Security material – purchase and sale, development, manufacture, repairs

A licensed (concession) trade for handling security material under Annex No. 3 to the Trade Licensing Act: purchase, sale, hire, development, manufacture, repair, modification, storage, warehousing, transport, decommissioning and destruction. The professional qualification is assessed under s. 27 of the Trade Licensing Act and the act on the handling of security material. The authorisation arises only when the decision granting the concession becomes final.

Conditions for operating

General conditions under s. 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record (integrity under s. 6(2) of the Act).
The professional qualification is proven under s. 27 of the Trade Licensing Act and Annex No. 3, with reference to a special regulation (Act No. 229/2013 Coll., on the handling of security material): usually university, higher vocational or secondary education with a school-leaving examination of a technical, economic, military or police focus, or a retraining certificate and 1 year of practice; for all variants a minimum age of 21 is required. Check the specific variant with the Trade Licensing Office.
A clean criminal record (reliability) is key for handling security material; medical fitness and liability insurance are not required according to the database of regulated activities.
From 1 January 2026 (Act No. 220/2025 Coll.) the Regional Directorate of the Police of the Czech Republic no longer comments on the application for this concession; the application may be submitted without a police opinion. If a special regulation were to require an opinion of another relevant authority, the Trade Licensing Office is bound by it (s. 52).
A responsible representative may be appointed under s. 11, who meets the conditions of both qualification and integrity.
The authorisation arises only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final (s. 10(1)(b)), not on notification.

Examples of activities

purchase and sale of security material
hire of security material
development and manufacture of security material
repair and modification of security material
storage and warehousing of security material
transport of security material
decommissioning of security material
destruction of security material

What the trade is and what it is for

The trade "Purchase and sale, hire, development, manufacture, repair, modification, storage, warehousing, transport, decommissioning and destruction of security material" is a licensed (concession) trade listed in Annex No. 3 to the Trade Licensing Act (Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). It authorises you to handle so-called security material comprehensively throughout its entire life cycle, i.e. from acquisition and manufacture through warehousing and transport to its decommissioning and disposal.

This is one of the most sensitive business areas, where the state does not grant the authorisation by mere notification, but decides on it in administrative proceedings on a concession. The reason is the risk of misuse, so in addition to the professional qualification, strong emphasis is placed on the applicant's clean criminal record and reliability.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

This concession covers a wide range of activities involving security material:

purchase and sale of security material,
hire of security material,
development and manufacture of security material,
repair and modification of security material,
storage, warehousing and transport of security material,
decommissioning and destruction of security material.

What security material is. The term is defined by a special legal regulation – Act No. 229/2013 Coll., on the handling of security material, which divides security material into several groups. Annex No. 3 to the Trade Licensing Act refers directly to this regulation, so the scope of the trade is governed by its provisions.

Boundary with neighbouring trades and special regimes. The handling of military material, weapons, ammunition or munitions is governed by other special regulations (the regulation of trade in military material and the firearms and munitions legislation, which was newly regulated from 1 January 2026) and may require separate permits outside the regime of the Trade Licensing Act. Always check with the Trade Licensing Office whether your specific activity falls under this concession or under a special permitting regime.

Conditions for obtaining it under the law

The applicant must meet the general conditions under s. 6 of the Trade Licensing Act:

full legal capacity (which can be replaced by the court's consent to the approval of the legal representative),
a clean criminal record under s. 6(2) of the Act.

Furthermore, this licensed (concession) trade requires proof of professional qualification, which is regulated by s. 27 of the Trade Licensing Act and Annex No. 3 with reference to Act No. 229/2013 Coll. According to Annex No. 3, university, higher vocational or secondary education with a school-leaving examination of a technical, economic, military or police focus is usually required, or a retraining certificate and 1 year of practice; a minimum age of 21 is set for all variants. Check the specific required level of education and length of practice directly with the Trade Licensing Office, because they differ between the individual variants. According to the database of regulated activities, a clean criminal record is required for handling security material; by contrast, neither medical fitness nor liability insurance need be proven. The competent authority (the central state administration authority for trade licensing) is the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

If you do not meet the qualification conditions yourself, you can appoint a responsible representative under s. 11 of the Act, who must meet them on your behalf and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

For a concession you do not submit a notification, but a concession application (s. 50). Proceed as follows:

Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF) – it serves at the same time as a concession application and as a registration for taxes and insurance.
Submit the application at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT branch.
Provide the documents – identity and a document on professional qualification (or the qualification of a responsible representative). From 1 January 2026, entry into business under this concession does not require an opinion of the Police of the Czech Republic (see below).
Pay the administrative fee – CZK 1,000 on first entry into business, CZK 500 for a further concession application.
Wait for the decision. A concession is usually decided within 30 days. Once a positive decision becomes final, the office registers the trade and issues a register extract within 5 working days.

Note the change from 1 January 2026. In connection with Act No. 220/2025 Coll. (the adoption of the new Firearms and Ammunition Act and the Munitions Act), the Regional Directorate of the Police of the Czech Republic no longer comments on the application for this concession. The application may therefore be submitted without a police opinion. If a special regulation were nonetheless to require an opinion of another relevant authority for a specific activity, that authority will adopt it usually within 30 days (s. 52), and the Trade Licensing Office is bound by it.

The detailed general procedure can be found in the guide How to set up a trade.

Documents and fees

Proof of identity (an identity card or passport).
The completed URF with the subject of business under Annex No. 3.
A document on professional qualification under s. 27 and Annex No. 3 (or of a responsible representative).
Fee: CZK 1,000 (first concession) / CZK 500 (further concession).
Origin of the authorisation: on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final; registration in the register within 5 working days.

Frequently asked questions

When may I start doing business?

Only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final (s. 10(1)(b)). Unlike notifiable trades, submitting an application is not enough; the proceedings must take place and the decision must become final.

How long does processing a concession take?

A concession is usually decided within 30 days. If a special regulation requires an opinion of the relevant authority, that authority's time limit for the opinion may be added (s. 52); from 1 January 2026, however, the Police of the Czech Republic does not comment on this particular concession.

What qualification must I prove?

You prove a professional qualification under s. 27 and Annex No. 3 (education of a technical, economic, military or police focus, or retraining and practice, minimum age 21) and a clean criminal record. Check the specific variant with the Trade Licensing Office.

Do I need any other permit?

Possibly yes. Part of the handling of security, military and firearms material is subject to special regulations outside the Trade Licensing Act (in particular Act No. 229/2013 Coll. and the firearms and munitions legislation). Any permit or consent of another authority is dealt with under those regulations.

Can I have a responsible representative?

Yes. Under s. 11 of the Act you may appoint a responsible representative who meets the conditions of both qualification and integrity and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade.