How to Apply for a National Police Check?

In Australia, it is easy to apply for a national police check. You will obtain a National Police Certificate which will contain official records of any criminal history you want to disclose. It is an easy way to receive a certificate if someone has a criminal history in Australia.

In this article, you will learn about National Police Check and how it works. Apart from that, you will also learn about how to apply for this check both online and by post. Hence, to learn more, read on to the end of the article.

What Is a National Police Check?

After a National Police Check, you will get a National Police Certificate. Basically, it consists of disclosable court outcomes from every Australian state and territory.

For instance, if you have any involvement with the criminal justice system, the police have records of it. However, on a police check, they will only provide you with limited information. As per law, they cannot disclose certain information.

If you want to apply for a National police check online or offline, you have to do the following:

Ensure to meet all your identity requirements
Pay for a processing fee.

After the Police Check is over, you will obtain the National Police Certificate.

Using a National Police Check

If you want to get a job or do something else, employers, organizations, and other regulators will ask for a National Police Certificate. Depending on the National Police Check and your result on the certificate, organizations and regulators consider whether you are suitable for:

Employment
Occupation-related licensing and registration
Volunteering for work or student placement

Types of National Police Check

The following are the major types of National Police Checks:

National Police Check/National Name Check.
National Police and Fingerprint Record Check.

There might be a situation where you might not know which National Police Check. In this case, you need to ask your employer/organization who is requesting the National Police Certificate.

Documents You Need for National Police Check

The following are the documents that you need to provide for National Police Check:

Birth Certificate/ Passport/ Driver’s License/ Marriage Certificate/ Citizenship Certificate
Foreign passport linked to a valid Australian visa / ImmiCard
Medicare Card/ Australian Driver’s License or Learner permit/ Passport

Apply for National Police Check Online

Generally, employers and organizations who require a National Police Certificate request a National Police Check. Basically, you can use this for employment or volunteering as well.

The following are the steps you must follow if you want to apply for a National Police Check online:

Meet the necessary identity requirements
You must provide certain ID documents by scanning and sending the electronic version for verification.
Pay for the application process. Here, you can pay with either a Debit Card or a Credit Card.
Complete the application within 25 minutes.

Generally, you have to complete the application using your smartphone. Once your Police Check is complete, you will receive the National Police Certificate on your email.

Apply for National Police Check Through Post

You can only apply for a National Police Check by post if you have these problems:

You cannot apply online since you do not meet the criteria.
There must be a mismatch in the names in your ID documents, and you cannot change the name in your certificates.

Also, you have the right to apply by post if you are not comfortable using the online method. Hence, if you want to apply for a National Police Check by post, follow the steps below:

Start by completing the VP820B Consent form. Basically, you have to fill it up if you want to check and then release the National Police Records form.
Print the application form that you complete.
Find a witness who can certify a copy of your ID documents.
Sign and write the date in the application form in front of your witness.
Make sure that the witness signs and writes the data on each copy of your ID documents as well as on the application form.
Pay for the application form either online, through a cheque, or money order.
Make sure to attach all necessary paperwork, including payment information. Put all the documents in a single envelope.
Finally, mail the form to the address that you find on the application form.

Summing Up

Hence, you know how to complete the National Police Check online and offline (by post). Here, it is evident that the online way of filling out your National Police Check application form is easier. However, if you are not confident with the online method, you can always choose to send your form by post.

Do you have more information to offer about the National Police Check? Please share them in the comments section below.

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