Companies desiring to be licensed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) must have a a commercial residency in the region and / or contracts requiring their operation in the region. Both the commercial client companies, and the Private Security Companies working for them must be registered by the KRG Ministry of Trade. The KRG Ministry of State for the Interior (MoI), Office of Associations licenses Private Security. The application process leading to licensing is similar to the Baghdad, MoI, to include security checks of employees, and verification of the legal import into the KRG of vehicles and weapons. Every licensing package is reviewed at the Ministerial level before approval.

The dynamics of Reconstruction require PSC to operate in, or travel through, the northern Iraqi Governorates that are in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) security, or are under the control of Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) security elements. The same is true in reverse for a growing number of PSC headquartered in the KRG controlled areas, who have missions which are bringing them to other parts of the country. The security environment in the northern areas is markedly different from the Baghdad environment. Conversely, companies from the north moving south, are queried by security elements about their licensing with, or documentation from, the MoI Baghdad. There is no reciprocity between the respective Ministries, but KRG security elements, while appropriately checking documentation that validates PSC presence in the KRG controlled areas, are acknowledging vehicles with badges licensed by Baghdad.

The process for licensing with the KRG Ministry of State for the Interior is similar to that in Baghdad in regard to company business segments under review. Companies desiring to be licensed must have a a commercial residency in the region and / or contracts requiring thrir operation in the region. Companies working in the KRG are registered by the KRG Ministry of Trade, and licensed by the KRG Ministry of State for the Interior in Erbil, Erbil Governorate, Iraq. Although much of the company documentation used for Baghdad licensing may assist in Erbil licensing, all forms should be completed in Kurdish. The KRG MoI also issues vehicle decals, employee identification cards, and weapons cards. But, unlike the Baghdad MoI, licensing is yearly.

The Rules of Force (RUF) between the regions are different. KRG security forces take their mission very seriously, PSC’s are always under observation, documentation wil be reviewed, and inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. There have been cases where licenses have been revoked.

Erbil MoI PSC Licensing Process

The licensing process for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) MoI starts when a client establishes a commercial residence in the KRG, and contracts a PSC for services. The PSC must then register with the KRG Ministry of Trade and establish a commercial residence. Some clients may host the PSC within their business enterprise to facilitate this process. The Office of Associations in the KRG Ministry of State for the Interior processes the applications, which include security checks of employees, and verification of legal import into the KRG for vehicles and weapons. The Office of Associations will inspect the company facilities, and will maintain liaison with the company. The application will progress from security review, to pending to review by the office of the Minister, to final licensing. The company will receive employe and weapons cards, and windscreen and sun visor badges to identify their vehicles as belonging to registered Private Security Companies.

Information about the Kurdistan Region and government is presented on the KRG Web Site: KRG

The PSCAI has a working dialogue with the KRG Government through the Consulting Advisor to the Prime Minister, for Security Affairs. PSCAI assists the Ministry of State for the Interior Associations Office, and is known to the General Director of KRG Security Forces (Asayish). As is the case for the rest of the country, PSCAI seeks to bridge the knowledge gap between regulatory authorities and the security elements at the checkpoints. PSCAI assists U.S. Government Contracting Officers by confirming the progress of member company licensing in the KRG. PSCAI assists the KRG MoI by serving as a liaison between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region Division (GRD), Logistics Movement Coordination Center (LMCC) and the KRG MoI Associations Department. At present there are some twelve PSCAI member companies licensed by the Erbil MoI.