What are the options for obtaining a police check in NSW?
Your requesting organisation may request that you provide a national police check (they may also ask for a police clearance, national police clearance, criminal record check or a national criminal history check)
It is important to confirm what type of check they require. Depending on what they require, you can apply through your local police station in your state or territory, or you can choose an accredited provider like Checked Australia.
NB: If you require a certificate issue by NSW Police (known as a national police certificate), this can only be obtained through the NSW Police Force. Checked Australia is not affiliated with the NSW Police Force, and you must obtain one directly through their website. This may also require you to visit a JP, police officer or other authorised party to attest your documents. Similar to a national police check, you should also ensure to allow a minimum of 10 business days for a NSW Police Check to be issued, as it may be required for manual review.
If it is suitable, we are able to provide a national police check (officially known as a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check or NCCHC), which comes with an 100% Acceptance Guarantee. This means, if you request a national police check (for a valid and eligible purpose), and it is still not accepted by your the requesting organisation, we will issue a full-refund.
The service offered by Checked Australia means you do not need to visit a post office or police station to have you identity certified by a JP, and it can be efficiently completed 100% online. You also have the option to request our priority express service, if you need it, which can see your police check in NSW processed in as little as one business hour through Checked Australia. We help applicants obtain their national police check fast and hassle-free with an online application process that is designed to be completed and submitted within one sitting.
In roughly 30% of checks processed, however, your national police check can be delayed even though we submit it to the government system quickly. This can happen even if you request our express processing option. If your police check has been delayed for what is known as a ‘manual review’ then we will refund you the express service fee. In these cases, it is typical for your check to be received between 1 and 15 business days later, as this requires the respective police agencies to review any potential matches or disclosable history.
How do I get a police check in NSW?
It is becoming very common for Australian organisations to stipulate the need for a criminal record check before they permit an individual to begin employment. It has never been quicker and easier to obtain your own police check as Checked offer applicants not only a completely online form, but also a fast-tracked processing service that ensures their application is put at the front of the queue.
Often people are asked to provide a police check NSW through an Accredited body as part of their employment requirements or as a requirement to join volunteer organisations, such as aged care facilities. Many organisations may request you provide a national police certificate or police clearance certificate which can only be issued through the police directly, but in fact they may accept a check issued by any Accredited Body, so it is good to confirm before starting.
One of the most common ways to obtain a police check NSW is a national criminal history check which includes any disclosable offences on an individual’s criminal record. To receive your national police check, you must submit your application to an authorised government accredited agency or to a state or federal police agency. Checked is an accredited provider and can offer you a fast, convenient, online option you can complete right now for a national police check.
Our application portal is designed so you can complete your entire application in a matter of minutes. We utilise VerifyID™ to verify your original identification documents at the time of submission, all you will need is access to a scanner or a camera.
Once you begin your application, you can opt for our express service option. This option puts your application in our priority queue and can mean that your national police check may be returned to you in as little as one business hour. The express service is dependent on when you apply for the police check NSW, although our online portal is available any time of the day, you must submit your application within business hours to qualify for fast-tracking. If you submit outside of this timeframe, we will attend to your application once business hours resume.
In 30% of cases, an application can be flagged for a ‘manual review’ which means that the relevant police agencies must physically review it before the results can be released. If your application is flagged and delayed, we will refund you the express fee.
How long is a police check NSW valid for?
There is no set period of validity for a police check NSW but whichever authority has requested you provide one will have a compliance period which defines how old a check can be, so it’s best to check with them whether your current police check is still eligible or whether you will need to apply for a more recent Australian police check.
Where does the information come from in a police check NSW?
A national police check for applicants in NSW issued by Checked Australia is actually a national police check which covers all states and territories. Please see below further information about obtaining a police check across the following states and territories:
For more information about what can appear on a criminal background check, please see this link for further information.
If you need your get a national police check NSW quickly, or you are unhappy with paper forms, choose Checked for your next police check. You could have it delivered to you in as little as as one business hour if you require quickly, otherwise our standard options still provides a usual 1 business day turnaround.