Requirements for a national police check in Australia in 2026

A national police check (NPC) is one of the most commonly requested background checks in Australia. It produces an official record of a person’s disclosable court outcomes — or confirms there are none — drawn from police databases across every state and territory.

Whether you need it for a new job, a volunteer role, a visa application, a professional licence or a tenancy application, the process is straightforward once you know exactly what to prepare. This guide sets out the current requirements, documents, fees and steps so you can complete your application with confidence.

What this procedure is and what it’s for

A national police check is a search of the national criminal history database maintained by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). The result is a certificate that lists any disclosable court outcomes (convictions, findings of guilt, pending charges) or states that no disclosable outcomes were found.

Who needs one

An NPC is required in a wide range of situations, including:

• Employment screening (particularly in health, education, aged care, disability services and finance)
• Volunteering with children or vulnerable people (note: this is separate from a Working with Children Check, which is state-based)
• Professional licence or registration applications (e.g., real estate, legal, nursing)
• Migration and visa applications processed by the Department of Home Affairs
• Tenancy applications requested by some landlords or property managers
• Adoption and foster care assessments

The official body responsible

The ACIC accredits organisations to submit NPC requests on its behalf. You can apply through:

• The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) directly via its online portal for individuals
• An ACIC-accredited body — many employers, licensing boards and volunteer organisations use their own accredited channel

Some state and territory police forces also offer their own police checks, but these only cover that jurisdiction and are not equivalent to a national check. Always confirm which type is required before applying.

Documents required

You must provide identity documents that together satisfy the ACIC’s 100-point identity verification system. The points value of each document is set by the ACIC. You need to reach at least 100 points in total.

Points categories

Commencement documents (70 points each — at least one required)

• Australian birth certificate (full extract, not a commemorative version)
• Australian citizenship certificate
• Current Australian or foreign passport (valid or expired within the last two years)
• ImmiCard issued by the Department of Home Affairs

Primary documents (40 points each)

• Current Australian driver licence or learner permit (issued by your state or territory road authority)
• Current Medicare card
• Current Australian firearms licence
• Current passport (if not used as a commencement document)

Secondary documents (25 points each)

• Australian marriage certificate (government-issued; not a church certificate)
• Change of name certificate issued by a state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages registry
• Government-issued concession card (e.g., Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card)
• Australian tertiary student ID card (current)
• Council rates notice (issued within the last 12 months)
• Utility bill (issued within the last 12 months)
• Bank statement (issued within the last 12 months)

Important notes on documents

• Documents must be originals; photocopies are not accepted for identity verification at the point of submission.
• If you apply online through the ACIC portal, you upload certified copies or have your identity verified digitally — follow the portal’s specific instructions.
• If your name has changed (e.g., through marriage), you must provide a linking document such as a marriage certificate or change of name certificate connecting your current name to the name on your commencement document.
• Foreign-language documents must be accompanied by a NAATI-certified English translation.
• No apostille is required for documents used solely for identity verification within Australia.

Steps to complete the procedure

Option 1 — Apply online through the ACIC portal (most common for individuals)

1. Go to the ACIC national police check portal at www.acic.gov.au and select “Apply for a national police check”.
2. Create an account or log in. You can link your myGov account for identity verification in some cases.
3. Complete the online application form with your full legal name, date of birth, address history and the purpose of the check.
4. Upload certified copies of your identity documents to reach 100 points. The portal guides you through which documents are accepted.
5. Pay the application fee by credit or debit card.
6. Submit the application. You will receive a confirmation email with a reference number.
7. Once processed, your certificate is delivered digitally to your nominated email address or is available to download from your account.

Option 2 — Apply through an ACIC-accredited body

1. Your employer, licensing authority or volunteer organisation provides you with their accredited body’s application link or paper form.
2. Complete the form and provide your identity documents as instructed by that body (requirements mirror the ACIC 100-point system).
3. The accredited body submits the check on your behalf and receives the result, which they may share with you depending on their policy.

Option 3 — Apply in person at a state or territory police station (for a state-only check)

Note: this produces a state-based check only, not a national check. Confirm with the requesting organisation whether this is acceptable.

1. Visit your local police station during business hours (no appointment is generally required, but check your local station’s hours).
2. Present original identity documents.
3. Complete the application form provided at the counter.
4. Pay the fee (varies by jurisdiction).
5. Collect or receive the certificate as directed by the station.

Estimated time

• Online ACIC applications: typically 1–15 business days, with most straightforward applications returning results within 1–2 business days.
• Complex cases (e.g., where a record exists and must be reviewed) can take longer.
• State police station checks: timeframes vary by jurisdiction, generally 5–10 business days.

Fees and timelines

• ACIC online portal fee: approximately AUD 42–52 for a standard individual application (fees are reviewed periodically; confirm the current fee on the ACIC website before applying)
• Accredited body fee: varies — some employers or organisations cover the cost; others pass it on to the applicant; third-party providers may charge a service fee on top of the ACIC base fee
• State police station fee: varies by state and territory, typically AUD 40–60
• Processing time (online): 1–15 business days; most straightforward applications are returned within 1–2 business days
• Processing time (state police): 5–10 business days, varying by jurisdiction
• Validity of the certificate: an NPC has no fixed expiry date set by law, but most employers, licensing bodies and the Department of Home Affairs treat a check as current for 12 months from the date of issue; always confirm the acceptable age of the check with the requesting organisation
• Re-application: if your check is older than the requesting organisation’s threshold, you must apply for a new one — results cannot be updated or extended

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Submitting insufficient identity points: carefully add up your document points before submitting. A common error is assuming a Medicare card alone is enough — it is a 40-point primary document and must be combined with other documents to reach 100 points.
• Using a commemorative or church birth certificate: only a government-issued full birth certificate (from a state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages registry) is accepted as a commencement document. Commemorative certificates issued at hospitals or churches are not valid.
• Not providing a name-linking document: if your current legal name differs from the name on your commencement document (e.g., after marriage), failing to include a marriage certificate or change of name certificate will cause your application to be rejected or delayed.
• Applying for a state-only check when a national check is required: a check from a single state police force does not search all jurisdictions. Confirm with the requesting organisation that a national check is what they need before you pay and apply.
• Uploading blurry or cropped document images in online applications: the ACIC portal requires clear, complete scans or photos of documents. Partial images or poor-quality uploads are rejected, adding days to your processing time.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a national police check I already have, or do I need a new one? Most organisations accept a check issued within the last 12 months. If yours is older than the threshold set by the requesting body, you will need to apply for a new one. There is no way to update or extend an existing certificate.

Is a national police check the same as a Working with Children Check? No. A Working with Children Check (WWCC) is a separate, state- and territory-based screening specifically for people who work or volunteer with children. It involves additional checks beyond criminal history. If your employer or organisation requires a WWCC, you must apply for it separately through the relevant state or territory authority — it cannot be substituted with an NPC.

Will a spent conviction appear on my national police check? Spent conviction laws vary by state and territory. Generally, older, less serious convictions that meet the relevant waiting period criteria are not disclosed. However, the rules differ across jurisdictions and some roles (e.g., working with children, certain licensed occupations) have exceptions. If you are concerned about a specific matter, seek legal advice before applying.

Can someone else apply for a national police check on my behalf without my knowledge? No. An NPC can only be conducted with the subject’s consent. If an employer or organisation is requesting the check, you must authorise it. Conducting a check without consent is a breach of the ACIC’s accreditation conditions.

What if I have lived overseas? Will overseas criminal records appear? An Australian national police check only searches Australian criminal history databases. It does not include overseas records. If an employer or the Department of Home Affairs requires evidence of your overseas criminal history, you will need to obtain a police clearance certificate from the relevant country separately.

What to do next

The three things to have ready before you start are your commencement document (passport, birth certificate or citizenship certificate), a primary document (such as your driver licence or Medicare card) and any name-linking document if your name has changed.

Your first concrete step is to visit www.acic.gov.au to confirm the current fee, check the accepted document list and begin your online application — or ask your employer or licensing body which accredited channel they use.

Requirements, fees and processing times can change. Always verify the current requirements directly with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) at www.acic.gov.au or with the accredited body processing your application before you submit.