Private investigator licensing in Cyprus

Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Cyprus. In Cyprus, private investigation services may be provided only by a private security services office holding a special licence from the Chief of Police, which may be limited to investigation work alone, under Law 125(I)/2007. The law defines the services as gathering information on a person's identity and whereabouts, home or work address and business activity, missing persons, loss of property and industrial espionage. The licence holder, office manager and every staff member must be Cypriot or EU citizens aged 18 or over with a clean record, and office licences are renewed every year.

Αρχηγός Αστυνομίας (Chief of Police, Cyprus Police), under Ο περί Ιδιωτικών Γραφείων Παροχής Υπηρεσιών Ασφάλειας Νόμος του 2007 (Law 125(I)/2007), as amended by 54(I)/2009, 101(I)/2011 and 179(I)/2014.

At least 18.

Office licence every year

1. Check that the owner, the office manager and any partners or directors meet the s.7(1) conditions (Cypriot or EU citizen, 18+, military service completed for men, clean record, not a public servant, police officer or soldier) 2. Apply to the Chief of Police on the prescribed form for an office licence limited to private investigation services, with academic qualifications and past occupations, and pay the fee 3. Sit a written or oral exam if the Chief of Police asks for one 4. Before hiring each staff member, send the Chief of Police evidence that they meet the same conditions 5. Renew the office licence every year and file staff lists each February