Guarding, patrols and access control
The guard monitors buildings, carries out patrols, checks access to companies or hospitals and provides security at events such as the Montreux Jazz Festival or Paléo. Other assignments involve secure reception desks at the headquarters of international organisations in Geneva.
The French-speaking concordat on security companies
Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Vaud and Valais apply a joint intercantonal agreement (concordat). The company must be licensed, and each guard receives an authorisation to be employed, tied to that employer, valid for four years and issued by the cantonal authority, usually the police.
Personal requirements for the guard card
Under the concordat, a guard must be Swiss, an EU or EFTA national, or hold a settlement permit (C), or a residence permit held for at least two years. The cantonal police examine good character, solvency and the criminal record before granting authorisation.
A CCT extended to the whole industry
The collective agreement (CCT) for private security services sets minimum annual salaries by length of service and category. Its extension by the Federal Council makes it binding on all firms in the sector that exceed the headcount threshold laid down in the agreement.
Categories A, B and C: understanding your contract
Category A corresponds to 2,000 working hours a year, category B to 1,400 hours, and category C covers auxiliary staff paid by the hour. For category C, the minimums differ between Zurich, the Basel and Geneva group, and all other cantons.
In-house training and the federal diploma
Companies provide compulsory basic training before the first assignment. Experienced guards can prepare the federal diploma for professional security and surveillance officers, offered as evening classes in Lausanne or Geneva, which is useful for becoming a group leader.
Nights, weekends and rotating rosters
Surveillance often takes place at night, on Sundays and public holidays, following rosters announced in advance. The health protection rules explained on our page about night work in Switzerland apply, together with the compensation set out in the CCT.
One-off assignments and short contracts
Matches, congresses and trade fairs generate many on-call engagements, often in category C. Comparing these offers with a fixed-term contract in Switzerland helps you measure the hours actually guaranteed and the social protection that comes with them.
Major employers and sensitive sites
Securitas, Protectas and many regional firms employ most guards. Geneva Airport, international organisations, banks and shopping centres also recruit, sometimes directly, with reinforced background checks for staff working on the most sensitive sites and premises.
Cash and valuables transport
Cash-in-transit work has specific minimums in the CCT and strict procedures. Companies require a driving licence, excellent physical fitness and a spotless record, because the guard handles large sums moving between banks and retailers on a daily basis.
Languages and dealing with the public
A guard must write clear incident reports in the canton's language. In Geneva and at the airport, English is highly valued; in Biel/Bienne or Fribourg, French-German bilingualism is a real advantage for getting hired and for later promotion.
Moving into security management
Group leader, site manager, then security specialist at a hospital or large company: career paths exist. Some join technical services and become a facility manager in Switzerland, also responsible for the physical security of buildings.
How to become a security guard in Switzerland
- Check that your nationality or permit meets the conditions of the concordat or of the law in your target canton.
- Order a recent Swiss criminal record extract and, if you come from abroad, one from your home country too.
- Prepare a Swiss CV with photo, driving licence, languages, first aid and any surveillance experience.
- Apply to approved security companies, which will submit the authorisation request to the cantonal police.
- Complete the employer's basic training before your first assignment and keep the certificates you receive.
- Later, aim for the federal diploma for professional guards to move into supervisory posts.
CCT minimum wages and job-related fees
| Category or item | Indicative amount 2026 | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Category A, first year | 54 270 CHF gross per year | Based on 2,000 hours a year, rises with seniority |
| Category A, from year 13 | 62 755 CHF gross per year | Agreed minimum |
| Category B, first year | 35 560 CHF gross per year | Based on 1,400 hours a year |
| Category C in Zurich | 25.20 to 26.10 CHF per hour | Depending on seniority |
| Category C, other cantons | 24.15 to 24.95 CHF per hour | Basel and Geneva slightly higher; cantonal minimum takes precedence |
| Authorisation and criminal record | Cantonal fees | Often advanced by the employer, to be checked |
Application file for security work
- Swiss-format CV with photo
- Swiss and foreign criminal record extracts
- Passport or C or B permit
- Certificate of solvency from the debt enforcement office
- Previous employment references
- Driving licence and first aid certificate
- Federal diploma or security training certificates
Grounds for refusal and frequent mistakes
- Hiding a conviction or debt enforcement proceedings: the cantonal police uncover them during the good-character check and refuse authorisation.
- Believing the guard card belongs to the person, when it is tied to one employer and must be reapplied for after a change of job.
- Accepting assignments from an unlicensed company, which exposes the guard to penalties and removes the protection of the CCT.
- Neglecting the quality of written reports, which is assessed at interview and essential when an incident occurs.
- Paying an unknown provider for training sold as a guaranteed job, with no link to an approved company.
Questions about working as a security guard
Can a B permit holder work as a security guard in French-speaking Switzerland?
EU and EFTA nationals can do so directly. For other B permit holders, the concordat in principle requires at least two years of residence. The competent cantonal police confirm the individual situation before any authorisation is granted.
Is the French CNAPS professional card valid in Switzerland?
No, it has no validity in Switzerland. A cantonal authorisation, requested by the Swiss employer, is still required. Your experience in France nevertheless counts on your CV and can shorten the internal training period.
Does the Geneva minimum wage apply to security guards?
Yes, when the cantonal minimum wage in Geneva or Neuchâtel is higher than the CCT minimum, the cantonal amount prevails. The decree extending the agreement expressly provides for this reservation in those two cantons.
Do you need a first aid certificate to be hired?
It is not always a legal requirement, but most companies ask for it or pay for it. Samaritan courses and BLS-AED training, available throughout Switzerland, are particularly valued for events and hospitals.