Provision of technical services for the protection of property and persons

A licensed (concession) trade for the installation, servicing and operation of technical means for the protection of property and persons - security and alarm systems, camera systems and access control systems. The licence does not come into existence by notification, but only on the date on which the decision granting the concession in administrative proceedings becomes final.

Conditions for operating

General conditions under Section 6 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. The Act does not require medical fitness or liability insurance for this trade.

Professional qualification (Annex 3 to the Trade Licensing Act; regulated under Sections 6 to 8 and Section 27 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.) - one of the following variants is to be demonstrated:
University education in a study programme and field focused on mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, telecommunications or computer technology + 1 year of experience in the field.
Higher professional education in a field of study focused on mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, telecommunications or computer technology + 2 years of experience in the field.
Secondary education with a maturita examination in a field of study focused on mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, telecommunications or computer technology + 2 years of experience in the field.
Secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in a field of study focused on mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, telecommunications or computer technology + 3 years of experience in the field.
A retraining certificate or other proof of professional qualification for the relevant work activity issued by an institution accredited under special legislation, an institution accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, or a ministry within whose remit the sector in which the trade is operated falls + 4 years of experience in the field.

Concession and administrative proceedings: unlike notifiable trades, it is not enough to notify the trade. The granting of the concession is decided by the Trade Licensing Office in administrative proceedings, and it usually requests an opinion from the relevant state administration body on the application. The licence comes into existence only on the date on which the decision granting the concession becomes final (not by notification).

Responsible representative (Section 11): if the professional qualification is not met in person, a responsible representative who meets the conditions may be appointed. One person may act as responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

Body responsible for the recognition of professional qualifications: Ministry of Industry and Trade, Na Frantisku 32, 110 15 Prague 1.

Examples of activities

installation and fitting of electronic security systems (EZS/PZTS) - burglar alarms
installation of camera systems (CCTV, IP cameras) and video surveillance
installation of access control systems (access and attendance systems, turnstiles)
installation of electronic fire alarm systems within the scope of property protection
connection of security systems to a central alarm receiving centre (ARC)
servicing, inspection and maintenance of security technology

What this trade is and what it is for

The licensed (concession) trade Provision of technical services for the protection of property and persons (Annex 3 to the Trade Licensing Act) authorises the installation, fitting, maintenance and operation of technical means serving to secure premises, property and persons. It concerns the "technical" side of the security industry: whereas physical protection is carried out by people (guards), this trade concerns technology that protects automatically, remotely or via a central protection centre.

It covers the supply and operation of electronic security and alarm systems, camera systems, access control systems and their connection to monitoring centres. The aim is to detect an intrusion in good time, record it and alert the operator or an intervention unit.

What this trade covers (and what it does not)

Typical activities include:

installation and fitting of electronic security systems (EZS / PZTS) - burglar alarms,
installation of camera systems (CCTV, IP cameras) and video surveillance,
installation of access control systems (access and attendance systems, chips, turnstiles),
installation of electronic fire alarm systems within the scope of property protection,
connection of systems to a central alarm receiving centre (ARC) and their remote monitoring,
servicing, inspection and maintenance of security technology.

Where the boundaries lie. This trade is not the same as the concession trade Protection of property and persons - that covers physical protection by people. Nor is it the concession Private detective services. If the activity extends into high-voltage electrical installations, it touches on reserved electrical equipment under other legislation. The mere sale of security technology without installation may fall under an unqualified (free) trade (wholesale and retail).

Conditions for obtaining the trade under the law

Because this is a concession trade, you must satisfy two sets of conditions and, in addition, obtain a concession in administrative proceedings.

1. General conditions (Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act): full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. The Act does not require medical fitness or liability insurance for this trade.

2. Professional qualification (Annex 3; regulated under Sections 6 to 8 and Section 27 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). You will demonstrate one of the variants:

Education	Experience in the field
University education in a study programme and field focused on mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, telecommunications or computer technology	1 year
Higher professional education in a field focused on mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, telecommunications or computer technology	2 years
Secondary education with a maturita examination in the same fields	2 years
Secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the same fields	3 years
A retraining certificate or other proof of professional qualification (accredited institution / relevant ministry)	4 years

3. Concession and administrative proceedings. Unlike notifiable trades, it is not enough to notify the trade. The Trade Licensing Office decides on the granting of the concession in administrative proceedings and usually requests an opinion from the relevant state administration body on the application. The licence comes into existence only on the date on which the decision granting the concession becomes final.

Responsible representative (Section 11). If you do not meet the professional qualification yourself, you may appoint a responsible representative who meets the conditions. One person may act as responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

How to obtain the trade step by step

Complete the Unified Registration Form (URF) - for a concession, the form "Concession Application".
Submit the application to any municipal Trade Licensing Office (a municipality with extended powers), online via the rzp.gov.cz portal or at Czech POINT.
Provide documents proving professional qualification (diploma, certificates, proof of experience) and a clean criminal record.
The office opens administrative proceedings and usually requests an opinion from the relevant state administration body.
The decision is issued normally within 30 days. After it becomes final, the office enters you in the Trade Register.

The general procedure is described in the guide How to start a trade.

Documents and fees

Concession Application (URF).
Proof of professional qualification under one of the variants above.
Proof of experience in the field.
Foreign nationals: proof of a clean criminal record from their country of origin.
Administrative fee: CZK 1,000 for a concession application (first entry into business), CZK 500 for a further concession.
Time limit: a decision normally within 30 days; the licence comes into existence on the date on which the decision granting the concession becomes final.

Frequently asked questions

Does this concession also cover the physical protection of a building?

No. Guarding by people falls under the separate concession Protection of property and persons. This concession covers technology only.

When can I start trading?

Only on the date on which the decision granting the concession becomes final. Merely submitting the application does not authorise you to trade.

I have no education in the field; do I have another option?

Yes - either you provide a retraining certificate and 4 years of experience in the field, or you appoint a responsible representative who meets the professional qualification (Section 11).

Do I need an opinion from the relevant body for the concession application?

For concession trades, the Trade Licensing Office usually requests an opinion from the relevant state administration body before issuing the decision. Processing the application may therefore take up to the end of the 30-day period.

How much will I pay?

CZK 1,000 for a first concession application, CZK 500 for each further concession.