Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check vs. Australian Federal Police Check – what’s the difference?

Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check vs Australian Federal Police Check – What’s the Difference? #

Both a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and an Australian Federal Police (AFP) Check report on an individual’s criminal history in Australia — but they are issued by different authorities and used for different purposes. Many people comparing these checks are deciding whether to order a National Police Check for employment, licensing or onboarding.

Knowing which check you need ensures your application meets the correct compliance standard.

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1️⃣ Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) #

Also known as a National Police Check, this is the most commonly requested background check in Australia.
It’s processed by ACIC-accredited bodies such as Worker Checks and accesses police records from all Australian jurisdictions.

✅ When to Use an NCCHC #

• Employment, licensing, or volunteer purposes
• NDIS & Aged Care workforce screening
• Rideshare and transport checks (e.g. Uber, Ola, DiDi)
• Corporate onboarding and compliance
• Tenancy, rental, and personal background screening

⚡ Worker Checks NCCHC Features #

• ACIC-accredited and accepted nationwide
• 100 % online – no paper forms
• Digital certificate securely delivered via your Worker Checks portal
• Super-fast results – 75 % of checks are completed in under 1 hour
• Cost: $49 AUD

👉 Apply for a National Police Check ›

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2️⃣ Australian Federal Police (AFP) Check #

An AFP Check is issued directly by the Australian Federal Police and is required only in specific cases such as Commonwealth employment or visa/immigration purposes.

✅ When to Use an AFP Check #

• Commonwealth Government employment
• Visa or immigration applications (Home Affairs requirement)
• Overseas adoption or citizenship requests
• Aviation or maritime security clearances

💲 AFP Check Details #

• Processed only by the AFP
• Typical turnaround ≈ 7 business days
• Cost ≈ $80 AUD

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⚖️ Quick Comparison #

Feature	Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC)	Australian Federal Police (AFP) Check
Issued by	ACIC via accredited bodies (e.g. Worker Checks)	Australian Federal Police
Purpose	General employment & screening	Commonwealth employment, visa & immigration
Coverage	All state & territory police records	National + federal agency records
Processing time	75 % under 1 hour (via Worker Checks)	≈ 7 working days
Cost (approx.)	$49 AUD	$80 AUD
Delivery	Digital certificate via Worker Checks portal	AFP email / postal certificate

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💬 Not Sure Which Check You Need? #

If you’re unsure whether to order an NCCHC or an AFP Check, our support team can guide you.
Start a chat below and type “Talk to human”, or email [email protected] for quick advice.

Still Need Help? #

We’re happy to assist you in understanding your results and next steps.