Requirements
- Be 25 years old
- Be a principal in the business entity
- Pass the private investigator examination within the two years immediately prior to application date
- Have either 3 years’ experience or 3 years equivalent position and experience or 20 years of service as a police officer or Fire Marshall.
- Proof of Fingerprint completion
- Proof of a $10,000 surety bond
- If employing Security Guards, evidence of liability insurance in the minimum amount of $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 in the aggregate and a statement that the coverage includes false arrest or false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, libel, slander and violation of the right to privacy.
Fees
There are fees associated with a Private Investigator license. You may pay these fees by check or money order made payable to the Department of State or by MasterCard or Visa using a credit card authorization form. DO NOT SEND CASH. Application fees are nonrefundable. A $20 fee will be charged for any check returned by your bank.
- $400 - Initial Application
- $400 - Branch Office Application
- $400 - Renewal
Corporate or Business:
- $500 - Initial Application
- $500 - Branch Office Application
- $500 – Renewal
- $15 - Written Exam
- $88.50 - Fingerprinting Fee, Support Staff/Employee Statement
(payable to IDEMIA) - $100 - Late Renewal Penalty
- $150 - Change of Status
- $25 - Employment Status Notification
- $10 - Change of Personal Name and/or Address (no fee is required if a name change is the result of a change in marital status)
- $10 - Duplicate License/Registration Request
Written Exam
-
Special Testing Arrangements Request
If you are an applicant who is seeking special testing arrangements due to a learning, physical, mental or psychological disability, you should complete this form.
Translations: (Spanish/Español) (Haitian-Creole/Kreyòl Ayisyen) (Italian/Italiano) (Korean/한국어) (Russian/Pусский) (Chinese/中文) (Bengali)
Download
Apply
To apply for a Private Investigator license, submit a completed application to the NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services.
-
Support Staff/Employee's Statement
Private Investigator; Watch, Guard or Patrol Agency; Bail Enforcement Agent.
Download
-
Request for Photo Image (Private Investigators, Watch, Guard or Patrol Agencies, and Bail Enforcement Agencies)
Required if applicant holds no NYS driver's license
Download
Security Guard Employer Guidance
FAQs
Contact Contact the Division of Licensing Services
Have a question regarding your license? First, see if your questions are answered in the FAQs above. Otherwise, the quickest way to get in touch with us is through email: Contact us here!
Mailing Information:
NYS Department of State Division of Licensing Services
PO Box 22001
Albany NY 12201-2001
Please note: If you utilize express services or next day ground services such as UPS, Federal Express, DHL, etc. you should use the physical address of the building.
Albany Physical Address
Division of Licensing Services
1 Commerce Plaza 99 Washington Avenue, 6th Floor
Albany, NY 12231
Phone Information:
General Information (518) 474-4429
Security Guard and Armored Car Guard Information (518) 474-7569
Call Center Representatives are available from 8:45am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday except on Legal Holidays.
Deaf, hard of hearing and speech-disabled callers, please use 7-1-1
For all other inquiries, email Licensing Services
Visitor & Customer Service Center Information:
Below is a listing of Licensing Customer Service Centers and the hours of operation. Please monitor this page for updates to office hours, guidelines and or any closures.
Albany:
NYS Department of State Division of Licensing Services
1 Commerce Plaza 99 Washington Avenue, 6th Floor
Albany, NY 12231
Customer Service hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am to 4:30pm
Apostille Service hours: Monday – Friday 9:00am to 4:15pm
Albany Parking
Limited on street metered parking is available for 1 Commerce Plaza in Albany. The Office of General Services has various parking lots throughout downtown Albany which have limited visitor parking. To find out more information about the OGS lots, please visit their website.
New York City:
NYS Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
123 William St. 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10038-3804
Customer Service hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am to 4:30pm
Apostille Service hours: Monday – Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm
Binghamton:
NYS Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
State Office Building
44 Hawley Street, Room 1506
Binghamton, NY 13901-4455
(518) 474-4429
Customer Service Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm & 12:45pm - 4:00pm
Buffalo:
NYS Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
295 Main Street, 8th Floor, Suite 821
Buffalo, NY 14203
(518) 474-4429
Customer Service Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm & 12:45pm - 4:00pm
Hauppauge: Licensing Customer Service Center is closed until further notice. Licensing examinations will continue to be held as scheduled.
NYS Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
State Office Building
250 Veterans Memorial Highway
Hauppauge, NY 11788-5519
(518) 474-4429
Utica:
NYS Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
State Office Building
207 Genesee Street Utica, NY 13501-2812
Customer Service hours: Monday – Friday 9:00am-12:00pm & 12:45pm-4:00pm