BSP Licence: What Changed for Payment and the Register
The BSP no longer accepts Interac e-Transfer, and a licence under renewal no longer shows as "Expired" in the Public Register. What guards must do.
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Two practical rules have changed at the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator: how you pay your fees and what the Public Register shows during a renewal. Here is what you need to know, and what you need to do.
No more Interac e-Transfer
On its page on the fees payable by an agent, the BSP indicates that payments by Interac e-Transfer are no longer accepted. The BSP does not publish the exact date of this change on that page.
The accepted payment methods, according to the same page:
- debit card
- credit card or prepaid card
- cash
- cheque
- postal money order or bank money order
To pay online from your bank, the BSP asks you instead to add it as a payee with your financial institution, as you would for a bill.
In concrete terms, if you were in the habit of sending an Interac e-Transfer for your annual fees or your renewal, stop. A refused payment can delay your file. Add the BSP as a payee in your online banking service, or choose another method from the list above.
The amounts themselves did not change on this occasion. They are detailed in our article on licence fees and renewal.
Public Register: no more "Expired" status during renewal
In a notice dated July 8, 2025, published following the amendments to the Private Security Act made by Bill 85, the BSP announced a change to the Public Register. A licence's status no longer appears there as "Expired" as long as the BSP has not made its decision on its renewal.
The rule has applied since the summer of 2025. It is still not well known.
An employer or a client who consults the Register while your application is under review will no longer see an "expired" licence under your name. This avoids many misunderstandings at the time of a hiring or an assignment.
This change affects what the Register displays. It does not replace a renewal application sent on time.
Reminder: 45 days before the expiry date
The licence is valid for 5 years. The BSP sends the renewal form during the 5th year, and it must be returned at least 45 days before the expiry date. Otherwise, you have to start a complete application over again.
What you need to do
- Note your licence's expiry date and count back 45 days to set your own deadline
- Fill out and return the renewal form as soon as you receive it
- Pay by an accepted method, never by Interac e-Transfer
- Keep proof of your mailing and your payment
- Check your status in the Public Register if an employer asks you the question
All the steps to get and keep your licence: the BSP licence guide.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you pay for the BSP licence?
In Quebec, the BSP licence fees are paid by debit card, credit or prepaid card, cash, cheque, postal money order or bank money order, according to the BSP's page on the fees payable by an agent. Interac e-Transfer is no longer accepted. To pay online from your bank, add the BSP as a payee with your financial institution. The amounts are in our article on licence fees and renewal.
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