Published on 1 February 2026

Private security services

The services of private security companies are increasingly in demand worldwide. For several years, they have therefore increasingly been the focus of public interest and the media. The background to the discussions and political initiatives for better regulation of this sector is the awareness of the risks associated with the provision of this type of service.

A woman in uniform with 'Security' written on her back.

How private security service providers carry out their activities on Swiss territory is regulated at cantonal or intercantonal level. The French-speaking cantons of Switzerland have had a common regulation in place since 1996 in the form of an agreement on security companies (the 'Concordat sur les entreprises de sécurité'). In the German-speaking cantons, the conclusion of an agreement on private security services ('Konkordat über private Sicherheitsdienstleistungen') failed in 2017 as several cantons drew up their own rules. Attempts to introduce national regulations on the provision of private security services in Switzerland have also been unsuccessful.

On the other hand, there are rules in place for the provision of private security services abroad by companies based in Switzerland: The Federal Act on Private Security Services Provided Abroad (PSSA) has been in force since 2015.

The PSSA is intended to help

  • guarantee Switzerland's internal and external security;
  • realise Switzerland's foreign policy objectives;
  • preserve Swiss neutrality; and
  • ensure compliance with international law, in particular human rights and international humanitarian law.

The FDFA State Secretariat is responsible for the PSSA. The Export Controls and Private Security Services Section (ECPS) is responsible for the operational implementation of the PSSA. It works within the FDFA on policy formulation regarding private security services and liaises with the relevant authorities at the cantonal and intercantonal levels. It ensures communication with the sector and prepares information for the public.

1 February 2026

Federal Act on Private Security Services Provided Abroad (PSSA)

A federal law regulates the activities of companies that seek to provide private security services abroad from Switzerland.

More about «Federal Act on Private Security Services Provided Abroad (PSSA)»

At the international level, Switzerland played a key role in the development of two initiatives aimed at promoting respect for human rights and international humanitarian law by private military and security companies: the Montreux Document of 17 September 2008 and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers launched on 9 November 2010. Switzerland has also been a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights initiative since September 2011. The ECPS participates in the international dialogue on national standards for private military and security companies. These talks are held within various international organisations (UN, OSCE, etc.).