How long is an obliged entity's security study valid?

Four years, unless its measures include a private surveillance system, in which case two years (Law 21.659, Article 17). For cash-in-transit companies the regulation sets one year, renewable (DS 209, Articles 17 and 55).

When must renewal be requested?

At least three months before expiry, by filing a new study or requesting an extension of the approved one for one, two or four years as applicable. The Undersecretariat may refuse the extension and require a new study, or approve it for a shorter period, if it finds the measures insufficient (Law 21.659, Article 17; DS 209, Article 17).

What must the study contain?

The regulation requires, among other things, identification of the entity and its sites, the risks and vulnerabilities per site, existing staff and measures, the proposed concrete measures and the supporting documents; entities with a private surveillance system must also include the minimum content of Article 18 of the law (DS 209, Article 15; Law 21.659, Articles 16 and 18).

Can the entity keep operating while the first study is approved?

Yes. Entities already operating before being notified as obliged may continue during the approval process and the implementation of the measures (Law 21.659, Article 13; DS 209, Article 15).

CL · Expiry & renewal tracking

Never let your obliged entity's security study expire unrenewed

Every entity declared obliged must hold a valid security study approved by the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention, lasting four years, or two if it includes private surveillance (Law 21.659, Article 17). At least three months before expiry it files a new study or requests an extension (DS 209, Article 17).

Law 21.659 on private security requires public or private entities whose activity may create a risk to public security to keep private security measures; the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention declares them obliged entities by exempt resolution, after a report from the enforcement authority and according to the risk level (Article 7). The regulation classifies risk as low, medium or high using criteria such as the activity, location, volume of public or repeated crimes; fuel retailers are always obliged (Article 8), and cash-in-transit companies, banks and financial institutions and bank-support companies handling cash must also have a private surveillance system (Article 9).

Every obliged entity must hold a current security study authorised by the Undersecretariat in order to operate. The proposal is filed within sixty working days of notification of the resolution declaring it obliged or of the one rejecting its appeals (Article 13). The Undersecretariat requests a technical report from the enforcement authority, due within ten days extendable by five, and approves or orders changes within thirty days; corrections are made within ten days extendable by another ten, and if sixty days pass with no decision the study is deemed approved (Article 15). Once approved, the entity has thirty days to implement it (Article 19). The study and its processing are secret (Article 21).

The security study is valid for four years, unless its measures include a private surveillance system, in which case it is valid for two years; renewal follows the same procedure, and at least three months before expiry the entity must file a new study or request an extension of its validity (Article 17). Decree 209 of 2024 adds that a cash-in-transit company's study lasts one year, renewable (Articles 17 and 55), that the extension is requested for one, two or four years as applicable, and that the Undersecretariat may refuse it and require a new study, or approve it for a shorter period, if the measures are insufficient (Article 17). Any change affecting the study is filed and approved before being implemented (Law 21.659, Article 17).

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At a glance

Rule	Law 21.659 on private security, Articles 7 to 9, 13, 15, 17 and 19; Decree 209 of 2024, Articles 15 to 17 and 55
Who	Entities declared obliged by exempt resolution of the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention (Law 21.659, Article 7)
General validity	Four years (Law 21.659, Article 17; DS 209, Article 17)
With private surveillance	Two years (Law 21.659, Article 17; DS 209, Article 17)
Cash in transit	One year, renewable (DS 209, Articles 17 and 55)
Renewal or extension	At least three months before expiry: new study or request for extension of one, two or four years (Law 21.659, Article 17; DS 209, Article 17)
First study	Proposal within 60 working days of notification of the resolution declaring the entity obliged (Law 21.659, Article 13)
Implementation	Thirty days from notification of approval (Law 21.659, Article 19; DS 209, Article 19)

Transitional rules: cash-in-transit companies, banks and financial institutions, bank-support companies and obliged fuel retailers must file their first study under the new law within eighteen months of its entry into force, even if they hold current studies; other entities obliged under DL 3.607 and Law 19.303 keep that status for up to two years while the Undersecretariat determines them as obliged entities (Law 21.659, second transitional article, as amended by Law 21.825 of 2026).

Who is responsible?

The obliged entity prepares and files the study and may hire an authorised security company as adviser (Law 21.659, Article 13). If it has a private surveillance system, the head of security endorses and executes the study (DS 209, Article 24) and the security officer ensures compliance with its measures at each site (DS 209, Article 25). The entity must file the new study or request the extension at least three months before expiry (Law 21.659, Article 17).

If the deadline passes

Obliged entities must hold a current security study to operate (Law 21.659, Article 13). Failing to file the study proposal or its amendments within the deadlines, or implementing it once expired, is a serious breach (Article 96 No. 1); implementing measures on the basis of an unauthorised study is a very serious breach (Article 94 No. 4). The enforcement authority reports breaches to the Local Police Court (Article 88), and the Undersecretariat may order the temporary or permanent closure of premises of repeat-offending obliged entities (Article 109). The current study keeps its validity only if the delay in deciding is attributable to the Undersecretariat (Article 17).

Three possible validity periods and one three-month deadline

Before recording the date, identify which validity applies: four years in general, two years if the study includes a private surveillance system (Law 21.659, Article 17) and one year for cash-in-transit companies (DS 209, Article 55). In every case the renewal or extension is requested at least three months before expiry (Article 17). The guards' operating directive and the security company's authorisation are separate instruments covered in their own guides.

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add the security study and record as the expiry date the end of its four-, two- or one-year validity; a 90-day lead time, which you can set as preparation margin, matches the legal minimum for requesting renewal or extension.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day.
The head of security or the adviser can upload the new approving or extension resolution through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person, such as the head of security or the legal representative; if the study is overdue, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How long is an obliged entity's security study valid?: Four years, unless its measures include a private surveillance system, in which case two years (Law 21.659, Article 17). For cash-in-transit companies the regulation sets one year, renewable (DS 209, Articles 17 and 55).
When must renewal be requested?: At least three months before expiry, by filing a new study or requesting an extension of the approved one for one, two or four years as applicable. The Undersecretariat may refuse the extension and require a new study, or approve it for a shorter period, if it finds the measures insufficient (Law 21.659, Article 17; DS 209, Article 17).
What must the study contain?: The regulation requires, among other things, identification of the entity and its sites, the risks and vulnerabilities per site, existing staff and measures, the proposed concrete measures and the supporting documents; entities with a private surveillance system must also include the minimum content of Article 18 of the law (DS 209, Article 15; Law 21.659, Articles 16 and 18).
Can the entity keep operating while the first study is approved?: Yes. Entities already operating before being notified as obliged may continue during the approval process and the implementation of the measures (Law 21.659, Article 13; DS 209, Article 15).

Sources

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

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