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How to Become a Licensed Private Investigator

Getting licensed is a process that any sensible private investigator will undergo. As a licensed private investigator, you'll have the capacity to operate with a lot more professionalism and this opens up your practice to many more clients.

When you make the decision to become a private investigator, you should do what is required to be the best possible private investigator. This means doing what it takes to also become licensed by the Security Industry Authority.


The Process Of Getting An Sia License

The process of getting your SIA private investigator license is simple enough. As long as you've completed your private investigator training, you can start the process of applying for the detective license as quickly as possible.

The main steps when you're applying for your investigator license are as follows:

  • Step 1: Set up an account of the Security Industry Authority's website and fill in your personal information
  • Step 2: Start a new application for a private investigator license. Fill in the forms provided and attach any requested documents
  • Step 3: Wait for the notification asking for identity verification and payment. This next step is done at the post office. You'll have to provide photographs and other documents that will be specified.
  • Step 4: Wait for further instructions from the SIA. You may be required to provide additional documents as the SIA conducts a background check on you
  • Step 5: A decision notification will be sent to you on your personal account and email address. If your request is granted, you license card will come within 2 weeks. If your request is to be refused, you'll have 21 days to issue a response.

Alternative Sia License Application Processes

The process above applies when you're applying for your license as an individual and paying for the license by yourself. In case another business is paying for the license, there are a few things that will be done differently. If a business that uses license pay only wants to pay the application fee, you'll have to link your account to the business. Everything else will be done as specified above.

If you have an employer and you're applying through them, they can use one of two options:

  • License assist
  • License management

For license assist, you'll need to link with your employer and they'll be required to fill the application form that will be provided and pay. You'll still be required to head to the post office for identity confirmation and taking of your photo.

For the license management option, you will link to your employer and they will complete the form, pay for the application and also check the ID documents. This means you will not need to go to the post office for the same process.

Apart from the points mentioned, everything else about will remain the same for these application processes. Each private investigator in an agency should have their own license.



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