Obtaining a Police Certificate for Australia
Sections on this page
- If you reside outside Australia
- If you reside in New South Wales
- If you reside in Queensland
- If you reside in the ACT
- If you reside in Western Australia
- If you reside in Victoria
- If you reside in Tasmania
- If you reside in the Northern Territory
- If you reside in South Australia
If you reside outside Australia
Applicants who live overseas should refer requests to the Australian Federal Police. Applicants are required to apply for a police certificate based on a name and fingerprint check. Police clearances issued on the basis of only a name check will not be accepted. More information is available on the Australian Federal Police website or via email at vetting@afp.gov.au.
If you reside in New South Wales
Make an appointment, and then appear in person to be fingerprinted at your local police station. You must pay the fee of A$175 (subject to change, please check the current fee with the police) and complete an application form, which the police will forward to:
- Address
-
NSW Police Department
Criminal Records Section
Level B3 NSW Police Headquarters
1 Charles St
Parramatta, NSW 2150 - Telephone
- (02) 8835-7888
Please find further details on the New South Wales Police website.
If you reside in Queensland
Check with your local police station if you need an appointment, then go in person to be fingerprinted. You must pay the prescribed fee of A$142.60 (subject to change, please check the current fee with the police) and complete an indemnification form required by the Queensland Police Department. You must then forward the fingerprints, completed indemnification form, and payment to:
- Address
-
Inspector of Police
Information Bureau
Miscellaneous License Section
GPO Box 1440
Brisbane, QLD 4001
Please find further details on the Queensland Police website.
Return of police certificates for NSW and Queensland residents
For NSW and Queensland residents, your police record will be sent directly to the U.S. Consulate in Sydney by the police department, and the Criminal Records Section will notify you that this has been done. If you do not receive this notification within 3 weeks of your application, we strongly recommend that you ascertain the status of your records by checking at the police station where you initially made your request.
If you reside in the ACT
Check with your local police station if you need an appointment, then go in person to be fingerprinted. You must also pay the prescribed fee of A$130 (subject to change, please check the current fee with the police) and complete an indemnification form required by the Australian Federal Police. This process normally takes a minimum of 15 working days, after which the results are posted to the applicant. You must then bring the results to your final visa interview at the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney.
Please find further details at the AFP website.
If you reside in Western Australia
If you reside in Western Australia, you must request a national police certificate based on name and fingerprints from the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
Overseas applicants must apply to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
The AFP can be contacted at (02) 6202-3333 or through the AFP website.
If you reside in Victoria
Victoria Police provide a Police and Fingerprints Records Search. Fingerprints can be taken by appointment at any police station or at the Victoria Police Centre at 637 Flinders Street, Melbourne. Appointments can be made by phoning (03) 9247-5622. A Police and Fingerprints Records Search costs $120.40 (subject to change, please check with the police directly), and processing time is a minimum of 10 working days.
Further information is available from:
- Address
-
Public Enquiry Service
PO Box 418
Melbourne, Victoria 8005 - Telephone
- (03) 9247-5907
- publicenquiryservice@police.vic.gov.au
- Web
- http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274
If you reside in Tasmania
Criminal History Services provides a National Police History Record & Fingerprint Check, but you must be residing in Tasmania to apply. Residents of other states should direct enquiries to the police service of the state or territory in which they reside.
Applicants are required to submit copies of 3 different types of ID with their application form, and must attend their local police station to take fingerprints. The fee for a National Police History Record & Fingerprint Check is A$120 (subject to change, please check with the police directly) and the average turnaround time is 5 working days for the National Police History Record, additional time may be needed for fingerprint checks.
Please find guidance and application forms on the Tasmanian Police website.
If you reside in the Northern Territory
A fingerprint check is A$100 (subject to change, please check with the police directly) and the turnaround time is 2-3 weeks for fingerprint checks. The fingerprint check will include disclosable traffic convictions and criminal records held by the Northern Territory and most interstate police jurisdictions. Applicants must visit their local police station with their ID. Please call ahead to check if you need an appointment.
Please find guidance and application forms from the Criminal History and Warrants Unit of the Northern Territory Police.
If you reside in South Australia
National Police Certificate & Fingerprint Checks (NPC) will only be prepared for those people who reside in South Australia. South Australian residents living overseas should refer requests to the Australian Federal Police website or via e-mail at vetting@afp.gov.au. Residents of other states should direct enquiries to the police service of the state or territory in which they reside.
The standard timeframe to process a NPC is between 5-15 working days. The fee for a National Police Certificate & Fingerprint Check is A$140 (subject to change, please check current fee direct with SA police).
Please find guidance and application forms on the South Australian Police website.
Last update: Wednesday, 22 October 2008 GMT+1000
