Compare licensing rules
Pick up to three states or countries to see their rules side by side.
| United Kingdom | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | No specific licence | Licence required |
| Regulator | — | Private Security Authority (PSA) |
| Who holds the licence | — | Individuals and agencies |
| Experience | — | Contractors: 5 years' continuous investigation experience within the previous 10 years, or other means approved by the PSA (PSA 42:2015 cl. 3.1.3; at least one director or partner, and every sole trader). Employees: none |
| Training | — | Contractors: annual certification to PSA 42:2015 by a PSA-approved auditing body. Employees: PSA-prescribed private investigator course delivered by ICSE (International Centre for Security Excellence), applied for within 36 months of completion |
| Bond or insurance | — | Contractors: professional indemnity, deliberate act and motor insurance are essential (PSA 42:2015 cl. 3.3) |
| Fees | — | Contractor licence (2 years): €1,000 administration fee for new entrants, plus a turnover fee of €250 to €25,000 once the business has turnover; employee licence €90 |
| Processing time | — | Employee licences: about six weeks for a new application (PSA) |
| Renewal | — | Contractor licence every 2 years (renewed online, fee based on turnover); employee licence every 3 years, renewable online up to 6 months after expiry |
| Continuing education | — | No CPD hours; contractors must keep PSA 42:2015 certification through yearly audits |
| Recording calls | One-party consent | One-party consent |
| GPS trackers | No specific tracker statute; covert tracking engages UK GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018 and can amount to harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. | — |
Reference information, not legal advice. Each profile lists its sources and the date it was checked.