How to get a police check Victoria

The information on this webpage is to be read in conjunction with this disclaimer:
Australian National Character Check (ANCC) makes every effort to provide updated and accurate information to its customers. However due to the continuously changing nature of legislations for the Commonwealth and various States and Territories, it is inevitable that some information may not be up to date. The information on the website is general information only. The contents on the website do not constitute legal or professional advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal or professional advice. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, suitability, accuracy or availability with respect to the information.

Most organisations in Victoria are buffing up their security measures more these days. And to be fair to every applicant, they do this by requesting a common requirement; a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check result.

In some roles and sectors, the government even mandates every applicant and employee in that sector to submit their Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check results for assessment.

Needless, the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check is an important document if you want to;

• Get a paid employment
• Get a license (public vehicle driver, real estate)
• Get accreditation for a professional body, and so on.

However, most people have the problem of deciding how to apply for a nationally coordinated criminal history check.

How to apply for a police check in the state of VIC

There are several ways to apply for a police record check; the online application doesn’t even require your physical presence or ink for instance.

If you need a police criminal check result urgently, your best bet is via online application services. However, you must be sure these issuing agencies are ACIC approved.

• Online application

The Australian National Character Check (ANCC) returns police check results mostly within 48 hours to applicants. The remaining applications which undergo manual processing take up to 15+ days. An electronic copy is first sent to the mails the applicant provides, with the option of the hard copy to follow.

Applying via the online platform is the easiest and by many considered to be the fastest police checking can be, with a dedicated 7 days customer response period.

The application procedure is completed online, using a PC, Tablet or mobile devices.

• The Local Police office

The police authority in Victoria issues valid police check results under the state legislation. And where the requesting party specifies a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check result from the police authority, you should apply at your local police office.

However, this procedure may be paper-based, and things like ID verification may require several physical trips.

Candidates who apply via the local Police office usually wait for a minimum of 10 business days before getting their results.

• Local post office

In the numerous post offices close to your residence or work, you can also start your applications. Candidates must provide copies of the required ID copies, written consents, and application fees.

Successful applicants will receive their check results within 10 days of applying. It can be mailed directly to their residence

What are the required documents to apply for a police check?

The Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check process compares applicants' information with the data in the police and criminal database. Therefore, applicants must provide their accurate details to avoid errors and rejected applications.

The necessary information is;

• Your full name
• Date of Birth
• Address(es) for the past five years
• A verifiable photograph should be present in any of the IDs you provide for the nationally coordinated criminal history check.

However, providing this information is not enough, the candidate must provide ID documents that prove these details.

Any change of name; due to marriage or whatever should have the required document.

The IDs are in 4 categories;

1. One (1) Commencement of ID document;
• ✔ Australian birth certificate issued by the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages (Australian Government Unit) - not an extract or birth card
• ✔ Australian Citizenship Certificate
• ✔ Australian visa (supported by a foreign passport) current at the time of entry into Australia as a resident or touris
• ✔ Australian passport (not expired; however, if the Document Verification System (DVS) is used to verify the passport, it may be up to 3 years expired)
• ✔ ImmiCard issued by the Department of Home Affairs


2. One (1) Primary Use in Community Document;
• ✔ Australian passport (not expired; however, if the Document Verification System (DVS) is used to verify the passport, it may be up to 3 years expired)
• ✔ An Australian driver licence, learner permit or provisional licence issued by a State or Territory, showing signature and/or photo
• ✔ ImmiCard issued by the Department of Home Affairs to assist visa holders to provide evidence of their Commencement of Identity in Australia
• ✔ A passport issued by a country other than Australia with a valid visa or valid entry stamp or equivalent
• ✔ Proof of age or photo identity card issued by an Australian government agency which shows the name, date of birth, photo and signature of the individual
• ✔ For persons aged under 18 years with no other Primary Use in Community Documents, a student identity document issued by an Australian government agency or Australian school only.


3. Two (2) Secondary Use in Community Document;
• ✔ Medicare card
• ✔ Enrolment with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)
• ✔ Working with children or vulnerable people card issued by an Australian state or territory government unit;
• ✔ Tax File Number issued by the Australian Taxation Office
• ✔ Bank card, credit card (without recording the payment card number/s)
• ✔ Australian secondary or tertiary student photo identity document
• ✔ Certified academic transcript from an Australian university
• ✔ Foreign government issued driver licence. Documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by a NAATI accredited translation
• ✔ Firearms licence
• ✔ Security Guard/Crowd Control photo licence
• ✔ Evidence of right to a government benefit (DVA or Centrelink)
• ✔ Police Force Officer photo identity card
• ✔ Australian Defence Force photo identity card
• ✔ Aviation security identification card
• ✔ Maritime security identification card
• ✔ Credit reference check
• ✔ Trusted referees report

Do I have to be before applying for my police check?

If you are applying online, you can do so from any part of Australia. Applications can be completed and submitted online

Applying on the ANCC website can be completed in simple steps;

1. Select the “Start a new police check” button on the portal of the Australian National Character Check
2. Complete the application form provided with accurate details of the examples listed above
3. Fill in all contact details and extra information required on the check. Cross-check previous data you entered.
4. Select and fill the purpose of the police check application; e.g. probity, employment, accreditation and so on.
5. Complete payments via any of the online options; PayPal, Debit/Credit card, and co
6. Provide the requested Identification documents by;
• Taking photos
• Scanning and uploading
• Mailing copies (Post)
7. Send all IDs before you can finally submit a nationally coordinated criminal history check application
8. Sign the informed consent online before submitting the application
9. Use our “Track a Check” option on the website to track the status of the application. The certificates are also downloadable.
10. Get an electronic copy of the result. It is sent to the email address on your application.

Can my result take longer than 24 hours?

Over 70% of background check applications are completed and issued within hours on the ANCC portal. However, some applications can hit the snag during the checking process. When this happens, an official must supervise the application. It is called a "manual review" and can delay the police check for a further 10-15+ days

Most people erroneously think that flagging an application for "manual review" translates to a failed criminal history check application. That is not the case. Lots of things can lead to a manual review, including;

If the applicant has a commonly shared name;

Has pending issues or similar on other offenders database;

Furthermore, if an applicant has lived in numerous States or Territories, the checking resource is wider. A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check compares data from all police and criminal databases as it relates to the individual.

How long does a police check remain valid?

All police check results are point-in-time checks. It remains valid depending on the requesting party.

It should be noted that police check results are only current up to the date of issue.

However, most organisations and employers will reject a check that is older than 3 months.

A valid background check result helps employers make sage decisions in recruitments based on the person's precedence and past convictions. Although it may not always be a completely accurate predictor of future events, it remains the standard risk mitigation protocol.

Copyright & Disclaimer

The content on this website is communicated to you on behalf of Australian National Character Check™ (ANCC®) pursuant to Part VB of the Copyright Act 1968 (the Act).

The material in this communication may be subject to copyright under the Act. Any further reproduction of this material may be the subject of copyright protection under the Act.

You may include a link on your website pointing to this content for commercial, educational, governmental or personal use.

The contents of this website do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal or professional advice.