How to Apply for an Australian Federal Police National Police Check

When do you need an AFP National Police Check?

An Australian Federal Police National Police Check is not automatically the right police check for every job or organisation. Start by confirming what the organisation requesting the certificate actually requires.

An AFP-issued check is commonly relevant for purposes such as Australian immigration or citizenship, Commonwealth Government employment, requirements under Commonwealth legislation, applicants living overseas, overseas employment or adoption, overseas visa requirements and certain ACT or Commonwealth territory purposes.

If your check is connected with an Australian visa matter, make sure you follow the exact Home Affairs requirement for that visa rather than choosing a police-check purpose yourself. If you also need to confirm your current Australian visa conditions, see how to check your visa conditions and work rights in VEVO.

Choose the exact purpose code requested

The purpose of a National Police Check matters because criminal history information is released according to applicable legislation and information-release policies and the purpose for which the check is conducted.

Do not guess the purpose code. If an employer, regulator, immigration authority or government agency has instructed you to obtain an AFP check, use the code it specifies. A check obtained for one purpose may not satisfy an organisation requesting a different purpose.

This is especially important for regulated, Commonwealth and immigration-related applications, where the requesting authority may prescribe a specific AFP purpose code.

Prepare 100 points of identification

The AFP identification checklist requires a minimum of 100 points of identification and at least one primary document.

Examples of primary documents on the AFP checklist include:

• a current foreign passport - 70 points;
• an Australian passport that is current or expired within the previous 2 years and has not been cancelled - 70 points;
• an Australian citizenship certificate - 70 points;
• a full birth certificate rather than a birth certificate extract - 70 points; and
• an Australian Government Certificate of Identity issued to refugees and non-Australian citizens for entry to Australia - 70 points.

The checklist also assigns points to other documents. An Australian driver licence or learner permit is worth 40 points, while a Medicare card is listed as 25 points. You need a valid combination reaching at least 100 points.

If an Australian citizenship certificate is one of the documents you need but it is missing, see how to get or replace an Australian citizenship certificate.

Foreign documents need an official translation

The AFP identity checklist states that foreign documents must be accompanied by an official translation. Prepare the translation before submitting the documents so the AFP can assess the identity evidence.

Apply for the AFP check online

The AFP provides a digital National Police Check application. Before starting, confirm the purpose and prepare the identity documents needed for the application.

Complete the requested personal details accurately, including your name information. Upload or provide the required identity evidence, complete the consent requirements, select the correct purpose and pay the applicable fee.

Keep your application or certificate reference information. It is useful if you later need to contact the AFP or dispute information disclosed on the certificate.

How much does an AFP National Police Check cost?

The AFP fee for a standard National Police Check is $56. Where the required check includes fingerprints, the fee is $113.

Only pay for the type of check actually required for your purpose. A fingerprint check should not be selected merely because it appears more comprehensive; use it where the requesting authority requires that type of check.

Do you need fingerprints?

Some AFP National Police Check purposes require fingerprints. Whether you need them depends on the purpose for which the certificate is being obtained.

If the employer, regulator, foreign authority or other organisation requesting the check says fingerprints are required, follow the AFP process for that check rather than submitting a standard application and assuming it will be accepted.

What information can appear on the certificate?

A National Police Check searches relevant Australian police information and the resulting certificate contains information that can be disclosed for the stated purpose under applicable legislation and jurisdictional information-release policies.

This means a police check is not simply a complete list of every interaction a person has ever had with police. What can lawfully be released depends on the applicable rules and the purpose of the check.

Allow time for police information to be checked

Do not leave the application until the day an employer, regulator or immigration authority needs the certificate. A check can require information to be confirmed by another Australian police jurisdiction, which can extend processing.

There is no safe basis for treating every application as having a guaranteed completion date. Apply with enough time for the AFP and other relevant police agencies to complete any required matching or verification.

Check the certificate before providing it

The AFP's current online service provides a digital National Police Check. When your certificate is issued, check the identifying details and any criminal-record information before supplying it to the organisation that requested it.

Use the certificate only for the purpose for which the check was obtained. The organisation receiving it may also have its own rules about how recently the certificate must have been issued, so follow that organisation's requirements rather than assuming a universal expiry period.

Dispute an inaccurate criminal record with the AFP

If you believe court outcome information released on your National Police Certificate is incorrect or inaccurate, the AFP provides an online Disputed Record form.

The form asks for your AFP certificate reference, identifying and contact details, and a clear explanation of the information you dispute. You should identify the relevant offence or information, including details such as the arrest name, court, court date and outcome where applicable.

You can attach supporting evidence. The AFP accepts PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPG and JPEG attachments through the dispute form, with a maximum file size of 4 MB for each listed attachment field.

The AFP may require comparison fingerprints to resolve some disputes. If this is necessary, it will notify you.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying to the AFP without checking the required provider: confirm that the requesting organisation actually needs an AFP-issued National Police Check.
• Choosing the wrong purpose code: use the exact code required by the organisation or authority requesting the check.
• Submitting too little identification: the AFP checklist requires at least 100 points and at least one primary document.
• Using an unacceptable passport: check the AFP identity rules, including the rules for expired Australian passports.
• Forgetting a translation: foreign-language identity documents require an official translation.
• Ordering fingerprints unnecessarily: obtain a fingerprint check when the relevant purpose or requesting authority requires it.
• Leaving the application too late: information may need to be confirmed with another police jurisdiction, extending processing.
• Ignoring an error on the certificate: use the AFP Disputed Record process if released court information is inaccurate.

Final checklist before you submit

• Confirm that an AFP National Police Check is the required product.
• Confirm the exact purpose and purpose code with the requesting organisation.
• Prepare at least 100 points of accepted identification.
• Include at least one primary identity document.
• Arrange an official translation for any foreign-language identity document.
• Check that your personal and name details are accurate.
• Confirm whether fingerprints are required.
• Pay the correct fee for the type of check.
• Keep your AFP reference information after submission.