Private investigator licensing in Australia

Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Australia. Licensing is by state and territory, not federal. NSW has licensed investigators under a Class 2E security licence (Security Industry Act 1997, SLED) since 1 July 2022; Victoria licenses them as private security individual licence holders through Victoria Police (Private Security Act 2004); Queensland adds a private investigator function to a class 1 security provider licence (Security Providers Act 1993, Office of Fair Trading); Western Australia issues investigator and inquiry agent licences through WA Police. Applicants generally must be 18, pass criminal history and fingerprint checks and hold the Certificate III in Investigative Services (CPP30619); the ACT has no investigator licence.

State and territory regulators, e.g. NSW Police Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate (SLED), under State and territory statutes, e.g. Security Industry Act 1997 (NSW).

At least 18.

Queensland: 1 or 3 years; WA: 3 years; NSW operative licences: 1, 3 or 5 years

Queensland (single function, unrestricted class 1): $376.20 for 1 year or $744.60 for 3 years, plus fingerprinting $113.30 and criminal history check $47.35. NSW Class 2 operative licence $160 (1 year), $400 (3 years), $640 (5 years) plus $40 fingerprinting, per an older SLED fact sheet

Queensland: usually 4 to 6 weeks (Office of Fair Trading)

1. Check the licence for the state or territory where you will work (e.g. NSW Class 2E, Queensland class 1 private investigator function) 2. Complete the Certificate III in Investigative Services (CPP30619) with an approved training organisation 3. Apply to the state regulator with 100 points of ID (or two ID documents in NSW), proof of citizenship or work rights and the fee 4. Have your fingerprints taken and pass the police criminal history check 5. Send training evidence if not lodged with the application (NSW: within 42 days)

No national licence. Victoria issues a temporary permit to interstate-licensed investigators working only for a declared special event; WA offers a temporary licence of up to one year to equivalent interstate licensees; other states rely on mutual recognition applications.

Interstate licence holders can use mutual recognition; WA offers a temporary licence of up to one year to equivalent interstate licensees.

It depends on the setting in Australia; some conversations need everyone's consent.