Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Security Clearance) Regulations 2025

No. S 382

Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021

Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control
(Security Clearance)
Regulations 2025

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 90 of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021, the Minister for Home Affairs makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations are the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Security Clearance) Regulations 2025 and come into operation on 1 July 2025.

Definitions

2.  In these Regulations —

“applicant”, for an application for security clearance, means —

(a) the individual who makes the application for security clearance for himself or herself; or

(b) the individual on whose behalf such an application is made by an agent mentioned in regulation 4(b);

“application for security clearance” means an application for the grant (on renewal or otherwise) of a security clearance for any individual who is the subject of the application;

“contact address” means the address of —

(a) for a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership) — the partnership’s principal place of business in Singapore;

(b) for a body corporate — the body corporate’s registered office or principal office in Singapore;

(c) for an unincorporated association — the unincorporated association’s principal office in Singapore;

(d) for an individual carrying on business as a sole proprietor — the individual’s principal place of business in Singapore; or

(e) for any other individual — the individual’s place of residence or workplace in Singapore;

“entity” means —

(a) a body corporate (including a limited liability partnership);

(b) an unincorporated association;

(c) a partnership;

(d) a business trust;

(e) a body of individuals who together form a body; or

(f) a person other than an individual;

“licence applicant” means an applicant for a licence under the Act, and includes a licensee applying to renew a licence granted to the licensee;

“Licensing Officer” means an individual who is appointed as a Licensing Officer for the purposes of Part 3 of the Act;

“security clearance” means a security clearance granted under Division 2 of Part 3 of the Act;

“working day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.

How to apply for security clearance

3.  An application for security clearance for an individual must be made in a form approved by the Licensing Officer and be made in one of the following ways:

(a) by using the electronic system called “GoBusiness”;

(b) in the case of a malfunction or failure of the electronic system in paragraph (a) or other exceptional circumstances —

(i) in person at the office of the Licensing Officer at 391 New Bridge Road, Block D #02‑701, Singapore 088762 on a working day during its business hours; or

(ii) by sending an email to the email address at [email protected].

Who to apply for security clearance

4.  An application for security clearance for an individual may be made —

(a) by the individual personally; or

(b) on behalf of the individual by an agent who must be one of the following:

(i) an employer or prospective employer of the individual;

(ii) an entity of whom the individual is or is to be a responsible executive;

(iii) a licensee, or a licence applicant, of whom the individual is a close associate.

When to apply for security clearance

5.  For the purposes of Part 3 of the Act, an application for security clearance of an individual must be made —

(a) if the individual is or is to be a special worker — at least 14 working days before either of the following applicable events:

(i) the individual starts his or her employment or work as a special worker;

(ii) the individual’s security clearance as a special worker expires;

(b) if the individual is or is to be a responsible executive of a licensee or licence applicant — at least 14 working days before either of the following applicable events:

(i) the individual starts his or her appointment as a responsible executive of a licensee or licence applicant;

(ii) the individual’s security clearance as a responsible executive of a licensee or licence applicant expires; or

(c) if the individual is a close associate of a licensee or licence applicant — not more than 14 working days after the following applicable event, whichever happens first:

(i) the individual becomes a close associate of the licensee or licence applicant;

(ii) the licence applicant makes an application for a licence.

Information needed in security clearance application

6.—(1)  For the purposes of Part 3 of the Act, an application for a security clearance for an individual must be accompanied by the following information:

(a) the name of the individual and the individual’s telephone number, contact address and email address, if any;

(b) where the application is made by an agent on behalf of the individual ⸺ the name, telephone number, email address and contact address of the agent, and the relationship of the agent to the individual as mentioned in regulation 4(b)(i), (ii) or (iii);

(c) whether, in the period of 10 consecutive years (or shorter) before the application is made, the individual has been investigated or proceeded against for participating in —

(i) an offence under the Act or any subsidiary legislation made under the Act;

(ii) an offence under the Arms Offences Act 1973 or the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958;

(iii) any offence under the Penal Code 1871;

(iv) an offence under the Arms and Explosives Act 1913, the Dangerous Fireworks Act 1972 or the Explosive Substances Act 1924 repealed by the Act; or

(v) any other relevant criminal activity,

regardless if there is or was any resulting conviction or finding of guilt;

(d) whether, in the period of 10 consecutive years (or shorter) before the application is made, a protection order, expedited protection order or mandatory treatment order has been made under the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 against the individual;

(e) the physical or mental fitness of the individual to handle guns, major parts of guns, gun accessories, explosives, explosive precursors, weapons or noxious substances (as the case may be) responsibly;

(f) the individual’s competency in handling guns, major parts of guns, gun accessories, explosives, explosive precursors, weapons or noxious substances —

(i) in carrying on a regulated activity specified or to be specified in the individual’s licence;

(ii) in the individual’s expected role and duties as a responsible executive or close associate (as the case may be) of a licensee or licence applicant; or

(iii) in the individual’s expected role and duties as a special worker who is or is to be employed or required to work with or for a licensee or licence applicant;

(g) documents and other evidence of the information mentioned in sub‑paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f);

(h) any other information that the Licensing Officer specifies he or she requires to decide the particular application for security clearance, and documents and other evidence of that other information.

(2)  However, the Licensing Officer may, in any particular case and if satisfied that it is just and equitable, waive any requirement in paragraph (1).

(3)  A Licensing Officer may refuse to consider an application for or to renew a security clearance of an individual —

(a) that is incomplete or not made in accordance with these Regulations; or

(b) where an interview mentioned in regulation 7 in relation to that application is refused.

Interview of individual for security clearance

7.  On receiving an application for security clearance of an individual, the Licensing Officer may conduct an interview of the individual, or require the individual to be interviewed, within a time specified by the Licensing Officer.

Notifiable events

8.—(1)  This regulation applies if any of the following events (each called a notifiable event) happens during the time a security clearance for an individual is in force:

(a) the individual is —

(i) convicted in Singapore of or charged with an offence mentioned in regulation 6(1)(c)(iv); or

(ii) convicted or charged outside Singapore for conduct outside Singapore which, had it been engaged in within Singapore, would have been an offence specified in regulation 6(1)(c)(iv);

(b) the individual is named as the respondent in a protection order, expedited protection order or mandatory treatment order made under the Protection from Harassment Act 2014;

(c) the individual becomes aware of a change in his or her physical or mental health or other like circumstances that affect the individual’s suitability to continue to hold the security clearance;

(d) the individual’s name, contact address or email address as given under this regulation or regulation 6(1) changes.

(2)  The individual who is the holder of the security clearance must, as soon as practicable after the individual becomes aware that the notifiable event has happened, give the Licensing Officer a notice about the event, unless the individual has a reasonable excuse.

(3)  An individual who contravenes paragraph (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

Fees connected with security clearance

9.—(1)  Subject to paragraph (2), the fee for each application for security clearance for any individual to be a special worker is $50, regardless of the number of individuals who are the subject of the application.

(2)  No fee is payable under paragraph (1) for an application for security clearance if every individual who is the subject of the application is an individual —

(a) who seeks to be granted security clearance on renewal immediately upon the expiry of his or her current security clearance; and

(b) who continues without break in service being employed or engaged as a special worker of the same licensee specified in the application for his or her current security clearance.

Law enforcement agencies

10.  For the purposes of the definition of “law enforcement agency” in section 2(1) of the Act, the following public sector agencies are each prescribed to be a law enforcement agency:

(a) the Central Narcotics Bureau;

(b) the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau;

(c) the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore;

(d) the Military Police Command of the Singapore Armed Forces;

(e) the part of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority charged with the duty of investigating offences or charging offenders under any written law;

(f) the part of the Internal Security Department charged with the duty of investigating offences or charging offenders under any written law;

(g) the part of the Ministry of Manpower charged with the duty of investigating offences or charging offenders under any written law;

(h) the part of the Ministry of Social and Family Development charged with the duty of investigating offences or charging offenders under any written law;

(i) the part of the Singapore Civil Defence Force charged with the duty of investigating offences or charging offenders under any written law;

(j) the Singapore Customs;

(k) the Singapore Prisons Service.

Made on 21 May 2025.

PANG KIN KEONG

Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Singapore.

[112/2/029; AG/LEGIS/SL/122A/2020/2]

(To be presented to Parliament under section 92 of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021).