---
title: How Long Is A Police Check Valid For in Australia?
description: "## **How Long Is a Police Check Valid For in Australia?** A **Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC)** — commonly referred to as a **National Police Check** — does **not have a set expiry date** in Australia. It is considered…"
url: "https://workerchecks.com/docs/how-long-is-a-police-check-valid-for/"
updated: "2026-01-07"
category: Check Types
---

# How Long Is A Police Check Valid For in Australia?

## **How Long Is a Police Check Valid For in Australia?**

A **Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC)** — commonly referred to as a **National Police Check** — does **not have a set expiry date** in Australia.
It is considered a **“point-in-time” record**, meaning the results are accurate only **on the day the check is issued**.

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### 🕒 **How Long You Can Access Your Police Check**

Once your check is complete, you’ll have access to your results in your **Worker Checks portal for 3 months**.
During this period, you can **view**, **download**, **print**, or **securely share** your police check certificate.

After 3 months, the certificate will **no longer be available online** for security and compliance reasons.

> ⚠️ **Important:**
> There is no fixed validity period for a police check. However, most employers, licensing bodies, and government agencies require a **new check every 6–12 months**, depending on their internal risk or compliance policies.

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### 📜 **ACIC Rules and Compliance**

In accordance with the **Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)**:

> “Accredited bodies such as Worker Checks must not provide to the applicant or any third party a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check after **three months** have passed since it was issued by the ACIC — except where required by law, or with prior written consent from the ACIC.”

This ensures that all distributed checks remain compliant with **federal data-protection and privacy laws**.

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### 📅 **Understanding Police Check Validity vs. Access**

| **Aspect** | **Meaning** |
| --- | --- |
| **Validity** | Your police check reflects your criminal record status **at the exact date and time of issue**. It may become outdated if offences occur after that date. |
| **Access period** | You can access, view, and share your certificate for **3 months** in your Worker Checks portal. |
| **Re-check requirement** | Organisations may request an updated check at any time, particularly when renewing employment, licensing, or accreditation. |

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### 💡 **Why Police Checks Are “Point in Time”**

Because criminal history information can change, police checks cannot be “ongoing.”
A new offence recorded after your certificate is issued will **not appear** on your previous check.
That’s why many employers or regulatory bodies require **periodic re-checks** to maintain compliance.

---

### 🔗 **Related Articles**

- [What Identification Is Required for a Police Check?](https://workerchecks.com/police-check-id/)
- [Re-ordering a Police Check with Worker Checks ›](https://workerchecks.com/product/nationally-coordinated-criminal-history-check/#)

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