Private investigator licensing in Romania
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Romania.
Romania uses a two-tier model under Law 329/2003: individual detectives receive an attestation (atestat) after passing an exam run by a county police inspectorate commission, and detective companies and individual practices operate under a licence from the General Police Inspectorate. Candidates need at least secondary education plus a detective-school diploma, prior police or security service, or a university degree, together with a specialised course, medical and psychological clearance and a clean record for intentional offences.
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See below
Yes
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How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the education route: secondary education plus detective school, prior police or security service, or a university degree
- 2
Complete a specialised detective course and get medical and psychological certificates and a criminal record certificate
- 3
File the exam application with the county police inspectorate (or Bucharest police directorate) and pay the exam fee
- 4
Pass the attestation exam before the police commission, which meets quarterly
- 5
Then join a licensed detective company or open an individual practice licensed by the General Police Inspectorate, registering the case register with the county police
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in Romania.
How to qualify
- Who holds the licence
- Individuals and agencies
- Experience
- Not mandatory; former police, defence, public order or national security staff qualify through that service instead of detective school
- Training
- Specialised detective course plus at least secondary education and a post-secondary detective school diploma, prior police, defence, public order or national security service, or a university degree (art. 5-6)
- Citizenship
- Romanian or EU/EEA citizen
- Processing time
- Exam commissions meet quarterly; appeals against exam failure are decided within 30 days (art. 7)
- Renewal
- Attestation has no fixed term: it ends on written renunciation, annulment or loss of eligibility (art. 8), and can be suspended for breaches
- Reciprocity
- Equivalent certificates from EU/EEA states are accepted in place of the Romanian exam
Rules in the field
Recording conversations
One-party consent
You can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Sources
Reference information, not legal advice. Confirm with the regulator before taking on work. Out of date? Tell us.
Questions about PI licensing in Romania
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in Romania?+
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Romania. Romania uses a two-tier model under Law 329/2003: individual detectives receive an attestation (atestat) after passing an exam run by a county police inspectorate commission, and detective companies and individual practices operate under a licence from the General Police Inspectorate. Candidates need at least secondary education plus a detective-school diploma, prior police or security service, or a university degree, together with a specialised course, medical and psychological clearance and a clean record for intentional offences.
Who licenses private investigators in Romania?+
Inspectoratul General al Poliției Române (Romanian General Police Inspectorate), under Legea nr. 329/2003 privind exercitarea profesiei de detectiv particular (republished MO 178/2014); implementing rules HG 1666/2004 as amended by HG 222/2024.
How much experience do you need to be a PI in Romania?+
Not mandatory; former police, defence, public order or national security staff qualify through that service instead of detective school
Is there an exam for a private investigator licence in Romania?+
Yes, applicants must pass an exam.
How often does a Romania PI licence need renewing?+
Attestation has no fixed term: it ends on written renunciation, annulment or loss of eligibility (art. 8), and can be suspended for breaches
How long does it take to get a PI licence in Romania?+
Exam commissions meet quarterly; appeals against exam failure are decided within 30 days (art. 7)
How do you get a private investigator licence in Romania?+
1. Meet the education route: secondary education plus detective school, prior police or security service, or a university degree 2. Complete a specialised detective course and get medical and psychological certificates and a criminal record certificate 3. File the exam application with the county police inspectorate (or Bucharest police directorate) and pay the exam fee 4. Pass the attestation exam before the police commission, which meets quarterly 5. Then join a licensed detective company or open an individual practice licensed by the General Police Inspectorate, registering the case register with the county police
Can an investigator licensed elsewhere work a case in Romania?+
EU/EEA detectives may work a specific case in Romania on a delegation from the firm they represent, with proof of their home-state status, and must notify the local police before starting and when finishing (art. 7(5)-(6)).
Does Romania accept PI licences from elsewhere?+
Equivalent certificates from EU/EEA states are accepted in place of the Romanian exam
Can a private investigator record phone calls in Romania?+
Romania is a one-party consent country: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Associations for investigators in Romania
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