How to Get a Police Certificate – Australia

[Ema2000]

hi,

I found this on the CIC page:

You must apply for an Australian Federal Police National Police Check (NPC) Application Form, which can be obtained at:

Criminal Records – National Police Check
Australian Federal Police
Locked Bag 8550
Canberra City ACT 2601
Australia
Telephone from Australia: (02) 6202-3333
Telephone from elsewhere: +61 2 6202-3333

Important: When filling out the Australian Federal Police National Police Check (NPC) Application Form, enter Code Number 35 in section 8 (Purpose of Check).

Important: If you have lived in Queensland and/or Victoria, please also refer to Special notes and considerations for additional requirements.

What does the important part mean: If you have lived in Queensland and/or Victoria, please also refer to Special notes and considerations for additional requirements.
????

thanks!
and how long can it take to get the paper send?
and is it really only 3 month valid?
but if I send it with the application it will be older than 3 month right untl they decide???

thank you all!!!!!

:-*

 

[Ema2000]

oh and do I need to do the traffic history check? or only residence of australia?

 

[Abydos]

Hi Ema2000,

The info for Australian police checks is on their website here: http://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/police-checks/national-police-checks

If you scroll down to "Application Portal" there is a link to apply online (https://afpnationalpolicechecks.converga.com.au/). The whole application process is online - you scan required documents in, print off a declaration that you have to sign and you scan that in to submit too.


Important: If you have lived in Queensland and/or Victoria, please also refer to Special notes and considerations for additional requirements.
What does the important part mean: If you have lived in Queensland and/or Victoria, please also refer to Special notes and considerations for additional requirements.
????
From the CIC page http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/asia-pacific/australia.asp

"Additional requirements apply for those who lived in or currently live in the States of Queensland and/or Victoria after their 18th birthday:

Residents of Queensland must submit a Traffic History which goes back to their 18th birthday or the day on which their first Australian driver’s licence was issued. Please apply through Qld Transport.
Residents of Victoria must submit a Full Licence History Search which goes back to their 18th birthday or the day on which their first Australian driver’s licence was issued. Please apply through VicRoads"

So you only have to do this if you hold or have held an Australian driving licence (whether you were/are a resident or not) AND you have lived in QLD/VIC. See the CIC link above for the full explanation.



and how long can it take to get the paper send?
I had to request mine twice (for different immigration applications) and both times they were very efficient. I received mine (in Canada) in a couple of weeks but I would say leave 3-4 weeks to be safe.


and is it really only 3 month valid?
but if I send it with the application it will be older than 3 month right untl they decide???
You have to send the certificate to CIC within 3 months of the date on the certificate. So if the date on it is January 01, CIC must receive it by April 01. Don't worry that it will 'expire' while CIC is considering your application, it's fine. They could ask for a repeat certificate later on, if you're still living in Australia, but unfortunately there is no way to avoid this as no PR applications are processed in less than 3 months!

Hope this helps

 

[Ema2000]

Thank you so much Abydos! your answer was really nice thank you!

I was backpacking in australia .. I stayed in hostel in Victoria and Queensland .. so I was not a residents right???

so I dont need to do the traffic history thing? oh and I did not had a car in australia!!!


thanks
and I wish all a wonderfull day or night!

 

[simonjsf]

and is it really only 3 month valid?
but if I send it with the application it will be older than 3 month right untl they decide???
You have to send the certificate to CIC within 3 months of the date on the certificate. So if the date on it is January 01, CIC must receive it by April 01. Don't worry that it will 'expire' while CIC is considering your application, it's fine. They could ask for a repeat certificate later on, if you're still living in Australia, but unfortunately there is no way to avoid this as no PR applications are processed in less than 3 months!

Hope this helps

Isn't the new policy this now?

For the country you currently live in, the police certificate must be issued no more than six months before you apply.

For countries where you have lived for six months or more, the police certificate must be issued after the last time you lived in that country.

 

[Abydos]

Isn't the new policy this now?

My mistake, yes you're right. Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[Abydos]

I was backpacking in australia .. I stayed in hostel in Victoria and Queensland .. so I was not a residents right???

so I dont need to do the traffic history thing? oh and I did not had a car in australia!!!

If you were backpacking then I'm assuming you didn't have an Australian driving licence - so you don't have to do the traffic history/licence history thing.

You're welcome!

 

[Ema2000]

So if I have an old police certificate from a country (like australia) I lived more than 6 month I CAN USE IT?
so I don't need to get a new one? IS IT ALSO FOR Application Common Law Sponsorship right??? or just for permanent residence application ...

where is this written in CIC side I did not found?
thanks!



ah and I need one from canada too right?

 

[simonjsf]

So if I have an old police certificate from a country (like australia) I lived more than 6 month I CAN USE IT?
so I don't need to get a new one? IS IT ALSO FOR Application Common Law Sponsorship right??? or just for permanent residence application ...

where is this written in CIC side I did not found?
thanks!



ah and I need one from canada too right?

I asked a similar question in September. Here is the thread:
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t348993.0.html

I submitted my application on october 2nd, I'm still waiting for AOR and OWP.

No, you dont need one for Canada

 

[kangamoose]

If you were backpacking then I'm assuming you didn't have an Australian driving licence - so you don't have to do the traffic history/licence history thing.

You're welcome!

Even if you didn't have a Vic/Qld licence you are expected to get proof of that i.e. a statement from them that you never held a licence.

Applicants who are unable to provide a Traffic History or a Full Licence History Search must provide evidence, issued by the Queensland and/or Victoria roads authority, stating that they have never held a driver’s license in that state.

From: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/asia-pacific/australia.asp

I'm not sure how this would work for backpackers but you may still need to contact Vicroads and the Qld equivalent.

 

[Ema2000]

okey I will get the traffic history check!

an If I have one old australian Police check I can use it If I haven't been to Australia after?????

thanks for all the answers!