Apply for a security equipment installer licence

A security equipment installer licence authorises the holder to install, repair, service or maintain acoustic, electronic or mechanical equipment, including:

alarms
monitoring systems
audio or visual recording systems
electric, electro-magnetic or biometric access control devices
motion, infra-red, microwave or contact detectors
safes or vaults
locks for commercial or residential areas.

An item isn't security equipment if it is:

a device that monitors inventory, products or stock from loss
an aftermarket item designed to reduce the theft of motor vehicles.

Locksmith licence exemption

In most cases you need a licence to be a locksmith. The very limited situations where you don't include when you're:

doing retail key cutting
installing basic security items in a building during its construction, repair or renovation.

The exemption to hold a licence doesn't include repairing, servicing, maintaining or replacing basic security items when the building isn't undergoing construction, repair or renovation. Basic security items include:

household locks (even if they're damaged)
portable safes under 50kg
security barriers like mesh doors and window grills
motion sensor lights that don't trigger alarms.

This means tradespeople who remove and reinstall household door locks need a licence unless the building is undergoing construction, repair or renovation.

You also need a licence when providing locksmith services to access someone's vehicle for payment, including for any reward, fee, commission or gain.

To fully understand these licence exemptions, read the Security Providers Act 1993.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this licence, you must not pose a risk to public safety.

You're not eligible for this licence if you've been convicted of a disqualifying offence in the past 10 years and a conviction was recorded.

You must tell us if you've been found guilty of a disqualifying offence in the past 5 years, where a conviction was not recorded (this is also known as an 'unrecorded finding of guilt'). We may ask you for further information so we can assess if you're a suitable person to hold a licence.

If you're under 18 you can apply if you're an apprentice or trainee security equipment installer. You'll need a letter from your employer confirming your employment as an apprentice or trainee.

How to apply

You can apply for a licence online—select 'Fair Trading Request Form'.

Supporting documents

You'll need to attach 100 points of identification to your application as certified copies (or original copies if lodged at the counter).

Read more about verifying your identity.

Fingerprinting

By law, the police need to fingerprint all security providers. We'll contact you after you lodge your application form to explain what you need to do.

Read more about fingerprinting for security licences.

Criminal history check

To confirm your suitability, you'll need to undergo a criminal history check. This will be thorough and can be time consuming. Fees apply.

If you were born in New Zealand or have a New Zealand passport, you'll need a copy of a criminal history check from New Zealand. We can only accept original New Zealand documents that are dated within 1 month of the date you send them to us.

For more information, visit the New Zealand Ministry of Justice website. It takes 20 working days to process a New Zealand criminal history check. This is a free service.

Processing time

We'll process your application for a security equipment installer licence within 4 to 6 weeks. It can take longer if you haven't supplied all the information we need or paid the correct fees.

Refunds

Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to a partial refund if:

you withdraw your application
we refuse your application.

Your fingerprinting and criminal history check fees may also be refunded.

Training

You don't need any training to hold this licence.

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