Do summons servers require a PSA licence in Ireland?
A question which can arise in relation to the service of legal documents in Ireland is whether a summons server or process server is required to hold a licence issued by the Private Security Authority (PSA).
The PSA has specifically addressed summons serving in its published guidance on the licensing of private investigators. Its guidance distinguishes between serving a summons using information supplied with the summons documentation and undertaking investigative activity in connection with locating a person.
Summons serving
The PSA’s published Information Note states that summons servers serving a summons under the Rules of the Superior Courts (Service) 2017, on the basis of information provided with the summons documentation, are “not a licensable activity.”
Accordingly, the PSA’s published position distinguishes the act of serving at the address supplied with the documentation from private-investigation activity.
When can PSA licensing become relevant?
The PSA states that the activities of a summons server are licensable where investigative activities are undertaken. Its Information Note gives, as an example, investigative activity undertaken to identify an address other than the address stated on the summons.
This reflects the distinction between summons serving and private investigation.
Section 2 of the Private Security Services Act 2004 defines a private investigator as a person who, for remuneration, conducts investigations into matters on behalf of a client. The statutory definition includes a person who obtains or furnishes specified information about another person or who searches for missing persons.
National Summons Servers
National Summons Servers specialises in the service of legal documents throughout Ireland.
Our agents effect service on the basis of the documents, addresses and instructions provided by our clients. National Summons Servers does not provide private investigation or tracing services as part of its summons-serving service.
The Private Security Authority’s published guidance distinguishes this activity from circumstances in which investigative activities are undertaken in connection with attempting to locate a person. The current published guidance identified at the date this page was prepared can be accessed directly from the official sources below.
Official sources –
Private Security Authority — Information Note on Licensing of Private Investigator Contractors (PSA 53:2022)
The PSA’s Information Notes page currently lists PSA 53 under Private Investigator licensing material, with a publication listing dated 15 November 2022.
Private Security Authority — Private Investigator licensing / Contractors Introduction
The PSA explains the activities for which a Private Investigator contractor licence is required.
Irish Statute Book — Private Security Services Act 2004, section 2
Section 2 contains the statutory definition of a private investigator.
Status of this information
This page records the legislation and published PSA guidance identified by National Summons Servers as publicly available on 14 August 2026. It is intended as a reference to the published regulatory position at that date.
Readers should refer to the Private Security Authority and the Irish Statute Book for the most recently published guidance and legislation. This page may be amended if the applicable legislation or the PSA’s published guidance changes.