Gather and scan your identity documents. Get fingerprints if needed.
Apply and payApply online or by post. Pay by card, or by bank cheque or money order if applying by post.
Get your certificateMost digital certificates arrive in your inbox within a few days if you apply online, although some take longer. Fingerprint checks take at least 15 working days.
A National Police Certificate (NPC) is a summary of your offender history in Australia. It's sometimes called a national police check.
You must use the AFP if your request is for Commonwealth or ACT reasons.
You might need a national police check for things such as:
You will need to state the purpose of the police check on your application. Different purposes might lead to different results, depending on relevant laws.
Anyone can apply for an NPC for their own use. But you cannot apply for an NPC for someone else without their consent.
If you're younger than 18, you'll need a parent or guardian to co-sign your application. If you cannot do this, contact us.
We compare your details, such as name and date of birth, against a central index. We then work out what information to include, subject to laws and current policies.
Your NPC will list 'disclosable court outcomes' released in line with federal, state and territory laws, including the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) and the Spent Convictions Act 2000 (ACT).
Our national police check also uses information from all Australian police services to list any:
Depending on the relevant state or territory legislation, it may not include:
Some categories of employment or purposes of the check are exempt from any relevant legislation.
We cannot tell you in advance what may or may not be on your NPC. You'll need to check with the criminal records section of the relevant state or territory police service.
Each NPC application costs $56. If you need to supply fingerprints as part of your application, the total cost is $113.
Application fees are exempt from GST.
If you need us to do an NPC on an Australian company, visit Company checks.
We use the identity documents you send us to verify your identity. You need to send us identity documents worth at least 100 points in total.
Download the proof of identity checklist:
(pdf, 578.37 KB)If you can't meet 100 points, contact us.
You'll need to scan or photocopy your documents to attach to your application.
You'll also need to send us details of other names by which you are, or have been, known.
Sometimes, you’ll need to have a fingerprint check as part of your NPC.
If you live in the ACT, book an appointment by emailing ACTP-Finger-Print-Hotline@afp.gov.au. Make sure you include:
Post the original of your fingerprints to us with your completed application. You ‘ll also need to send an official translation if they are in a language other than English.
You can’t use an online application if you need to include fingerprint checks. You’ll have to apply by post.
We’ll check your fingerprints against a central database of records. This takes between 15 and 30 business days.
If your NPC does not include a fingerprint check, you can
We will start processing your application straight away and send you a payment receipt via email. We will send a digital certificate when we have completed the check.
You can also ask for a hard copy of your certificate. We will post that to you.
If you prefer to apply by post, or if you need to include a fingerprint check, print a National Police Check application form [PDF 800KB].
When completing the form, remember:
You will need to pay in Australian dollars via bank cheque or money order, made out to the Australian Federal Police.
Make sure you include all paperwork, forms, payment and identification with your application. If you need a fingerprint check, include the original of your fingerprints.
You must send us the form no more than 3 months after you sign it.
If you do not fill in your application correctly, and include payment and documents, we will not process it.
Australian Federal Police
Criminal Records
Locked Bag 8550
CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601
You cannot lodge your application at a police station.
Contact us straight away if you:
It is up to you to make sure that the check is suitable for the purpose you need it for. Once you have submitted your application, you cannot get a refund.
Do not lodge a new or updated application unless we tell you to.
You will need to certify that the personal information on your application is correct.
If we discover that you have given us false or misleading information, you may be prosecuted under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
We complete and post most NPCs within 48 hours of receiving your application.
This may vary if we need to get information from multiple states or territories.
Digital certificates are sent directly to your email address.
For hard-copy certificates, allow for postage time. Wait at least 15 business days before contacting us about the status of your check.
Name and fingerprint NPCs may take 15 to 30 business days.
We will send you an email to let you know when we have:
You can also validate any newly completed checks.
If you change your address before we notify you that your certificate has been posted, please tell us. Otherwise, you can contact Australia Post to redirect your mail.
We will send your:
Both digital and hard copy certificates have security features.
Digital certificates include a unique QR code you can scan to validate your certificate.
