How to Become a Private Investigator in Quebec
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the Bureau de la sécurité privée to work as a private investigator in Quebec or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“The BSP reminds you that, under the Private Security Act and its regulations, it is mandatory to hold a valid agent licence in the corresponding class issued by the BSP to carry out a private security activity in Quebec.”
From bspquebec.ca/en/70/apply-online, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Licensed in another province: 2 steps
- Annual fees
-
- Investigation agency licence fee: $2,548 (for an agency licence in the investigation class, for a new application, annual fee or renewal)
Source
“New application Annual fee Renewal Investigation Licence fee Security verification $2,548.00 $146.00 / related person”
bspquebec.ca/en/13/fee-schedule
- Investigation agency licence fee: $2,548 (for an agency licence in the investigation class, for a new application, annual fee or renewal)
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Licensed in another province
0 of 2 done
- 2 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $2,548 (for an agency licence in the investigation class, for a new application, annual fee or renewal)
-
You attach a copy of the private security licence you already hold from another Canadian province to your application.
Source
“However, make sure to attach a copy of the licence you hold to your application.”
bspquebec.ca/en/51/frequently-asked-questions -
You provide proof that you have attended first-aid training similar to the training that is mandatory in Quebec.
Source
“You must also provide a proof that you have attended first-aid training similar to the one that is mandatory in Quebec.”
bspquebec.ca/en/51/frequently-asked-questions
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Bureau de la sécurité privée
2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Investigation agency licence fee: $2,548 (for an agency licence in the investigation class, for a new application, annual fee or renewal)
Source
“New application Annual fee Renewal Investigation Licence fee Security verification $2,548.00 $146.00 / related person”
bspquebec.ca/en/13/fee-schedule
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Security verification fee: $146 (per related person, for a new application, annual fee or renewal of an investigation agency licence)
Source
“New application Annual fee Renewal Investigation Licence fee Security verification $2,548.00 $146.00 / related person”
bspquebec.ca/en/13/fee-schedule
Requirements
Education
Applicants already licensed in another Canadian province must provide proof of first-aid training similar to the training mandatory in Quebec.
Source
“You must also provide a proof that you have attended first-aid training similar to the one that is mandatory in Quebec.”
bspquebec.ca/en/51/frequently-asked-questions
Police check
The Bureau sends your personal information to the Sûreté du Québec so it can perform a security verification and report whether you have ever been found guilty of a criminal offence related to the private security activity.
Source
“To determine whether you meet these criteria, the BSP must send your personal information to Sûreté du Québec (SQ) so that it can perform a security verification.”
bspquebec.ca/en/49/obtaining-a-temporary-agent-licence
Good character
You must be of good moral character, meaning you conduct yourself in accordance with society's moral and social values.
Source
“Be of good moral character, i.e., conducting yourself in accordance with society’s moral and social values.”
bspquebec.ca/en/49/obtaining-a-temporary-agent-licence
Other
If you were guilty of a criminal offence without a pardon, you must declare it in the space provided on the licence application form.
Source
“If you have been guilty of a criminal offence and were not granted a pardon for such offence, when submitting your licence application form to the Bureau, you must declare it in the space provided to this effect.”
bspquebec.ca/en/51/frequently-asked-questions
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
A holder of a valid licence from another Canadian province must obtain a Bureau licence and attach a copy of that licence to the application, and may be exempted from the training required by regulation in that category of service, with no entry-to-practice exam or competence assessment mentioned. Source
“Holding a valid licence from another Canadian province may exempt you from the training that is required by regulation in this category of service.”
bspquebec.ca/en/51/frequently-asked-questions
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Bureau de la sécurité privée
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Bureau de la sécurité privée
Exams
Not stated by the regulator Check with Bureau de la sécurité privée
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with Bureau de la sécurité privée
Exemptions: The pages do not state any language test or exemption for private investigators. Source
“Any piece of identification must be in French or English, otherwise you must also provide us with a translation into one of these official languages made by a member of the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec.”
bspquebec.ca/en/49/obtaining-a-temporary-agent-licence
Canadian experience
The pages do not state any Canadian experience requirement for private investigators. Source
“However if you did not complete successfully the required training but believe you have equivalent knowledge and skills, you can ask the Bureau to analyze such equivalence, based on relevant related training and experiences.”
bspquebec.ca/en/51/frequently-asked-questions
Supervised practice
Not required
The pages do not state a supervised practice requirement for the regular agent licence; a temporary licence may be issued for training purposes such as a traineeship. Source
“Pursuant to the Private Security Act in Quebec, the Bureau de la sécurité privée may issue a temporary agent licence to a person, for the purposes of carrying on a private security activity in the following cases: For training purposes;”
bspquebec.ca/en/49/obtaining-a-temporary-agent-licence
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | $18.99 | $21.56 | $30.00 | Limited (2 of 5) |
| Canada | $16.55 | $21.00 | $31.45 | — |
Private investigators in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Not confirmed yet
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Licence required
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Apply online bspquebec.ca/en/70/apply-online · fetched October 10, 2026
- Find answers to your questions. bspquebec.ca/en/51/frequently-asked-questions · fetched October 10, 2026
- Obtaining a temporary agent licence bspquebec.ca/en/49/obtaining-a-temporary-agent-licence · fetched October 10, 2026
- Fee Schedule - Agency bspquebec.ca/en/13/fee-schedule · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
1
Do you need a licence to work as a private investigator in Quebec?
Yes. Registration with the Bureau de la sécurité privée is required to practise in Quebec.
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