There are a few requirements you need to meet to be eligible for a Master licence.

Individual Master licences:

  • You must be:
    • at least 18 years old
    • an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or
    • a permanent resident, or
    • hold a visa for a skilled occupation that corresponds to the licence subclass for which you’re applying, and
    • satisfy all criminal and other eligibility requirements
  • Individual applicants must not be a registrable person or corresponding registrable person within the meaning of the Child Protection (Offenders Registration) Act 2000, and have reporting obligations under that Act.
  • If you are a not an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or an Australian permanent resident you must provide a Police Clearance Certificate for every country you've lived in for more than 12 months outside of Australia in the past 10 years since you were 16 years old. If necessary, it must be translated into English, have been issued within the past 12 months and must be verified by that country's consulate or embassy in Australia.
  • You need an Australian Business Number (ABN).
  • If you are a self-employed individual you must also hold the appropriate Class 1 and/or Class 2 security operative licence.
  • Individual applicants and nominated persons must not have, in the past three years:
    • been an undischarged bankrupt
    • applied for bankruptcy
    • benefitted from laws for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors
    • Compounded with your creditors, or
    • made an assignment of your remuneration for your benefit, unless SLED is satisfied you took all reasonable steps to avoid the bankruptcy
    • been the subject of a winding up order or the appointment of a controller or administrator unless the winding up of the corporation was voluntary or SLED is satisfied you took all reasonable steps to avoid the liquidation or administration.

Corporation or Government Agency Master licences:

  • The nominated person must be an Australian citizen or permanent Australian resident (includes New Zealand citizens), or hold a visa for a skilled occupation to which the activities authorised by the proposed licence correspond.
  • Eligibility provisions also apply to nominated persons and close associates.
  • Nominated persons for corporations must be involved in the day-to-day conduct of the business’s security activities.
  • If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent Australian resident (includes New Zealand citizens) you must provide a Police Clearance Certificate for every country you've lived in for more than 12 months outside of Australia in the past 10 years since you were 16 years old. If necessary, it must be translated into English, have been issued within the past 12 months and must be verified by that country's consulate or embassy in Australia.
  • You need an Australian Business Number (ABN).
  • Corporations must ensure their business name is registered to an ABN and that a copy of their business name certificate is included in the application.
  • Nominated persons and close associates must:
    • satisfy criminal and other eligibility requirements
    • not be a registrable person or corresponding registrable person within the meaning of the Child Protection (Offenders Registration) Act 2000, and have reporting obligations under that Act.

All Master licences:

  • Trusts are not eligible to apply for a master licence as the NSW security industry legislation does not recognise a trust as a legal entity. Where a corporation applying for a Master licence acts as a trustee for a trust, the application for the Master licence must provide the ABN issued to the corporation (not the trust).
  • If you intend to provide Class 1D (Guard Dog Handler) or 1F (Armed Guard) security operatives you must have and maintain at least $10 million in public liability insurance cover.

Please note: if you intend to provide Class 1D (Dog Handler) or 1F (Armed Guard) security operatives you must have and maintain at least $10 million in public liability insurance cover.

Trusts are not eligible to apply for a master licence as the NSW security industry legislation does not recognise a trust as a legal entity. Where a corporation applying for a Master licence acts as a trustee for a trust, the application for the Master licence must provide the ABN issued to the corporation (not the trust).

If you, or any of your close associates have a criminal record, it could affect your eligibility. You’re not eligible for a NSW security licence if you or any of your close associates have been:

  • Convicted of a prescribed criminal offence in the past 10 years
  • Found guilty of a prescribed criminal offence in the past five years, with no conviction recorded (click here for more information about prescribed criminal offences)
  • Had a civil penalty imposed on you in the past five years
  • Removed or dismissed from the NSW Police Force, or any other police force in Australia or overseas.

SLED may also refuse your application if:

  • You, or the nominated person, have provided false or misleading information to SLED
  • You, or the nominated person, do not provide the required documentation with your application
  • Granting the licence would not be in the public interest, eg if SLED believes the licence will be improperly used, or that improper conduct is likely to occur if the licence is approved
  • You, or any of your close associates, are linked to past or current criminal activity or criminal investigations
  • You, or the nominated person, are not considered to be a fit and proper person to hold a security licence. Your personal and criminal history is taken into account when making this decision.

See the Am I Eligible For a NSW Security Licence factsheet (PDF) for more information.