The security guard TIP: requirements, exam and issuance

The Tarjeta de Identidad Profesional (TIP) is the public document that accredits private security personnel in the exercise of their duties (article 27 of Ley 5/2014, de Seguridad Privada). It is issued by the General Directorate of the Police once the authorisation is granted, and without it you cannot work as a security guard.

The general requirements are in article 28 of Ley 5/2014: to be of legal age; to have the nationality of a European Union or European Economic Area State, to be included in the community regime of Real Decreto 240/2007 (family members of EU citizens) or to be a national of a third State with an agreement that recognises access to these activities; to possess the necessary physical capacity and psychological aptitude, accredited with the official certificate of Real Decreto 2487/1998, issued by an authorised medical centre; to lack a criminal record for intentional crimes; not to have been sanctioned in previous years for a serious or very serious infringement in security matters; and not to have been separated from the service of the Armed Forces or the Security Forces and Corps in the previous 2 years.

Furthermore, for a security guard it is required to be in possession of (or in a position to obtain) the Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) diploma, a Technician diploma or another equivalent for professional purposes, or higher. Legal residence in Spain, on its own, does not authorise you: the law still requires one of the indicated nationality or community regime links.

Before the tests you must accredit the prior training of article 29 of Ley 5/2014. The usual route is the 180-hour security guard course, taught over a minimum of 6 teaching weeks by a training centre authorised by the National Police, with the contents approved by the Resolución de 12 de noviembre de 2012 of the Secretary of State for Security.

The law also allows accrediting the training through certificates of professionalism or equivalent vocational training diplomas. If you opt for a speciality, specific modules are added: 30 more hours for an explosives guard and 60 more hours for a private bodyguard.

The diploma from the training centre is essential for the National Police to accept your application to participate in the tests. Managora checks with you that the centre and the certificate meet the requirements before registering you in the call.

The selection tests are called by the General Directorate of the Police in accordance with the bases approved by the Resolución de 9 de enero de 2026 of the Secretary of State for Security (BOE of 14 January 2026). They consist of 2 phases: physical aptitude (upper body power exercises, vertical jump and 400-metre run, with minimum marks according to age and sex) and theoretical-practical knowledge (multiple-choice questionnaire of 100 questions in 50 minutes; a minimum score of 5 out of 10 is required).

Registration is online through the Applicant Portal of the National Police (policia.es), with identification via Cl@ve (the Spanish electronic identity system) or an electronic certificate, and requires paying the participation tasa (official fee) of €23.34 with the modelo 790 código 015. In 2026 there are 3 calls: 01/2026 and 02/2026 have already closed applications, and 03/2026 accepts applications from 1 to 14 September 2026.

If you do not pass any of the tests, you can present yourself at the next call by paying the tasa again. Managora controls the deadlines, prepares your online application and settles the tasa so that you do not miss the call.

Once the tests are passed, you can request the authorisation and the issuance of the TIP: Ley 5/2014 does not subject this application to an expiration deadline, so the right to request it for having passed is not lost over time. Keep in mind, however, that the psychophysical aptitude certificate has a limited validity (3 months), so if you delay the application you will have to provide a new certificate.

The application is submitted by appointment at the Central Private Security Unit (Madrid) or the Territorial Private Security Unit of your province, with the authorisation form, the identity document, recent colour photographs of 32 x 26 millimetres and the proof of the authorisation tasa (€64.16, modelo 790 código 015, according to the amounts published on the electronic headquarters of the National Police). The maximum period to resolve is 3 months; once the checks are carried out, the TIP and the professional booklet are delivered in person to the holder.

Managora prepares the entire file (forms, tasa, photographs, certificates and appointment), submits it to the competent unit and follows up until issuance. The collection of the TIP is personal by the holder at police premises. You can see the updated amount of the service on the procedure's page.

The security guard can expand their authorisation with the explosives guard speciality: it requires a specific training module of 30 hours and passing an additional questionnaire of 25 questions in the National Police calls.

The private bodyguard is a different authorisation called in the same resolutions: it requires 60 hours of specific training in addition to the common guard training. Anyone who is already authorised as a security guard is exempt from repeating the physical test and the general questionnaire, and only takes the exam for the specific bodyguard part by accrediting their valid TIP.

The 3 authorisations (guard, explosives and bodyguard) can be prepared in a staggered manner. Managora tells you which exemptions apply to you according to the authorisations you already have, so as not to repeat tests or pay unnecessary tasas.

The TIP is valid for 10 years from its issuance. It is renewed due to expiration, loss, theft or deterioration, keeping the same authorisation number. The renewal is processed in person at the Private Security Unit, providing the application with a responsible declaration, the identity document, 2 photographs of 32 x 26 millimetres and a valid psychophysical aptitude certificate in accordance with Real Decreto 2487/1998.

The authorisation is lost if the legal requirements are no longer met. Ley 5/2014 abolished the loss of authorisation due to inactivity foreseen by the previous regulations: today you are not obliged to repeat the tests for having spent time without practising.

With the TIP in hand you can now be hired by a registered security company, which communicates your registration to the Administration. On duty you must always carry the TIP and show it to the members of the Security Forces and Corps when they require it (article 68 of the Regulation). If you want to obtain your TIP without getting lost in forms, calls and tasas, Managora prepares it and submits it for you: start the procedure from the private security guard TIP page.