How often is a guard's physical and mental fitness proved?

Every two years, counted from notification of the authorisation or its renewal; private watchmen every year and other private security staff every four years (DS 209, Article 83).

Who issues the certificates?

A physician for physical fitness and a psychiatrist or psychologist for mental fitness, both listed in the National Register of Individual Health Providers (DS 209, Article 84 No. 2).

Who pays for the assessment?

The employer, at its own cost, and it is the employer that files the documents with the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention (DS 209, Article 83).

CL · Expiry & renewal tracking

Never let a guard's fitness certification run past two years

The employer proves, at its own cost and to the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention, the physical and mental fitness of its security guards every two years from notification of the authorisation or its renewal (DS 209, Article 83). Proof is a physician's certificate plus a psychiatrist's or psychologist's one.

Law 21.659 on private security requires every natural person providing private security services to have physical and mental conditions compatible with the work to be performed, and leaves it to the regulation to set how and how often those aptitudes are proved for each type of activity, with inclusion and non-discrimination criteria (Article 46 No. 2). In addition, every employer must prove annually to the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention that the law's general and specific requirements are met (Article 47). The law repealed DL 3.607 and Law 19.303 (Article 115) and applies from six months after publication of its last regulation (first transitional article); its regulation, Decree 209 of 2024 of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, was published on 27 May 2025 and applies from the law's entry into force (DS 209, first transitional article).

DS 209 sets the frequency: the employer, at its own cost, files with the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention the documents proving the physical and mental fitness of its private security staff; private watchmen (vigilantes privados) prove it every year, security guards every two years and other persons performing private security functions every four years, counted from notification of the authorisation or its renewal (Article 83). Physical fitness is proved by a certificate from a physician and mental fitness by a certificate from a psychiatrist or psychologist, all listed in the National Register of Individual Health Providers, stating the professional's full name and ID number (Article 84 No. 2).

Fitness is one of the requirements proved again when the guard's authorisation is renewed, which is requested at least 30 days before expiry (DS 209, Article 85). If the guard subsequently loses any requirement, they must inform the employer as soon as possible and suspend their duties immediately; the employer informs the Undersecretariat, which may revoke the authorisation or, if the requirement can be remedied, set a period of no less than thirty days to prove it (Law 21.659, Article 47).

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At a glance

Rule	Law 21.659 on private security, Articles 46 and 47; Decree 209 of 2024, Private Security Regulation, Articles 83 and 84
Who proves it	The employer, at its own cost, to the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention (DS 209, Article 83)
Security guards	Every two years, counted from notification of the authorisation or its renewal (DS 209, Article 83)
Private watchmen	Every year (DS 209, Article 83)
Other private security staff	Every four years, for example doormen, night watchmen and patrol staff subject to Article 46 of the law (DS 209, Articles 83 and 96)
Documents	Physician's certificate for physical fitness and psychiatrist's or psychologist's certificate for mental fitness, both listed in the National Register of Individual Health Providers (DS 209, Article 84 No. 2)
Employer's annual proof	Compliance with the general and specific requirements, to the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention (Law 21.659, Article 47)
Loss of the requirement	Immediate suspension of duties, notice to the employer and the Undersecretariat; revocation or a period of at least thirty days to remedy (Law 21.659, Article 47)

Fitness certification is separate from the guard's authorisation, which lasts four years (Law 21.659, Article 50; DS 209, Article 85), and from the refresher or specialisation courses, also every four years (DS 209, Article 89). The background requirements of Article 46 Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 9 are updated annually with the employer, and meeting them counts as an obligation under the employment contract (Law 21.659, Article 46).

Who is responsible?

The employer files, at its own cost, the fitness documents with the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention at the frequency set in Article 83 of DS 209 and proves compliance with the requirements annually (Law 21.659, Article 47). The guard must undergo the assessments, report to the employer any subsequent loss of a requirement and suspend their duties (Article 47). Enforcement lies with Carabineros de Chile and supervision with the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention (Article 1).

If the deadline passes

If the guard no longer meets the physical and mental fitness requirement, they must suspend their duties immediately and the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention may revoke the authorisation, unless it sets a period of no less than thirty days to remedy it (Law 21.659, Article 47). Failing to comply with the terms of an authorisation granted to natural or legal persons is a serious breach (Article 96 No. 4), and breaches found by the enforcement authority are reported to the Local Police Court (Articles 88 and 106). On renewal of the authorisation, fitness must be proved again; if renewal is not requested at least 30 days ahead, the procedure starts as a first application (DS 209, Article 85).

The period runs from notification, not from the medical exam

The two years are counted from the date the guard is notified of the authorisation or its renewal (DS 209, Article 83), not from the date of the medical certificate. Record the notification date of the resolution as the start and keep fitness as a separate date from the credential, which lasts four years.

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add each guard and record as the expiry date the notification date of their authorisation or renewal plus two years; for private watchmen, plus one year.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day; the 60-day reminder leaves room to schedule the medical and psychological assessment and file the documents with the Undersecretariat.
The guard or the HR officer can upload the certificates through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person, such as the security company's operations manager; if the date passes, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How often is a guard's physical and mental fitness proved?: Every two years, counted from notification of the authorisation or its renewal; private watchmen every year and other private security staff every four years (DS 209, Article 83).
Who issues the certificates?: A physician for physical fitness and a psychiatrist or psychologist for mental fitness, both listed in the National Register of Individual Health Providers (DS 209, Article 84 No. 2).
Who pays for the assessment?: The employer, at its own cost, and it is the employer that files the documents with the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention (DS 209, Article 83).
What happens if the guard is no longer fit?: They must inform the employer as soon as possible and suspend their duties immediately; the employer informs the Undersecretariat, which may revoke the authorisation or set a period of at least thirty days to remedy (Law 21.659, Article 47).

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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Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each security guard physical and psychological fitness certification (Chile) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

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