Licensed private investigators in Thailand

December 6, 2017 - Reading time: 7 minutes

Are you looking for a licensed, certified private investigator in Thailand? Do you need a PI to uncover evidence in your case, and would like the best and most professional service possible?

The truth is that there is no licensing system for private investigators in Thailand. This means that no private investigators in Thailand are actually licensed, and if a person claims to be a licensed private investigator in Thailand then they are effectively misleading their clients.

Investigators may become members of associations, however there is no actual government licensing system in place for detectives. Anyone, without any experience or qualifications, can claim to be a private detective, and this happens on a regular basis.

Just for fun: Private investigators in Thailand are not issued with badges

Individuals will often spring up claiming to be highly experienced detectives, without ever having taken on a case before. They will typically create impressive looking websites and use paid for search advertising so that they are able to appear higher than established agencies in Google search results. Over the years we have seen numerous people who fit into this category come and go. This type of fly-by-night detective is often unregistered and without any real experience in Thailand... Though their websites would convince you otherwise, and will typically be full of claims that they have been conducting investigations in Thailand for many years or decades.

We encourage anyone looking for a private investigator to research their PI before taking the decision to go ahead. Really examine their claims and see if they have a proven, legitimate track record of conducting private investigations in Thailand. If a company is willing to fabricate their claims and track record, then they might also be willing to fabricate the results of an investigation. If you are willing to instruct a company under this basis then you are free to do so; we think it’s important however to perform due diligence which allows you to make an informed decision when choosing to hire a private detective based in Thailand.

Thailand private investigators that are not based in Thailand

What about hiring a Thailand private investigator that is not actually based in Thailand? Well, some people prefer to instruct companies that are based in their home countries. Law firms based in foreign countries may have a preference to work with companies that are based in the same country, and in some cases where they are being funded through legal aid, they may decide it is beneficial to hire a company based in the same country they are in.

Of course, when this happens your case may be passed onto us. We do not provide any discounts when we are working for overseas detective agencies or law firms; therefore, if your case does fall into this category it will incur more cost than had you instructed us directly.

When work is outsourced to us in this way, the quality of the investigation which takes place can tend to vary depending on the level of communication from the person that is outsourcing to us. The more communication and details that we receive, the easier it will be for us to conduct an investigation.

Although we are happy to complete outsourced work on behalf of overseas companies, please make clear to us that this is the case when getting in touch with us.

Thailand private investigator associations

At the time of writing there are no private investigator associations in Thailand. Companies work independently of one another and appear to be happy doing so. Our company works independently in Thailand and we have no direct affiliation with any of our competitors in the investigative field.

We would welcome the introduction of a licensing system for private investigators; this would regulate the industry and stop just anyone from claiming to be a PI. It would also (likely) give those with licenses access to government databases, otherwise off-limits to the public, which would be useful to us and our clients in many different circumstances.

Many western countries do not have licensing systems for private investigators and the usefulness of licensing is often debated. We are doubtful that the Thai government will decide to regulate this industry in the near future. For the moment at least, you need to rely on your own judgment when deciding who to hire. We think that if someone is claiming to hold a license that they in fact do not, this should act as a red flag when making your decision.

Qualifications for detectives

There are many different qualifications available for private detectives, generally of varying merit and usefulness. When it comes to working as a private detective in Thailand however, the cultural understanding of the country cannot be taught through a simple course and is generally learned over many years or decades. In order for a detective agency to be successful in Thailand we feel that it must be backed by knowledgeable Thai people from the ground up.

It is all too easy to make mistakes during private investigations and for the subject to be made aware that they are being followed by a person or people. In order to secure the best likelihood of success we feel it is important to instruct an agency with adequate experience and understanding of Thai culture and people. The dangers that exist when mistakes are made are all too obvious.

We believe it is our extensive experience in conducting private investigations in Thailand that sets us apart and provides us with the skills and knowledge to help in a wide range of different cases.

Certificates in the Thai language which you may find displayed by some Thai firms tend to be relating to qualifications in security and close protection work; as many companies also take on work in the security industry as their main focus. Our agency does not provide security services, or any other type of service at all besides private investigation.

As private investigators are not licensed, you will need to rely on your own wisdom in selecting a reputable agency, and conduct enough due diligence that you feel is adequate.

About Pattaya Private Investigators

We are leading private investigators based in Thailand and cover most areas of Thailand, from Bangkok to Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Isan, and beyond. We are exclusively a private detective agency and have amassed extensive, provable experience in all areas of investigation. For more information about us and the services that we offer please read our home page, or if you require our services then please contact us for a free quote.