National Criminal History Check

If you have been asked to provide your national criminal history check, then you’ve come to the right place. Our completely online application process offers you the option of obtaining your national criminal history check in as little as one hour. Express processing is available for applicants at an additional fee.

However, if your application is noted for further processing by the government as 30% of applications are flagged for a 'manual review,' then the express processing fee will be refunded.

We offer an affordable, reliable and completely online form that is available to fill and submit 24/7 with processing during business hours. Checked is the faster and more convenient alternative to getting your nationally coordinated criminal history check.

When it comes to applying for a national criminal history check from the Australian government, it is common for people to think that the process will take weeks and pages of lengthy forms. It used to, but it doesn’t anymore. The digital age offers every user access to a vast amount of information and national criminal history checks have finally caught up.

Checked Australia is a government accredited agency able to accept and process your application for a national criminal history check. We take care of the entire process end-to-end often taking individuals 5 to 10 minutes to lodge the form. Please allow a little extra time if you’re not familiar with online forms.

Once it’s submitted, you receive a confirmation email verifying the receipt of your application. Once compliant with government standards, the application is processed and the official copy of your national criminal history is sent to you once the government releases the results. It’s easy, it’s fast and it’s affordable.

Who can request a national criminal check?

There are a few different agencies, employers and volunteer organisations which will request that you provide a national criminal history check before you commence working or providing your services to them. It is becoming a standardised practice for commercial employers, in particular, to request a copy of someone’s national criminal history check as part of their pre-employment protocols. This ensures that businesses can adequately and safely manage risk across all types of industries and locations. It has also become standard practice for anybody advertising their services as a pet sitter or house sitter to provide a national criminal history check.

Checked offers you the option of selecting an express national criminal history record check process for both individuals and organisations, completed through our secure online portal. You can opt to have your express national criminal history record check fast-tracked and placed on a priority queue. In most cases your application is processed and returned to you in a little as one hour. If your application is delayed, then we will refund you the cost of the express service fee.

This means that you can make an application for a national history record check in your own time, without the need for lengthy delays and queues at your post office. Our completely online process uses VerifyID™ which allows Checked to verify your identity documents provided as a photo taken on your device or a scan. 

If you are requesting a copy of your national criminal history check for use as a volunteer, then the price for your national clearance certificate is a little lower than for employment needs. You will not, however, be able to use your national police clearance obtained as a volunteer for your employment or pre-employment checks. A national police Check can only be lodged for one purpose. If you’re not sure what check type you need to obtain, ensure that you contact the requesting organisation and ask for clarification before you begin the application process. We can help you obtain your national criminal history check fast and reliably online. 

How long does a national criminal history check last?

Your national criminal history check is a certificate containing any disclosable court outcomes up to the date of the certificate’s issue. So, if you have been requested to supply a national criminal history check no older than 30 days, then the issue date on your certificate must be no more than 30 days ago. It is regular practice for volunteer organisations and employers to regularly update their national clearance certificates so you may need to commit to providing your criminal checks on a regular basis. Using Checked takes the headache out of the paperwork by shifting the process online. You can maintain your employment obligations promptly using our online application process every time you need to provide an updated copy. 

What is included on my national criminal history check?

When you apply for a national criminal history check, you are effectively offering to provide a written record of any disclosable court outcomes listed against your name across all Australian states and territories. Even if your employer is based in New South Wales, and you have disclosable convictions or criminal history in South Australia, your national criminal history check will include details of those convictions.

What your employer or the organisation which has requested your national criminal history check will decide based on the information provided is at their discretion, although they should always ensure their decisions consider the extent to which the history is relevant to the role.

It is also worth checking exactly what you need your national criminal history check for. If you have been told to obtain a national police check for any processes related to a visa status or approval, you should double check exactly what kind of national criminal history check you are required to provide. Usually, for any government requirements relating to your visa status or its approval, your criminal history check must be only obtained from the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The AFP criminal check is a different check associated with visa or immigration purposes. Always ensure that you double-check with the requesting organisation before you start the application process. Our locally-based, Australian customer service team can help you differentiate between the type of check you need to provide so feel free to jump online and chat with a friendly team member.

For quick and easy online processing of your national criminal record check, choose Checked. We provide you with a fast and reliable online application process that will save you valuable time. Choose the fast, convenient, and affordable option with Checked and let us take care of your national police check.