Private investigator licensing in Lithuania

Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Lithuania. Lithuanian private detectives are certified individually by the Police Department under the Law on Private Detective Activity of 2015. Applicants need at least a college-level law qualification, a private detective training certificate or two years' service in law enforcement or intelligence, a pass in the qualifying exam and an impeccable reputation; serving law enforcement and intelligence staff are barred. Detectives may work alone, in groups or through a private detective partnership whose partners must all be detectives, and must carry professional liability insurance.

Policijos departamentas prie Vidaus reikalų ministerijos (Police Department under the Ministry of the Interior), under Privačios detektyvinės veiklos įstatymas, No. XII-1615 of 16 April 2015 (in force 1 January 2016).

Private detective training certificate, or at least 2 years in law enforcement, law-and-order or intelligence institutions (Art. 6)

Yes, applicants must pass an exam.

Professional civil liability insurance required for detectives working individually (Art. 15(5)); minimum amount not stated in the Law

Qualification and activity certificates valid indefinitely unless suspended or revoked

State fee EUR 100 when the certificate is issued

Decision within 60 days of receiving a complete application, extendable once by up to 30 days (Art. 9(3))

1. Check you have at least a college-level law qualification and either a private detective training certificate or 2 years' law-enforcement, law-and-order or intelligence service 2. Apply to the Police Department's licensing unit with your supporting documents; the Department checks your reputation with other state bodies 3. Sit the qualifying exam before the Private Detective Qualification Assessment Commission (a failed exam can be retaken after 6 months) 4. Pay the EUR 100 state fee and receive the qualification certificate and activity certificate 5. Set up a workplace meeting the Law's requirements, take out professional liability insurance if working alone, and display your certificate numbers in adverts and on your website

Detectives established in another EU/EEA state may provide temporary or one-off services after filing a declaration with the Police Department, which decides within 30 days; they need no Lithuanian workplace and are exempt from the Art. 6 requirements (Art. 7(3), (5), (6))

EU/EEA detectives have their qualification recognised under the Law on the Recognition of Regulated Professional Qualifications and are exempt from the qualifying exam (Art. 7)