Licensing · PSA
Is your locksmith licensed?
Since 1 October 2016, locksmithing in Ireland is a licensed category under the Private Security Authority (S.I. No. 343/2016, Locksmith Regulations). Ask for the licence number and check it on the public register.
- Free to send
- One locksmith rings you, not a list
- Nothing booked until you agree a price
- 1 Oct 2016Locksmith Regulations in force (S.I. No. 343/2016, Locksmith Regulations)
- PSAkeeps the public register of licence holders (gov.ie: PSA register of licence holders)
- Ask firstfor the licence number and the full price, before anyone sets out
- 1 locksmithgets your request, not a list
The law
What the regulations say
The Private Security (Licensing and Standards) (Locksmith) Regulations 2016, S.I. No. 343 of 2016, came into operation on 1 October 2016. They define a locksmith as "a person who provides a security service installing, opening, maintaining, repairing or servicing security equipment", and make a locksmith licence a category of licence the Authority can grant to employers and independent contractors (S.I. No. 343/2016, Locksmith Regulations).
The definition also takes in people who make restricted keys, safe keys and car transponder keys, and people who advise on that equipment.
Checking
Three checks before the door is opened
- The licence number. Ask for it on the phone, with the business name, and search the PSA register (gov.ie: PSA register of licence holders).
- The full price. Call-out, entry and any new lock, with or without VAT. Write it down.
- Damage. Ask whether they'll try to open it without damage first, and what happens if they can't.
In March 2024 the PSA warned the public to take extreme care choosing a locksmith, especially online or in an emergency. It described unlicensed locksmiths quoting a low price and raising it sharply on arrival, and using tools and methods that cause damage (Irish Times, 13 Mar 2024).
FAQ
Questions people ask
Do locksmiths need a licence in Ireland?
Yes. S.I. No. 343 of 2016 made a locksmith licence a category of Private Security Authority licence, in force from 1 October 2016 (S.I. No. 343/2016, Locksmith Regulations).
What counts as locksmith work?
Installing, opening, maintaining, repairing or servicing security equipment, and making restricted keys, safe keys and car transponder keys, as the regulations define it (S.I. No. 343/2016, Locksmith Regulations).
How do I check a licence?
Ask for the licence number and the business name, then search the PSA's public register of licence holders (gov.ie: PSA register of licence holders).
What are the warning signs?
The PSA warns about a low quote that rises sharply once the locksmith arrives, and vague claims used to look reputable (Irish Times, 13 Mar 2024).
Is the locksmith who rings me licensed?
Ask the locksmith who rings you for their PSA licence number, and check it on the register before they start.
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