Australian Federal Police Certificate
Administered by: Australian Federal Police
When is this licence required?
You may need this certificate for employment, occupation-related licensing, registration, voluntary work, immigration or other related purposes. It provides a summary of your offender history in Australia.
You must use this Australian Federal Police (AFP) certificate if your request is for Commonwealth or Australian Capital Territory reasons.
You might need a national police check for things such as:
- recruitment and job applications
- volunteer and not-for-profit positions
- working with children or vulnerable groups
- licensing or registration scheme applications
- work-related checks due to legislation or regulations
- Australian citizenship and permanent residence applications
- visa applications for some countries
- working overseas.
Other States and Territories conduct their own police checks within their own jurisdictions.
What are the eligibility requirements for this licence?
To obtain this certificate, you must provide sufficient identification documents.
Are there any exemptions for this licence?
There are some exceptions which require you to disclose a spent or protected conviction such as for some positions of employment. This means that people applying for such positions must declare all convictions. Details of exclusions should be provided to you by the employing organisation before your consent is sought to obtain a criminal history check.
How much does this licence cost?
| Task | Type | Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Application | $56.00 | National Police Check application. Fees for 2025-26 |
| Initial | Application | $113.00 | Fingerprint and National Police Check application where the fingerprints are supplied to the AFP on application. Fees for 2025-26 |
How often do you need to apply for this licence?
Valid at date of issue
What forms provide more information?
| Task | Forms |
|---|---|
| Initial | National Police Check (NPC) Application Form |
| Initial | Proof of Identity Checklist |
What resources provide more information?
| Task | Type | Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Initial | Smart Form | National Police Check (NPC) Online Application Form |
What legislation specifies this licence?
Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Australian Government)
Who can you talk to for more information?
Criminal Records - National Police Check
Australian Federal Police
| Mailing address | LOCKED BAG 8550 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601 |
| Phone | 02 5126 0000 |
| AFP-NationalPoliceChecks@mail2.converga.com.au | |
| Website | Australian Federal Police |
More Information
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