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National Police Checks

Get your official National Police Check online in minutes with CVCheck, an ACIC-accredited provider recognised across all Australian states and territories.

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Police Check - Australia

$69.91 incl GST

I need this check on myselfI need this check for employees

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What is a National Police Check?

A National Police Check (also referred to as a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) or police clearance) is an official document listing any disclosable court outcomes and pending charges sourced from Australian police databases.

A National Police Check (NPC) is a summary of your offender history in Australia. The NPC includes an individual’s disclosable court outcomes, which may include convictions and pending charges from all relevant Australian police jurisdictions. However, it does not include all aspects of a person’s criminal record, such as traffic convictions or interstate offenses.

It’s commonly required for:

  • Employment or volunteering

  • Licensing or accreditation

  • Visa and government compliance

Please note: National police checks in Australia cannot be used for immigration, visa or IVF applications. A police check must be obtained through the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Why Choose CVCheck for Your Police Check in Australia

There’s no faster way to get your police check for employment than here.

CVCheck is a National Police Checking Service (NPCS) accredited agency, which means we meet strict criteria from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), including verified company legitimacy and certain security requirements.

With CVCheck you can:

  • Apply 100% online – no paper application forms
  • Receive fast results – 70% of checks in < 1 business day
  • Access accurate records direct from police authorities
  • Obtain a certificate trusted by employers & licensing bodies
  • Enjoy transparent pricing – just $69.90 incl GST
  • Complete a streamlined online application process, including identity verification

Our secure online process lets you apply from anywhere in Australia and receive your national police check certificate via email.

Start My National Police Check

For more info, please see our help page or contact us.

Processing Times for Police Checks

CVCheck, Australian police agencies, and ACIC aim to process 95% of national police checks within 10 business days*, noting that:

  • 70% completed within 1 business day
  • 25% completed within 10 business days (manual review required)
  • 5% may take 15 days or more for complex cases

Tip: Processing times depend on the applicant’s details and police-database matching. Order your check at least 2 weeks before you need the certificate.

Learn More About Delivery Times on the ACIC website.

Download A Sample Police Check

CVCheck's Australian police checks are delivered electronically for instant download.

View Sample Police Check
Sample Employment Report Result

Who is CVCheck?

CVCheck is a leading background-check and employment-screening provider operating across Australia and New Zealand. Conducting over 300,000 checks each year, CVCheck supports:

  • Individuals needing fast police checks before starting new jobs

  • Small businesses seeking reliable pre-employment screening

  • Enterprise HR teams managing large-scale verification programs

Smarter Police Checks

CVCheck has revolutionised the way individuals and organisations obtain police checks for employment, streamlining the process online so you can bypass the queues, paper forms and snail mail. There’s no smarter way to get a national police check in Australia.

Fast and 100% Online

We’re connected directly to the National Police Checking Service, so most results are returned in less than 1 day. Order from anywhere via our website and we’ll notify you as soon as your check results are ready to be downloaded.

Trusted and Secure

We are an ACIC Accredited Body, so you can be confident that you are getting a complete and accurate criminal history. CVCheck’s police checks and our wide range of employment background checks are trusted by government departments, licensing authorities, and employers.

You're in Good Company

As Australia’s fastest-growing screening and verification service, we’ve helped more than one million enterprises, small businesses and individuals get the police checks they need for CV and work, study or licensing approval. We can help you skip the queues, too.

Police Checks - Australia

    National Police Checks Across Australia

    No matter where you live, CVCheck’s National Police Check is accepted nationwide:

    All results are delivered electronically for instant access to your police clearance results online.

    The Importance of Conducting Police Checks

    If you’re in any doubt about whether you should order a police check, here are some of the key ways a police check can benefit you or your business:

    Ensuring Workplace Safety

    If you’re an employer, you have a legal duty of care to maintain a safe work environment. Nationally coordinated criminal history checks ensure that you to make a fully informed decision when hiring potential candidates.

    Whether you have particular requirements around any previous convictions or you are looking to create an opportunity for someone who needs support in starting a new life, the best hiring conversations start from shared honesty about the current situation.

    Regulatory Compliance

    Many Australian industries enforce mandatory compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Often, these requirements include a periodic police check as part of the employee licensing or accreditation process. This is particularly so for sensitive job roles that entail a certain level of trust or dealing with vulnerable persons.

    Some of the professions in Australia that require a police check include childcare workers, teachers, tutors, aged care workers, health workers and more.

    Personal Peace of Mind

    If you’re applying for a job, looking to rent a home, or volunteering in the community, a nationally coordinated criminal history check will give you peace of mind and a competitive edge amongst other candidates.

    Proactively obtaining your own police check demonstrates your trustworthiness and reliability to potential employers or organisations and can help to fast-track administrative processes that cannot be completed without a police check certificate.

    How to Apply for a National Police Check Online at CVCheck

    1. Complete the Online Form

    Enter your details and upload required ID. Applicants must complete the application form with accurate personal details and provide supporting identity documents, such as a photo ID and proof of address.

    2. Verify Your Identity Securely

    Digital verification ensures compliance with ACIC standards. Identification is verified using official identity documents, and applicants may need to provide a name certificate or marriage certificate if their name has changed.

    3. Receive Your Results Fast

    We’ll notify you as soon as your police check results are ready for download.

    Each police check is issued with a unique reference number for tracking and verification, and the original date of issue is important for certificate validity.

    Please Note: If fingerprint records are required, applicants may need to visit their local police station for fingerprinting, and comparison fingerprints may be used to resolve identity disputes. If there are discrepancies or updates, a new certificate can be issued upon request.

    Apply for Your Police Check Now

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • What is a police check in Australia?

      A police check or nationally coordinated criminal history check (NCCHC), is a document that lists an individual’s disclosable court outcomes and pending charges sourced from the databases of all Australian police jurisdictions.

      Certain convictions, such as spent or juvenile convictions, may not be disclosed on a criminal history check in accordance with the legislation of the various police jurisdictions.

    • Why might someone need to obtain a police check?

      A police check may be required for various purposes, such as employment, volunteer work, professional licensing, immigration, adoption, applying for a loan or renting a property.

      It assesses an individual’s criminal history to ensure they are suitable for their role or responsibility, focusing on public safety and security.

    • How does the police checking process work?

      To order a police check, select “I need a police check on myself” or “I need a police check for employees” to place your order.

      We provide streamlined results directly from the national police checking service. If no disclosable criminal history is found, a certificate is issued indicating a clear record.

      Otherwise, details of any criminal records are included. We’ll notify you once your results are ready to be downloaded.

    • What information may NOT be disclosed on a police check for employment?

      Certain convictions, such as a spent conviction or juvenile conviction are conditionally disclosed depending on the place and nature of employment and the legislation that applies from the jurisdiction where those records are listed. 

    • How do I order a police check for employment?

      A nationally coordinated criminal history check (NCCHC) in Australia can be ordered through bodies accredited by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). Anyone can apply for an NPC for their own use.

      CVCheck is accredited by ACIC to perform police checks online, so you can simply create an account with us, then order and pay for your NCCHC. You cannot apply for an NPC for someone else without their consent.

    • How long does a NCCHC for employment last?

      A police check is a ‘point-in-time’ check and is current for employment as of the date of issue. This means that result certificate does not have any formal period of validity or an expiry date. The National Police Check is current as of the date of issue.

      However, many employers and organisations only accept a police check that has been issued in the past 12 months.

    • What is the price of a police check for employment?

      A nationally coordinated criminal history check in Australia costs $69.90 including GST.

    • How long does a police check for employment take?

      The majority of police checks (nationally coordinated criminal history checks) are processed and the results returned within 1 business day.

      However, approximately 30% of all police checks ordered within Australia are referred for manual processing. If this occurs, the result may take from 1 – 15, and in some instances more, business days to be returned.

      Processing of nationally coordinated criminal history checks may take longer if the applicant shares similar details with other individuals recorded in police databases, particularly if they have a common name.

      It is therefore always recommended that applicants order their police check for employment at least 2 weeks before the certificate is required.

    Customer Testimonials

    See how others have benefited from CVCheck’s fast and reliable National Police Checks

    A smarter way to get a check

    * All turnaround times are estimated working times for Australian checks and are provided as a guide only. Turnaround times are based on our experience of the time taken for the majority of these checks to be delivered. However, CVCheck is reliant on third parties for supply of information, and in some cases those third parties may take longer to supply that information. Accordingly, CVCheck does not give any time guarantees for any checks or packages. It is CVCheck’s policy and practice to keep you informed as much as possible if there are any unusual delays. Read more about our delivery times here.