A police check in Australia is a requirement for many things, but the good news is that technology can make it easy for you to get it anytime.
What is a Police Check?
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A police check, or often called an AFP check is a process done by the AFP, or Australian Federal Police.
It’s usually needed by the Australian government when you’re applying for the following:
– When you’re getting employed overseas
– As part of the requirement in Australian immigration
– For visa applications and traveling overseas
– If you intend to work in the commonwealth government
– If you work or live within Jervis Bay, the Australian Capital Territory or any external Commonwealth territories
Getting a police check in Australia can be done several ways. One, you can apply the traditional route by going to a post office or police station, fill up and submit a form and wait for the results. It usually takes anywhere between ten to twenty five days for the papers to be issued and sent to you.
The internet has evolved to a point where it’s possible to get an AFP Check online. Aside from being more convenient you can get it within 24 hours of submitting the online form.
Is There a Difference Between an Australian Federal Police Check and Australian National Police Check?
The similarity between an AFP and a national police check is that they use the same record database.
However, the type of police check you need to get will depend on several things. For employment purposes, such as when you’re about to work in childcare, finance, banking, health or education, you’ll be required to submit an Australian police check. On the other hand, you’ll need an Australian federal police check for visa and immigration-related requirements.
How To Get An AFP Check Online
Find a Reputable Police Check Provider
Not all AFP checking services are equal, with some being better than others in terms of reliability, validity and turnaround time.
When it comes to the best online police check websites you’ll want one that has ACIC, or Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission accreditation. Furthermore, the company has to be an official NPCS, or National Police Checking Service provider.
Crime Check Australia offers police check services in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania.
Fill Up an Online Form
Online forms in a police check website will have similar fields to that of a traditional form in police stations and post offices.
To get the best results, make sure to fill out all the necessary details so you won’t have to redo them again. Take your time and read every instruction and what’s being asked of you.
Upload Your ID and Pay
The next step is making a payment, usually by debit card or credit card. The price should be listed plainly on the website in order to avoid confusion- once you agree then you can pay the amount. Afterwards, you will need to submit an ID as part of the verification process. A photo of a valid ID must be attached to the online form and submitted along with the details or else you won’t be able to proceed.
Wait and Get the Results
Police check results online are typically faster compared to traditional methods, e.g., a post office or police station and manual submissions. Instead of waiting up to 25 days you can have it mailed to your email within 24 hours at most.
Make sure to check your email inbox after 24 hours has passed to see if it’s already there. If not, you can check your spam folder and see if it’s sent there by mistake. Download the check or print it out and you’ll have completed one requirement.