What is the AFP National Police Check?
The AFP National Police Check is an official check of Australian criminal history records. It is conducted by the Australian Federal Police and returns information about disclosable court outcomes — including convictions, findings of guilt, and pending charges — from police agencies across all Australian states and territories. The AFP National Police Check is issued as a PDF document with a unique reference number and is generally valid for 12 months for visa purposes, although individual visa requirements may vary.
The check covers Australian criminal history only — it does not include overseas records. For overseas criminal history, the Department of Home Affairs requires separate police clearance certificates from each country where you have lived for 12 months or more since turning 16.
When is the AFP National Police Check required?
The AFP National Police Check is commonly required for the following visa and citizenship applications:
- Skilled visa applications (subclass 189, 190, 491) — applicants who have lived in Australia
- Employer sponsored visa applications (subclass 482, 186, 494)
- Partner visa applications (subclass 820/801 and 309/100) — where either the applicant or the sponsor has lived in Australia
- Citizenship by conferral applications
- Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485)
- Working Holiday and Work and Holiday visas (subclass 417 and 462) — in some circumstances
Not every visa requires an AFP check — always verify the current requirements at homeaffairs.gov.au or with a registered migration agent.
How to apply for an AFP National Police Check
The AFP National Police Check can be applied for online through the AFP's official website at afp.gov.au/what-we-do/services/criminal-records/national-police-checks. The process is as follows:
- Visit the AFP website and select "Apply for a National Police Check"
- Create an account or apply as a guest
- Complete the application form — you will need to provide identity documents
- Pay the application fee (currently AUD 42 for a standard check — confirm current fees at afp.gov.au)
- Provide identity verification — this typically involves uploading identity documents such as your passport and another form of ID
- Submit your application
The AFP issues the result as a digitally signed PDF document. The document is sent to the email address provided at the time of application.
How long does the AFP National Police Check take?
Most AFP National Police Checks are completed within 15 business days. Applications that require manual processing — for example, where the applicant has a criminal history or where identity verification requires additional checks — may take longer. If your visa application has a pending deadline, apply for your AFP check as early as possible in the application preparation process.
Does the AFP National Police Check need to be translated?
No. The AFP National Police Check is issued in English by an Australian government agency and does not require NAATI-certified translation for Australian visa purposes. It is submitted directly as issued. However, if you are using the AFP check in a foreign country — for example, submitting it to an overseas government agency — that country may require a certified translation into their language.
Overseas police certificates — the difference
The AFP National Police Check covers Australian criminal history only. The Department of Home Affairs separately requires police clearance certificates from every country outside Australia where you have lived for 12 months or more since turning 16. These overseas police clearance certificates are typically issued in the language of that country — and if that language is not English, a NAATI-certified translation is required.
If you have lived in a country such as Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Venezuela, or Ecuador, your overseas police certificate will be in Spanish and will need to be translated by a NAATI-certified translator before submission to the Department of Home Affairs. See our guide on overseas police clearance certificates and learn more about NAATI-certified translation.
Common questions about the AFP National Police Check
See the FAQ section below for answers to the most common questions about applying for and using the AFP National Police Check for Australian visa and citizenship applications.