licence in the transport of valuables, the Regulations respecting the training required to obtain an agent licence to carry on private security activities requires you to have successfully completed training on the handling of firearms and the use of force provided by the École nationale de police du Québec or an instructor qualified by that school.

 

Please note that the training leading to a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) is not equivalent to an Authorization to Carry Restricted Firearms and Certain Handguns, nor the training required by regulation to work as an agent in the transport of valuables.

There is no specific training required for security consulting. However, the Regulation Under the Private Security Act stipulates in Article 13 that to obtain an agent licence in security consulting, you must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Bureau that you have the practical knowledge and professional skills necessary to exercise this activity.

 

Therefore, if you want to apply for a licence, we invite you to submit any relevant proof of your professional experience and, where applicable, your training, including proof of employment, projects achieved, diplomas, transcripts, certificates or any other documents that would qualify you to carry out security consulting activities.

Please note that the Act defines security consulting as being the providing of consulting services on the protection against theft, intrusion or vandalism—independently from the activities of security guarding, investigation, locksmith work, work with electronic security systems and the transport of valuables—particularly by developing plans or specifications or presenting projects.

 

For example, if you have an agent licence in electronic security systems, you do not need to have a security consulting licence to advise your clients solely on electronic security systems.

Yes. The Bureau can issue a licence to a person who has not completed the training required when their level of knowledge and skills is equivalent to it. In assessing the equivalence of your training, the Bureau will consider the following factors: diplomas obtained in relevant or related fields, the type of courses taken, course content and marks obtained, internships and other learning activities completed; and the type and length of relevant experience.

Therefore, if you do not have the training required by regulation, please provide, with your licence application, as many relevant elements as possible so that we can assess your experience or training.

The Bureau does not have the power to recognize the training offered by schools and agencies other than those recognized by the Ministry in the Regulations respecting the training required to obtain an agent licence to carry on private security activities. Mandatory training to obtain certain agent licences are described in this regulation and refer to different programs recognized by the Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports and by other government agencies.

However, the Bureau can find that an agent has sufficient knowledge and skills to issue him a licence even if he does not have the mandatory training recognized by the Ministry. In addition, the Bureau can consider certain courses as equivalent to those required by the regulation. Moreover, to date, several agents have had their training deemed equivalent to those required by the Regulation on Training.

If you have received training other than that required by the regulation, we advise you to provide any diploma and other relevant document so that we can assess the level of equivalence of your training.

To demonstrate your experience in the private security field, you must provide proof from each relevant employment specifying the nature and duration of your work, and a description of the tasks performed. For these statements, you must contact your employers.

To do so, we invite you to use the Proof of employment template provided by the Bureau.

If you have worked for one or more private security agencies as a security guard, you can contact the Parity Committee for Security Guards to get a confirmation of your period of employment and hours worked in security guarding by submitting a request by email to cpas@cpasecurite.qc.ca or by fax at (514) 493-6661.

If you have been convicted of an offense for which you received an absolute discharge, you must declare this conviction in your permit application within a period of one (1) year following the verdict. If you received a conditional discharge, you must declare this conviction in your permit application within a period of three (3) years after the verdict.

Indeed, a discharge, either conditional or absolute, is not equivalent to a record suspension (pardon). In this sense, Article 6.1 of the Criminal Records Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-47) stipulates that it is only after a period of three (3) years in the case of a conditional discharge, and a period of one (1) year in the case of an absolute discharge, that your rehabilitation will be in effect.

The record suspension (pardon) is an attestation granted by the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) establishing that a conviction should not tarnish the reputation of the person. Once obtained, the pardon restricts access to the court record regarding such offense.

For more information about the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) and the pardon process, visit visit http://pbc-clcc.gc.ca/prdons/servic-eng.shtmlor contact the PBC by email at suspension@pbc-clcc.gc.ca or by phone at
1-800-874-2652.

Yes. You must notify the Bureau in writing of your plans to cease your private security activities and indicate the date on which these activities will cease. Your licence will be revoked as of that date.

Note that the annual fees already paid for your licence will not be refunded. Additionally, you must return your licence and any copies of it within 15 days following the end of your activities, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act.

Attention! If you intend to leave your current job but want to continue to carry out private security activities for which you hold a licence, your licence will remain valid and you will not have to return it. However, you must keep the Bureau informed of any changes in the identity of your employer within 30 days.

You can consult the Registry of Licence Holders at any time to determine whether a given person has a valid agent licence. The registry allows you to find out the name of the licence holder, their licence number and the category for which it is issued, the name of his employer, as well as the status of the licence.

We encourage you to notify us of any person who is engaged in a private security activity and whose name does not appear in the Registry of Licence Holders, or whose licence is suspended or revoked according to the registry, by writing to: Plaintes@BureauSecuritePrivee.qc.ca

When an agent licence is suspended, revoked or not renewed, the Bureau will send a notice to that effect to his/her employer. In addition, you can check the status of the licence of any person at any time by consulting the Registry of Licence Holders.

By mail, you can make a payment by sending a certified cheque, postal money order, bank money order or personal cheque or by providing your credit card information in the " Method of Payment " section of the relevant form. Please note that we do not accept cash payments received in the mail.

In addition to the above-mentioned method of payment, you can also make a cash or debit card payment in person at the Customer Service desk of the Bureau.

Finally, you can make a payment by credit card over the phone.

Yes. You can use the detailed invoice that the Bureau mails to you for your income taxes. In your tax return, you can use the “Other employment expenses” to reduce your income.

Attention! The fees you pay to file your application are considered a "deposit" and not a "payment" until such time as we make a decision in your case. Therefore, you cannot use your receipt or proof of payment for your taxes.

For more information, consult Revenue Québec, the Canada Revenue Agency or a competent professional in such matters.

The Regulations respecting the training required to obtain an agent licence to carry on private security activities outlines the standard of conduct that anyone can expect from an agent carrying on private security activities.

Agents must especially conduct themselves so as to preserve the trust required by the exercise of their functions; avoid any form of abuse of authority; act with competence and professionalism by demonstrating the highest degree of integrity, vigilance, diligence and care; perform their duties with dignity and loyalty; and avoid any conflict of interest.

Note that an agent who violates the standard of conduct established by this regulation could have his licence suspended, revoked or not renewed.

If you witness behaviour by an agent that does not comply with this standard of conduct, we urge you to inform the Bureau in writing at Plaintes@BureauSecuritePrivee.qc.ca.

Anyone wishing to report an agent who is carrying out a private security activity without a licence, or who has violated the Act or one of its regulations, including violating the standard of conduct, can do so by writing to: Plaintes@BureauSecuritePrivee.qc.ca

The payment of annual fees for an agent licence can be done in most banking institutions. You must present to the bank your original annual fees invoice, including the detailed bill and payment slip.

You can also pay your annual fees at your bank’s ATM using the payment slip, or if your bank allows, via the Internet or by telephone banking using the "Account Number" shown on your payment slip.

Once we receive your payment, the Bureau will send you a receipt by mail.

No. The annual fee must be paid in full no later than the date appearing on the invoice that will be sent to you at least 45 days before the anniversary date on which your licence was issued.

You must inform the Bureau promptly of any changes in your home address. You can make your change of address by completing the Change of address for the AGENT form and sending it by email, mail, or fax, or by submitting it in person at the Customer Service desk of the Bureau. You can also inform us by phone.

 

Note that it is your responsibility to ensure that the Bureau has your correct contact information.

Yes. Exceptionally, in the case of an agent licensed in investigation or the transport of valuables, the Bureau can decide to have certain information on the registry kept confidential.

Attention! This exception applies only to agents licensed in investigation or the transport of valuables who file a request and demonstrate that disclosure of certain information could reasonably jeopardize their activities or significantly jeopardize their safety.

If you wish to make such a request, please complete and submit to the Bureau the Exemption from the public security agents registry form.

To apply for a new agency licence, the agency representative must complete and submit to the Bureau the Agency licence application form.

Please note that it is important to complete all sections of the form and provide all required documents. Missing information or documents may result in significant delays in processing your application.

The company applying for an agency licence must operate at least one establishment in Quebec, be solvent, be covered by liability insurance as described in Article 5 of the Regulation Under the Private Security Act in the amount of at least $1 million per claim, and a bond in the amount of $10,000 to which the Bureau is the beneficiary, in order to guarantee the performance of the company’s obligations in the pursuit of private security activities.

No. The bond in the amount of $10,000 that accompanies an agency licence application must have the Bureau de la sécurité privée as the sole beneficiary. In addition, this bond must guarantee the performance of your company’s obligations in the pursuit of private security activities.

 

A bond that names any other beneficiary or that guarantees the fulfillment of obligations as part of any other activity will be refused and will cause additional delays in processing your application, which could lead to a denial of your application.

An agency representative must be an individual who is dedicated full-time to the activities of the agency. The representative must be of good moral character and have never been convicted of a criminal offense relating to the practice of the activity for which a licence is required, unless he has obtained a pardon.

 

In addition, by way of training, the representative has an obligation to read the documentation that will be sent with the licence, entitled Private Security: Legal Aspects Concerning Agency Representatives.

Providing incomplete answers may result in significant delays in the processing of your application, which may result in a denial of your application by the Bureau.

Also, providing false answers would likely cause the Bureau to deny your application. Failing to declare the criminal record or any pending charges of any representative, owner or director, or ofany partner or shareholder having a major interest in the company will be considered a false statement.

A partner holding more than 10% of the shares or a shareholder directly or indirectly holding more than 10% of the voting shares is considered to have a major interest in the company.

Yes. From the moment you operate a business that offers a private security activity, you must hold an agency licence in the relevant category(ies). There is no difference between a self-employed person who operates a business alone and an agency owner who employs several agents.

For example, just like a person who operates a business, a sub-contractor must hold an agency licence in order to provide his services to an electronic security systems company.

No. The agency licence is valid for a period of three years. Thereafter, you must apply for a renewal of your agency licence every three years by completing the appropriate form.

Please note that, for your agency licence to remain valid during the three years, you must pay the annual fees no later than the anniversary date on which the licence was issued and continue to meet the general requirements as stipulated in the Act and its regulation.

You must apply for your agency licence renewal by completing and submitting to the Bureau the Agency licence renewal application form.

Attention! Please note that the application to renew an agency licence must be filed at least 60 days before the licence expiry date.

All sections of the application must be completed and all required documents mentioned in the form must be provided. Missing information or documents may result in significant delays in the processing of your renewal application.

Yes. The Bureau can suspend, revoke or deny your application to renew your agency licence, particularly in cases where: you no longer meet the conditions as prescribed under the Act or its regulation for obtaining a licence; you have failed to pay the annual fee; you have been found guilty of an offense under the Act or its regulation; you have failed to follow the directives issued by the Bureau; or you did not replace the representative of your agency as requested by the Bureau.

Yes. We invite you to send us any relevant documents or information that can enlighten us in the analysis of your application, and within the delay stipulated in the notice of denial, revocation or suspension sent to you by the Bureau.

If your agency licence is suspended or revoked, or if your renewal is denied, the Bureau will notify the representative and, thereupon, your company will be prohibited from providing private security services. In addition, in cases of revocation or non-renewal, you must return your agency licence and any copies of it to the Bureau within 15 days following the date of the decision, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act.

The Bureau may also require you to return your agency licence and any copies of it, if it has been suspended.

You must return your agency licence and any copies of it to the Bureau within 15 days following the non-renewal, revocation or termination of your private security operations, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act.

The Bureau may also require you to return your licence if it has been suspended.

You can contest any decision made by the Bureau to deny, revoke, suspend or not renew an agency licence by filing a request with the secretary of the Tribunal administratif du Québec within 30 days after receiving such decision.

For more information on how to contest a decision, visit the Tribunal administratif du Québec website at: http://www.taq.gouv.qc.ca/en/

Your agency licence will be suspended for a period of 30 days within which you will be required to pay the annual fee as well as an administrative fee of $35. Failing to do so will result in the revocation of your licence for non-payment of annual fees.

Upon suspension of your licence, you will be prohibited from offering private security services and you will be required to return your agency licence and any copies of it, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act.

It is strictly forbidden to reproduce or copy a licence. Therefore, if you must obtain a copy of your agency licence, especially to display it in one of your establishments, you must absolutely use an official copy issued by the Bureau.

You can get an official copy of your licence by completing and submitting to the Bureau the Additional establishment form. A $25 fee plus taxes will apply for each copy requested.

Exceptionally, your agency may make a copy of your agency licence if it is required to respond to a call for tender.

No. Let’s take for example a department store that employs two security guards. Since the main activity of this business is to sell consumer goods and not to provide private security services, an agency licence will not be required.

However, these two security guards must hold an agent licence since their main task is to exercise private security activities. Their immediate superior must also hold an agent licence. The superior however, will be exempted from the required training if he does not exercise private security activities himself.

No. The activity of reproducing existing key does not fall under the category of locksmithing or in any other type of private security activity under the Act. As a result, such a business does not require a locksmith agency licence and its employees do not have to hold a locksmith agent licence.

However, a retailer who also offers locksmith services, including the installation, maintenance and repair of mechanical or electronic locking devices, must hold a locksmith agency licence and its employees who carry out such activities must hold a locksmith agent licence.

Yes. Just like the representative, the owner of the company, any director, as well as all partners or shareholders having a major interest in the company must be of good moral character and have never been convicted of a criminal offense that is related to the activity for which an agency licence is requested, unless he has obtained a pardon.

If the owner, partner or shareholder of the business is a partnership or legal person, any director, and all partners or shareholders having a major interest in the company must satisfy the same requirements.

 

A partner holding more than 10% of the shares or a shareholder directly or indirectly holding more than 10% of the voting shares is considered to have a major interest in the enterprise.

Thus, the Verification of conditions form must be completed by the representative for each of these persons so that the Bureau can conduct the necessary checks on security conditions.

Yes. You are required to notify the Bureau of any changes in the identity of the agency owner, director or any of its shareholders or partners, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act. To do this, you must complete and submit to the Bureau the Additional owner, partner, director or shareholder form.

A verification of security conditions for each new person added will be conducted. Fees for the verification of security conditions for each new person added will apply.

Yes. The Act stipulates that any representative, owner or director, and any shareholder or partner with a major interest in the company who applies for an agency licence must be of good moral character and have never been convicted of a criminal offense that is related to the activity for which an agency licence is requested, unless he/she has obtained a pardon

The agency for which you are the representative, owner or director, or are a shareholder or partner having a major interest, will therefore be denied a licence if you have a criminal record related to the private security activity for which a licence is required, and for which a pardon was not obtained.

 

A partner holding more than 10% of the shares or a shareholder directly or indirectly holding more than 10% of the voting shares is considered to have a major interest in the company.

If you have been convicted of an offense for which you received an absolute discharge, you must declare this conviction in your permit application within a period of one (1) year following the verdict. If you received a conditional discharge, you must declare this conviction in your permit application within a period of three (3) years after the verdict.

Indeed, a discharge, either conditional or absolute, is not equivalent to a record suspension (pardon). In this sense, Article 6.1 of the Criminal Records Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-47) stipulates that it is only after a period of three (3) years in the case of a conditional discharge, and a period of one (1) year in the case of an absolute discharge, that your rehabilitation will be in effect.

The record suspension (pardon) is an attestation granted by the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) establishing that a conviction should not tarnish the reputation of the person. Once obtained, the pardon restricts access to the court record regarding such offense.

For more information about the PBC and the pardon process, visit http://pbc-clcc.gc.ca/prdons/servic-eng.shtml or contact the PBC by email at suspension@pbc-clcc.gc.ca or by phone at1-800-874-2652

You must inform the Bureau promptly of any changes in the home address of your representative or the business address of your agency or any of its establishments.

 

You can make these changes by completing either the Change of RESIDENTIAL address for the representative form or the Change of address form for AGENCY and sending it by email, mail, or fax, or by submitting it in person at the Customer Service desk of the Bureau. You can also inform us by phone.

 

Note that it is your responsibility to ensure that the Bureau has the correct address of your agency, its establishments and your representative.

To inform the Bureau of a change of representative, you must complete and submit to the Bureau the Change of representative application form.

Yes. You must promptly inform the Bureau of any changes likely to affect the validity of your licence, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act.

You must inform the Bureau of any changes in the identity of the owner of the agency, or its directors, shareholders or partners by completing and submitting to the Bureau the Additional owner, partner, director or shareholder application form.

 

You must also advise the Bureau of any charges or convictions for a criminal offense against the representative, owner or director of the agency, as well as that of a shareholder or partner having a major interest in the company.

In addition, you must inform the Bureau of any changes to the contact information of your agency, or of the addition of an establishment by completing and submitting to the Bureau the Change of address form for AGENCY or the Additional establishment form.

In addition to the other changes not mentioned here as examples, you must also notify the Bureau if your agency declares bankruptcy.

Yes. The agency licence or an official copy thereof must be displayed in a conspicuous place so as to be legible in each of the agency’s establishments, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act.

Yes. You must notify the Bureau in writing of your plans to cease your agency’s operations and indicate the date on which these operations will cease. Your licence will be revoked as of that date.

Note that the annual fees already paid for your licence will not be refunded. Additionally, you must return your licence and any copies of it within 15 days following the end of your activities, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act.

No. The delays in processing your application remain the same, whether you submit your documents in person or send them by mail.

Yes. Anyone who operates an enterprise that carries on a private security activity must hold an agency licence of the appropriate class issued by the Bureau in the category relevant to the activity offered if it wishes to carry on such activity in Quebec.

Note that any company that applies for an agency licence must operate an establishment in Quebec.

If you have failed to provide documents required to process your agency licence application, we will contact you to advise you of the missing documents and to give you a deadline for providing them.

If you do not provide such missing documents within the time allotted, the Bureau may deny your application.

Note that it is important to read the agency licence application form carefully to ensure that you provide all necessary documents. A missing document will automatically result in an additional delay in the processing of your application, during which time you will be prohibited from providing private security services, since you will not hold a valid licence to do so.

No. You are prohibited from offering any private security services during the processing of your application, under penalty of penal sanctions as provided for by the Act. Only an agency holding a valid licence can offer such services.

Consequently, if you are planning to operate a private security agency, you must submit your application for a licence from the Bureau and wait for your licence to be issued before starting any agency activity.

By mail, you can make a payment by sending a certified cheque, bank money order, postal money order or company cheque, or by providing your credit card information in the "Method of Payment" section of the form you are submitting. Please note that we do not accept cash payments received in the mail.

In addition to the above-mentioned method of payment, you can also make a cash or debit card payment in person at the Customer Service desk of the Bureau.

Finally, you can make a payment by credit card over the phone.

No. The annual fee must be paid in full no later than the date appearing on the invoice that will be sent to you at least 45 days before the anniversary date on which your licence was issued.

You can consult the Registry of Licence Holders at any time to determine whether a given company hold a valid agency licence.

The registry allows you to find out the name and legal entity of the agency, the name of its representative, the address and telephone number of its head office and the address of its establishments, if any.

The registry also allows you to find out the licence number of the agency and the category for which it is issued, its validity status, the date on which it was issued and its expiry date.

We encourage you to notify us of any business that is engaged in a private security activity and whose name does not appear in the Registry of Licence Holders, or whose licence is suspended or revoked according to the registry, by writing to: Plaintes@BureauSecuritePrivee.qc.ca

Anyone wishing to report an agency that operates without a licence, or that has violated the Act or one of its regulations, may do so by writing to: Plaintes@BureauSecuritePrivee.qc.ca