Ongoing requirements for private investigators

How new domestic and family violence and coercive control laws will affect private investigators

On 26 May 2025 coercive control became a criminal offence in Queensland.

It is also an offence for a licensed private investigator to knowingly participate in any form of facilitation of domestic or family violence matters.

Private investigators who have a conviction recorded for the new offence will be automatically disqualified from holding a security licence for 10 years from date of conviction and could face a fine of up to 240 penalty units or 5 years imprisonment.

Read more about the new coercive control laws.

This page provides information about your ongoing requirements to keep your private investigator licence. For example, you must:

renew your private investigator licence before it expires—you can't work on an expired licence

update your address details with the Office of Fair Trading within 7 days of moving

prevent domestic or family violence (DFV) and avoid facilitating coercive control when working as a private investigator.

Find out what you must do.

The Queensland Government has released new guidance to help private investigators prevent DFV and avoid knowingly facilitating coercive control or DFV behaviour by other people when performing their functions.

We encourage you to review the document and assess your current practices to ensure you're complying with the standards and meeting best practice.

While adopting the guidance is voluntary, failure to consider DFV risks could impact your suitability to hold a private investigator licence under the Security Providers Act 1993.

We'll post you a renewal notice about 6 weeks before your licence expires. Make sure to tell us if you change your address.

You can also renew your licence online—select Fair Trading Individual Renewal Application.

You need your licence number to get started. Find out how to use Fair Trading online services.

If you submit your renewal form and pay the fee before your current licence expires, you can keep working while your renewal application is processed.

While it's being processed, you must be able to produce your expired licence and a renewal fee payment receipt (contact us to ask for a receipt).

If your current licence has expired, it can't be renewed—you'll need to apply for a new private investigator licence. You must not work until you're properly licensed again.

Find out how to add another security function to your licence.

Fingerprinting

If your fingerprints are already on record, you won't need to provide them again. If you've never had your fingerprints taken for your security licence, you must do that when you renew your licence.

Fees

Renewal of a security provider licence class 1

Single function

$178.30 for 1 year
$526.00 for 3 years

Multiple function

$228.20 for 1 year
$675.70 for 3 years

Contact us

Phone: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

Email: ilu@justice.qld.gov.au

Postal address:

Industry Licensing Unit
Office of Fair Trading
GPO Box 3111
BRISBANE QLD 4001

In person: Visit one of our locations

Changes you need to tell us about include:

where you live—your personal address
your postal address
a name change
if you've been charged or convicted of a disqualifying offence.

If your address details change, you need to let us know within 7 days. Fill out a change of address form.

You can email ilu@justice.qld.gov.au or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) to change your details.

Last updated:: 1 July 2025