Private investigator licensing in Colombia
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Colombia.
Anyone who carries out security investigation for paying clients in Colombia needs a licence or credential from the Superintendencia de Vigilancia y Seguridad Privada under Decreto Ley 356 de 1994. Individuals obtain an accreditation (credencial) as investigador en seguridad privada; firms obtain a licencia de funcionamiento as an empresa consultora, asesora e investigadora, and both are issued nationally for ten years. The key bar for individuals is proven security experience, such as three years as a head of operations or security director, or prior service as a DAS detective or as an officer of the armed forces or police.1
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1 year
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Associations near you
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World Association of Detectives
How to get licensed7
- 1
Individual: send Supervigilancia a signed request for accreditation as investigador en seguridad privada with full name, ID, notification address and email.
- 2
Attach a signed CV with academic and employment certificates, a 150% enlarged copy of your ID, and a signed and fingerprinted authorisation to check judicial records.
- 3
Prove one of the experience routes in art. 2.6.1.1.3.3.24(c) of Decreto 1070 de 2015.
- 4
Firm: incorporate with a security consulting, advisory and investigation object, then apply for the licencia de funcionamiento with partner, director and professional staff lists, CVs, deeds, capital certification and the list of accredited investigators.
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in Colombia.
How to qualify
- Who holds the licence
- Individuals and agencies1
- Experience
- One of: a diploma course (diplomado) in a security-related field plus at least 1 year as head of operations or security director; 3 years as head of operations or security director; at least 3 years as a former DAS detective or operational employee; at least 1 year as a retired officer or NCO of the Fuerza Pública; or meeting the consultant or adviser requirements7
- Training
- Diploma course in a security-related field is one of the alternative routes (with 1 year's experience)7
- Citizenship
- The individual investigator accreditation is listed as available to Colombian nationals; the firm licence is open to Colombian and foreign natural and legal persons7
- Fees
- Supervigilancia states that its procedures are free of charge and warns applicants not to pay intermediaries7Fees change often: check the regulator's current schedule before you pay.
- Processing time
- 15 business days (stated for both the individual accreditation and the firm licence)7
- Renewal
- Credential and firm licence are issued for 10 years and renewed through a separate Supervigilancia procedure1
Sources
- 1 funcionpublica.gov.co
- 2 supervigilancia.gov.co
- 3 supervigilancia.gov.co
- 4 supervigilancia.gov.co
- 5 supervigilancia.gov.co
- 6 supervigilancia.gov.co
- 7 supervigilancia.gov.co
Reference information, not legal advice. Confirm with the regulator before taking on work. Out of date? Tell us.
Questions about PI licensing in Colombia
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in Colombia?+
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Colombia. Anyone who carries out security investigation for paying clients in Colombia needs a licence or credential from the Superintendencia de Vigilancia y Seguridad Privada under Decreto Ley 356 de 1994. Individuals obtain an accreditation (credencial) as investigador en seguridad privada; firms obtain a licencia de funcionamiento as an empresa consultora, asesora e investigadora, and both are issued nationally for ten years. The key bar for individuals is proven security experience, such as three years as a head of operations or security director, or prior service as a DAS detective or as an officer of the armed forces or police.
Who licenses private investigators in Colombia?+
Superintendencia de Vigilancia y Seguridad Privada (Supervigilancia), under Decreto Ley 356 de 1994 (Estatuto de Vigilancia y Seguridad Privada), arts. 60-62.
How much experience do you need to be a PI in Colombia?+
One of: a diploma course (diplomado) in a security-related field plus at least 1 year as head of operations or security director; 3 years as head of operations or security director; at least 3 years as a former DAS detective or operational employee; at least 1 year as a retired officer or NCO of the Fuerza Pública; or meeting the consultant or adviser requirements
How often does a Colombia PI licence need renewing?+
Credential and firm licence are issued for 10 years and renewed through a separate Supervigilancia procedure
How much does a private investigator licence cost in Colombia?+
Supervigilancia states that its procedures are free of charge and warns applicants not to pay intermediaries
How long does it take to get a PI licence in Colombia?+
15 business days (stated for both the individual accreditation and the firm licence)
How do you get a private investigator licence in Colombia?+
1. Individual: send Supervigilancia a signed request for accreditation as investigador en seguridad privada with full name, ID, notification address and email. 2. Attach a signed CV with academic and employment certificates, a 150% enlarged copy of your ID, and a signed and fingerprinted authorisation to check judicial records. 3. Prove one of the experience routes in art. 2.6.1.1.3.3.24(c) of Decreto 1070 de 2015. 4. Firm: incorporate with a security consulting, advisory and investigation object, then apply for the licencia de funcionamiento with partner, director and professional staff lists, CVs, deeds, capital certification and the list of accredited investigators.
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