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What identification documents are required for Police Checks?

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Identification documents required for a Police Check will vary by check type #

Identification requirements for police checks vary depending on the type of check being completed and the issuing authority involved. Many applicants preparing their documents for submission are completing a National Police Check, which has specific ID rules set by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).

1) Identification required for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check ( National Police Check) #

Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check – ID Requirements
Provide three identity documents: one from each group below. At least one must include a photo.
You cannot use the same document twice across groups (e.g., if your driver licence is used for Document 1, it cannot be used for Document 2).
Group Purpose Acceptable documents
Document 1 – Primary Establishes core identity
  • Australian passport (expired up to 3 years)
  • Foreign passport (current)
  • Australian driver licence, learner permit or provisional licence
Document 2 – Secondary Confirms identity/residency (must be different from Document 1)
  • Australian passport (expired up to 3 years)
  • Foreign passport (current)
  • Australian driver licence, learner permit or provisional licence
  • ImmiCard
Document 3 – Supporting Additional verification
  • NDIS Worker Screening Check
  • Working with Children Check (or equivalent)
  • Police Force officer photo ID card
  • Defence Force photo ID card
  • Photo identity card
  • Utility bill (name and address)
  • Medicare card
  • Tax File Number
  • Electoral enrolment
  • Firearms licence
  • Credit reference document
  • Aviation or maritime security ID card
  • UN Convention Travel Document (secondary)
  • Foreign identity document (in English)
  • Security guard/crowd control licence
  • Australian secondary/tertiary student photo ID
  • Certified academic transcript
  • Evidence of government benefit (DVA or Centrelink)
  • Trusted referee report
  • Consular photo ID card
  • Bank/credit card (do not record card numbers)
  • Documents must be current, valid and legible. Foreign documents require an accredited English translation.
  • Clear scans/photos are acceptable if unaltered.
  • Your document set must evidence your full legal name, date of birth and photo ID.

2) Identification required for an AFP Federal Police Check #

Identification Documents – 100 Point Checklist
Provide documents totalling at least 100 points. You must supply at least one Primary document.
Foreign documents must be accompanied by an official translation.
Key: N = Name,  P = Photo,  A = Address,  S = Signature
Required on document Document Points
Primary documents
N – P Foreign passport (current) 70
N – P Australian passport (current, or expired within last 2 years but not cancelled) 70
N Australian citizenship certificate 70
N Full birth certificate (not a birth certificate extract) 70
N Certificate of Identity issued by the Australian Government (refugees/non-citizens for entry to Australia) 70
N – A – P Australian driver licence / learner’s permit 40
N – P Current (Australian) tertiary student identification card 40
N – P Photo identification card issued for Australian regulatory purposes (e.g. Aviation/Maritime Security, security industry) 40
N – P Government employee ID (Australian Federal / State / Territory) 40
N – P Defence Force identity card (with photo or signature) 40
Secondary documents
N – A Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) card 40
N – A Centrelink card (with reference number) 40
N Birth certificate extract 25
N Birth card (NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages issue only) 25
N Medicare card 25
N Credit card or account card 25
N – S Australian marriage certificate (Registry issue) 25
N Decree Nisi / Decree Absolute (Registry issue only) 25
N Change of name certificate (Registry issue only) 25
N – A Bank statement (showing transactions) 25
N – A Property lease agreement – current address 25
N – A Taxation assessment notice 25
N – A Australian mortgage documents – current address 25
N – A Rating authority – current address (e.g. land rates) 25
N – A Utility bill – electricity, gas, telephone – current address (issued within last 12 months) 25
N Reference from Indigenous organisation 20
N – P Documents issued outside Australia (equivalent to Australian documents) – official translation attached 20
  1. If you have a valid Australian visa and you’re applying online, you don’t need to provide a separate visa document—we’ll validate it using your foreign passport details.

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