A national police check can be referred to as a variety of terms: police clearance, national police clearance certificate, criminal record check or a national criminal history check. Depending on which one you require, you can apply through your local police station in your state or territory, or in most cases, you can choose an accredited provider like Checked.
We offer our applicants not only an entirely online form designed to be completed in just minutes, but also an express processing service which could see your national police check returned to you in as little as one hour. Read on to find out how you can access a fast-tracked application, what you need to complete your application and why Checked is the easiest, simplest and most hassle-free solution.
How long does a national police check last?
There is no set period of validity for a national police check. It is up to the organisation that has requested your national police check or national police certificate will let you know when you are required to provide an updated one.
What is a national police check?
You may be required to provide a copy of your national police check for a variety of reasons. Often employers will request a copy of your criminal background check, your Australian Police Check, your national police check before they provide an official offer of employment, or they may have compliance procedures which requires them to regularly request your updated certification. You may also be asked to provide a national police check if you are intending to join a charitable organisation or a volunteer association like the Rural Fire Service (RFS). If you are intending to apply for firearm licence or a variety of other licences, you may also be required to provide a formal police check.
National police checks are designed to help protect the Australian community. For more information on what kind of information is included in a national police check, click here for further information.
If you are not sure whether you require a volunteer or employment police check, ensure that you confirm with the requesting organisation before you proceed with an application. You may have to reapply for your certificate if you receive the wrong kind. Similarly, some immigration related checks and government department procedures require an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check which cannot be obtained through Checked at this time.
Checked offer a range of intuitive corporate compliance solutions designed to reduce administration time and data entry. Our corporate checking processes are capable of integrating directly with leading HR and ATS platforms which means that if your business or organisation is required to provide regular, up-to-date certificates, we can help you avoid double data-entry and fast track your applications. Contact a Checked team member to find out how we can help your organisation achieve seamless and hassle-free background check compliance with a range of checks including:
National Police Check
Right to Work Checks
Bankruptcy Checks
International Police Checks
Driving History Checks
AML/CTF Checks
Identity Verification
Employee Reference Checks
How do I get a national police check?
Applying for your national police check with Checked is a fast, easy and entirely online process. You will need access to the internet, your identity documentation at hand and access to either a camera or scanner to complete the verification process. We utilise VerifyID™ which is an entirely online verification facility designed to help you complete your application in minutes. As long as you are comfortable using the internet and online forms, you will likely complete your entire application in 5 to 10 minutes.
If your application is submitted online with Checked within business hours, and you have selected our express service fee, then you could have your certification returned to you in as little as one hour. However, on average about 30% of applications received by the government are delayed for what is known as a ‘manual review’. This occurs if there is a partial or whole match of the applicant’s information in the criminal history database. A manual review will delay your application by 1 to 15 working days. Should this occur when you have selected our express service, Checked will refund you the value of our express fee. Unfortunately, we cannot know ahead of time whether your application will be flagged in this way.
A national police check includes information gathered from police agencies across Australia including Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern and Australian Capital Territories. Refer to this link for more information on what may be included in your national police check certificate.
Once your application has been processed, you will receive a copy of your national police check emailed directly to you. If you wish, you may also opt to have a hard copy of your police check posted to your address. Before you lodge your application, ensure that the requesting authority will accept a digital copy.
We offer our applicants a fast, streamlined and entirely online application process designed to help provide you with your national police check as fast as possible, and with the least stress and hassle. Choose Checked for an express application and you could receive your national police check emailed to you within as little as an hour.