** Important Note**
PIA Licensees will no longer receive hardcopy mailers by post from PLRD. Upon approval and successful fee payment, licensees will receive an email containing softcopy licence and corresponding licensing conditions. Licensees can check for their licence status via GoBusiness Dashboard.
A Private Investigation Agency's Licence is required if your company is involved in any of the following:
a. Engage in the business of supplying, for reward, the services of private investigators to other persons; or
b. Advertise, or in any way hold out, that the person supplies for reward, or is willing to supply for reward, the services of private investigators.
|
Types of Applications |
Validity |
Fees (Non-Refundable) |
|
New Private Investigation Agency Licence Application |
1 Year |
$400 |
|
Renewal of Private Investigation Agency Licence Application |
1 Year |
$400 |
|
Cancellation of existing Private Investigation Agency Licence Application |
NA |
NA |
|
Withdrawal of Private Investigation Agency Licence Application |
NA |
NA |
New
Your company may submit an application for Private Investigation Agency Licence via GoBusiness.
Renew
A Notice of Renewal of the Private Investigation Agency licence will be mailed to the company’s Director or Point-of-Contact, approximately two months before the expiry of the existing licence.
The Renewal Notice will provide detailed information on the requirements to submit a renewal application.
Cancel Licence
You are permitted to cancel your existing Private Investigation Agency's licence any time before its expiration.
Please be informed that there will be no refund upon cancelling the existing Private Investigation Agency's licence.
Withdrawal
You can withdraw your application for a Private Investigation Agency's Licence any time before the licence is approved.
If licence has been approved and issued, you will have to submit a request to cancel the licence.
|
Private Investigation Agency Licensing Criteria |
|
To be eligible for a Private Investigation Agency’s licence, the business entity must meet the following criteria: 1. Be registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA); 2. An initial paid-up capital of $50,000; 3. Have at least 2 Directors/partners; 4. All directors/partners must be Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents of Singapore 5. All the directors/partnersmust fulfil the following: a)fit and proper persons1; b)Possess a valid Private Investigator’slicence; c)Unless exempted by the Licensing Officer, be certified competent intheWSQ module of "Perform Investigation Activities in Compliance with Legal Requirements (PI)”; d)Possess aminimum of 3 years' experience in investigation-related work (for non-law enforcement officers) or a minimum of 2 years' experience in investigation work (for ex-law enforcement officers) e)Possessa minimum of 2 years' experience in a management position e.g. holding a supervisory post
1Section21(8) of the Private Security Industry Act states thata person or an officer of a business entity is not a fit and proper person if he: (a) associates with a criminal in a way that indicates involvement in an unlawful activity; Updated as of 9 March 2020 |
A copy of the licensing conditions can be found here.
New
You are required to obtain the following documents before applying for a Private Investigation Agency's licence.
- Company letter (e.g. Certificate of Service indicating past postings or course certificates like Home Team Basic Investigation Course) that shows the following:
- Minimum 3 years' experience in relevant investigation work. For ex-law enforcement officers, a minimum 2 years' experience is sufficient; and
- Minimum 2 years' experience in management position e.g. holding a supervisory job
- Valid Private Investigator's licence of you and your partner(s) or Director(s)
- Certificate on WSQ module ‘Perform Investigation Activities in Compliance with Legal Requirements (PI)’
- Certificate of 3 GCE 'O" level passes, ITE NTC 2 or its equivalent.
- Agency possess start-up capital of at least $50,000
- Proposed agency name does not infringe copyright or trademark of other entities and product.
Renew
No supporting document is required.
No supporting document is required.
Withdrawal
No supporting document is required.
New & Renew
About 4 - 6 weeks from the receipt of the application and the necessary supporting documents. Any incomplete or incorrect submission will be rejected.
You may also be required to attend an interview with the Licensing Officer.
You will be notified of the outcome via post. Alternatively, you can login to GoBusiness Licensing to view your application status.
Cancel Licence
Immediate upon the submission of your Cancellation Request.
Withdrawal
Immediate upon the submission of your Cancellation Request.
You will be directed to GoBusiness webpage, which will require you to log in using your CorpPass.
If you require assistance or guidance on the GoBusiness portal, please contact their helpdesk at +65 6336 3373 or email AskGoBiz@crimsonlogic.com.sg
The process may take around 15-20 minutes to complete.
To download a copy of your company's Private Investigation Agency licence active staff list, go to Licensed Entities enquiry modules using your company’s CorpPass and follow the following steps:
- Select “Licensed Entities”
- Select “Singapore Police Force” > Enquiry on Existing SPF Licences
- At “Licence Type” drop down box, select “Private Investigation Agency Licence”
- Select “Active Staff List” from the “Enquiry Type” drop down box
- Enter the Licence No. and click the search button
To check on the Private Investigator’s training status, go to Licensed Entities enquiry modules using your company’s CorpPass and follow the following steps:
- Select “Licensed Entities”
- Select “Singapore Police Force” > Enquiry on Existing SPF Licences
- At “Licence Type” drop down box, select “Private Investigation Agency Licence”
- Select “Individual Licence” from the “Enquiry Type” drop down box
- Enter the licensed Private investigator’s NRIC/FIN and click the search button
- System will display the officer’s particulars
- Click “View training records”
Prior to deployment, all licensed Private Investigators are required to pass and submit the statement of attainment for the WSQ module of ‘Perform investigation activities in compliance with legal requirement (PI)’
Those who have not passed the module will be deemed untrained Private Investigators and if deployed, will be in breach of the Licensing Conditions.
Dear Customers.
With effect from 1 August 2021, members of the public who wish to utilise counter services at the Police Licensing & Regulatory Department, Police Cantonment Complex (391 New Bridge Road) would be required to make an appointment in advance.
2. To register for an appointment, please use the following link at www.picktime.com/policelicensing
3. Upon successful registration, members of the public will receive a notification with details of the scheduled appointments.
4. For enquiries, please use our online services at www.police.gov.sg/licence, reach us using FormSG at http://www.go.gov.sg/PLRD.
5. Thank you.
If you are familiar with the application requirements and wish to apply now, please click here to proceed to GoBusiness Licensing. CorpPass is required for login to GoBusiness Licensing.