Last updated: 1 April 2026

Police Clearance for Australia PR: Complete Country Guide

Meeting the character requirement is a mandatory part of every application for permanent residency in Australia. The primary way the Department of Home Affairs assesses your character is through police clearance certificates — official documents from national law enforcement agencies confirming whether you have a criminal record. This guide covers which countries you need clearance from, how to obtain certificates from the most common source countries, and what each one costs.

Police clearance is one of the simpler requirements conceptually, but it can become logistically complex if you have lived in multiple countries. The key is to start early, because processing times vary significantly between countries and delays in obtaining a single certificate can hold up your entire application. This forms part of the broader Australia PR requirements.

Which Countries Require Police Clearance

The rule is straightforward: you need a police clearance certificate from every country where you have lived for a cumulative total of 12 months or more since you turned 16 years of age. The 12 months does not need to be continuous — multiple trips that total 12 months or more to the same country trigger the requirement.

This means a typical applicant who grew up in one country, studied abroad in another, and now lives in Australia may need three separate police clearances. Applicants with extensive international work histories — particularly those who have worked in the Gulf states, Southeast Asia, or Europe — may need four or more certificates. Each certificate must be from the national-level police or equivalent authority in that country. State or provincial police checks are generally not sufficient unless they are the only level of clearance available in that jurisdiction.

Home Affairs does not accept Interpol certificates or private background check reports. The certificate must come from the government authority responsible for criminal records in that country. If you are unsure whether a particular country requires clearance, the 12-month residency threshold is the determining factor — err on the side of obtaining the certificate rather than assuming it is not needed.

Police Clearance by Country

The following table summarises the process, cost, and processing time for the most common source countries for Australian PR applicants. Costs are approximate and may vary.

Australian Federal Police Check

If you are applying from within Australia or have lived in Australia for 12 months or more since age 16, an AFP National Police Check is mandatory. This is a check of the national criminal database maintained by the Australian Federal Police and covers all states and territories.

Apply online through the AFP website or an accredited body such as VEVO or National Crime Check. You will need to provide 100 points of identification and specify the purpose of the check as “Commonwealth purpose — immigration.” The check costs $42 AUD and most applications are processed within 2 to 5 business days, though manual reviews can take up to 15 business days.

The AFP check is digital — you receive a PDF certificate by email. This certificate must be uploaded to your ImmiAccount as part of your visa application. The result will show either “no disclosable court outcomes” (meaning no criminal record) or will list any convictions, findings of guilt, or pending charges. Spent convictions under Commonwealth, state, or territory legislation may not appear on the AFP check, but the Department of Home Affairs can access broader criminal intelligence databases.

India Police Clearance Certificate

The Indian PCC is one of the most frequently required certificates for Australian PR applicants. It is issued through the Passport Seva system operated by the Ministry of External Affairs. The application process involves both an online component and an in-person appointment.

Start by logging into the Passport Seva portal at passportindia.gov.in and selecting “Police Clearance Certificate” from the services menu. Complete the application form, pay the fee (approximately Rs 500-1,000 or $15-25 AUD equivalent), and book an appointment at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Regional Passport Office (RPO). At the appointment, bring your passport (original and photocopy), address proof, and the appointment confirmation.

After the appointment, local police verification is conducted at your current or last known address in India. This is the step that causes most delays — processing can take 4 to 8 weeks depending on the police station’s workload and your accessibility for verification. If you are no longer in India, a family member at the registered address should be available for the police visit. The PCC is then issued by the RPO and sent to your registered address or made available for collection. For a broader view of all documents needed, see the PR application checklist.

United Kingdom Police Certificate

If you have lived in the UK for 12 months or more since age 16, you need an ACRO Police Certificate (also called a Subject Access Request or Police Certificate). Apply through the ACRO Criminal Records Office at acro.police.uk. The application is submitted online with a scanned copy of your passport and the relevant fee (approximately 55 GBP or $80-100 AUD).

Processing time is currently 8 to 10 weeks, which is one of the longer turnaround times among common source countries. There is no express processing option. The certificate is posted to your nominated address. It will state either that there are no records held or will list any convictions, cautions, or other police information on file. UK spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act may still appear on the ACRO certificate because Australian immigration is not bound by UK spent conviction legislation.

United States FBI Identity History Summary

A police clearance from the United States requires an FBI Identity History Summary check, also known as an FBI background check. Apply through the FBI’s online portal at fbi.gov or submit a paper application with fingerprints taken on an FD-258 fingerprint card.

The online process using a registered channeller is faster. You attend a fingerprinting appointment at a US embassy or consulate, or an approved fingerprinting service, and the results are submitted electronically to the FBI. Processing time is 12 to 18 weeks for paper applications, though electronic submissions through channellers can be processed in 4 to 8 weeks. The cost is approximately $18 USD ($25-30 AUD). The result is posted to your nominated address in the United States or can be sent to an international address.

Philippines NBI Clearance

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance is the standard police clearance for Philippine residents and former residents. Apply online at nbi.gov.ph, pay the fee (approximately 160 PHP or $10-15 AUD), and attend your scheduled appointment for biometric capture (photograph and fingerprints).

Processing is relatively fast at 1 to 3 weeks. If you have a common name that matches an existing NBI record (a “hit”), additional verification may be required, which can extend processing to 4 to 8 weeks. The clearance is collected in person from the NBI branch where you applied. If you are no longer in the Philippines, you can apply through the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate.

China Police Certificate

For applicants who have lived in China, the police certificate is officially called a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction. If you are currently in China, apply through the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) in the city where you are registered. If you have left China, apply through the Chinese embassy or consulate in your current country of residence.

The embassy process requires your passport, a completed application form, fingerprints, and proof of your previous Chinese address (such as a former residence permit or visa pages showing entry and exit stamps). Processing time is 4 to 8 weeks and costs vary by consulate, typically 200-350 CNY ($30-50 AUD). The certificate is issued in Chinese and must be accompanied by a NAATI-certified English translation for your Australian visa application.

Digital vs Paper Certificates

Police clearance certificates come in two formats: digital (PDF) and paper. The Department of Home Affairs accepts both formats, but the document must be clearly legible, show all required details (name, date of birth, date of issue, issuing authority), and be uploadable to ImmiAccount.

Digital certificates from the AFP and some other countries can be uploaded directly. Paper certificates must be scanned in colour at a resolution that makes all text, stamps, and signatures clearly readable. If the certificate is in a language other than English, a NAATI-certified English translation must be uploaded alongside the original document. Both the original and the translation should be scanned and uploaded as a single combined file or as clearly labelled separate attachments.

Some countries issue certificates with security features (holograms, watermarks, embossed seals) that do not scan well. In these cases, ensure the scan captures as much of the security feature as possible, and note in your visa application that the original certificate can be provided for inspection if requested. It is good practice to retain all original paper certificates until your visa is granted. Understanding the character requirement for Australian visas in full helps you anticipate what the Department will look for in these documents.

Validity and Timing Strategy

Police clearance certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. The certificate must remain valid at the time of visa decision, which means timing is important. If your visa takes longer than 12 months to process (which is possible for some visa subclasses), the Department will request a new certificate.

The optimal strategy is to begin the process for countries with the longest processing times first. If you need clearances from the UK (8-10 weeks) and the US (12-18 weeks), start those applications 4 to 6 months before you expect to lodge your visa. Faster certificates (AFP, Philippines, UAE) can be obtained closer to lodgement.

For applicants using the points-tested stream and waiting for an invitation to apply, consider the following timeline: begin UK and US applications as soon as you submit your Expression of Interest if your points score suggests an invitation within 3 to 6 months. Begin India, AFP, and other faster clearances once you receive the invitation. This approach means all certificates arrive within a similar window and you maximise the validity period after lodgement.

All police clearance costs form part of the total cost of Australia PR, which also includes visa fees, skills assessments, and the health check for Australia PR. For the full step-by-step process, see how to get PR in Australia.